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The University of Minnesota-operated Bell Museum of Natural history is located across Larpenteur Avenue from Gibbs Farm in St. Paul. It houses permanent exhibits on space, evolution and Minnesota wildlife, as well as a planetarium and rotating exhibits. Quietest Time to Visit: The Bell recommends visiting in the afternoon when their are fewer visitors and the space is generally uncrowded. The new location includes a 120 seat planetarium with plush reclining seats below a 16-meter aluminum dome. Presentations are designed to make the viewer feel like they are flying sky and space, inside plants or bodies, or swimming the deep sea. The dome also hosts featured productions and live presentations. The planetarium is the number-one must see, according to the FFTC youth team! Purchase Planetarium tickets online here. The Touch and See Lab is back at the new location. Visitors can use identification guides and other scientific tools to make their learning experience more meaningful. So much learning goes on when a child can feel the texture of an object, examine something from all angles, and formulate questions about what they are holding. Museum staff are eager to strike up conversations with kids about the exhibits – which include bones, pelts, building materials, microscopes and live animals. The venerable Bell Museum Dioramas have also been transported to the new space and look better than ever. Kids will appreciate the new touch screens available to more deeply explore the native animals and their habitats. Star Parties are back to in person in the Winter of 2022. Sign up through Eventbrite (find link at the bottom of this page), then download your Minnesota Skies: Star Map (find link at the bottom of this page). Star Parties are free monthly telescope observing nights hosted on the Bell’s rooftop observation deck during the Fall and Spring semesters. After a brief introduction, bell staff will help visitors observe celestial objects with the telescopes. Indoor activities will be offered in place of telescope observing when weather is uncooperative. These events are recommended for ages kids 7+ and are FREE, but advance registration is required. Sign up via EventBrite. The former Free Sundays program did not carry over to the new space. Memberships are the best option for discounted visits. Household memberships start at $95/year. Qualifying families can get a needs-based Curiosity Membership for $15/year. Qualification includes enrollment in several assistance programs – including MinnesotaCare and WIC. Find More Museum Discounts: 61 Twin Cities Museums & Historic Sites Birthday parties are currently on hold. We hope to see them back soon. The Bell traditionally offers science-themed birthday parties for kids ages 5-12. Learn more about party packages and options here. In the meantime, check out our full list of Discovery Birthday Parties for Curious Kids here. Bell Camps are full-day, week-long programs that encourage campers to explore science with age-appropriate hands-on activities, games, crafts and projects. Campers will have a chance to visit the museum exhibits and explore outdoors. The Bell offers quite a bit of virtual material. Find it here:Related Articles:
Bell Museum’s Planetarium
Touch and See Lab at Bell Museum
Bell Museum Dioramas
Monthly Star Parties at the Bell
Bell Museum Discounts
Birthday Parties
Summer Camps
Free Online Fun from Bell Museum of Natural History
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