- Attraction: Bell Museum of Natural History
- Location: 2088 Larpenteur Ave W, St. Paul, MN 55113
- Industry: Natural History Museum
- Website: https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/
Since 1872, one extraordinary museum has been preserving Minnesota’s natural heritage.
And after a stunning $64.2 million transformation, it’s all housed in a breathtaking new facility that’s tripling visitor numbers.
The Bell Museum opened its doors at its gorgeous St. Paul campus location in 2018.
It brings together Minnesota’s official natural history collection with cutting-edge technology in a space that feels more like stepping into the future of science education.
You’ll discover a place where art meets science in the most spectacular way imaginable. From world-famous wildlife dioramas that rival the Smithsonian to a state-of-the-art digital planetarium that transports you across the cosmos, this isn’t your typical dusty museum experience—it’s an immersive journey through time, space, and the incredible diversity of life on Earth.
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Keep Exploring →Must-See Exhibits & Experiences
The Famous Wildlife Dioramas: These aren’t just displays—they’re masterpieces. Created between the 1920s and 1940s by wildlife artist Francis Lee Jaques, these life-sized scenes showcase Minnesota’s diverse ecosystems with incredible detail and artistry.
You’ll find yourself mesmerized by everything from majestic moose at Gunflint Lake to black bears in their natural woodland habitats. Each diorama tells a complete story of how these animals survive and thrive in Minnesota’s varied landscapes.
Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Planetarium: The crown jewel of the museum features a 16-meter aluminum dome with 120 plush reclining seats that make you feel like you’re floating through space.
The advanced digital projection system creates an immersive experience where you’ll journey from the far reaches of the cosmos to deep inside the human brain.
Shows like “Minnesota in the Cosmos” highlight our own night sky, while other presentations make you feel like you’re flying through galaxies or swimming in the deep sea.
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Discover MoreTouch & See Lab: This hands-on wonderland engages all your senses with 10,000-year-old fossils, living plants and animals, and interactive specimens you can actually touch.
You’ll handle everything from blue whale vertebrae that double as footstools to giant dinosaur femurs, plus there are live snakes, frogs, geckos, and even tarantulas.
The friendly University of Minnesota students here will take any creature out of its habitat for you to examine up close.
The Woolly Mammoth Display: One of the newer stars of the museum is a life-like woolly mammoth standing proudly alongside a locally-collected mammoth tooth. Next to it, you’ll discover a giant beaver reconstruction that showcases the incredible wildlife that once roamed Minnesota during the Ice Age.
Collections Cove: Here you’ll find pressed plants, unusual crabs, and fascinating insects displayed like precious jewels, complete with their original museum labels that emphasize the research focus and rich history of the collection spanning over 4 million specimens.
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Keep Exploring →Atmosphere & Architecture
Modern Architectural Marvel: The building itself is a sight to behold, with expansive blocks of locally-sourced white pine and steel creating a dramatic entrance, while floor-to-ceiling glass walls flood the space with natural light.
Three monumental glass-and-wood “storyboxes” act as lenses between the interior exhibits and the outdoor landscape, creating a seamless connection between past and present environmental experiences.
Spacious and Uncrowded: You’ll appreciate how the museum feels open and airy rather than cramped. Most afternoons offer a quieter, more contemplative experience where you can take your time reading about each exhibit without feeling rushed.
The sweeping staircase curves elegantly around the cylindrical planetarium wall, creating an inviting flow throughout the space.
Outdoor Learning Landscape: The experience extends beyond the building to include a green roof and observation deck with native plants, geology gardens, and a solar station.
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Discover MoreThe outdoor areas provide a perfect complement to the indoor exhibits, letting you see living examples of Minnesota’s natural environment.
Clean and Contemporary Design: The interior maintains a sleek, modern aesthetic with excellent sight lines that make navigation effortless. The space feels fresh and contemporary while still honoring the historical significance of the collections.
Other Considerations
Reasonable Pricing: Adult admission is $8, with seniors (62+) paying $7 and youth (3-17) paying $5. Children under 3 get free admission, and University of Minnesota faculty, staff, and students also enter free.
Planetarium shows require separate tickets, typically adding about $5-7 to your visit. Compared to similar natural history museums, this represents solid mid-tier pricing that delivers excellent value for the quality of exhibits.
Parking Logistics: The museum provides on-site parking for $5 per day, though the lot can fill up on weekends. During busy periods, they offer shuttle service from additional overflow lots, so arriving early is recommended, especially if you want to catch planetarium shows that can fill up quickly.
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Keep Exploring →Perfect Visit Duration: Most people spend 2-3 hours exploring thoroughly, though you could easily spend longer if you’re particularly interested in reading all the informational displays.
The museum is sized perfectly for families with children who might have shorter attention spans, while still offering enough depth for adult visitors.
Family-Friendly Focus: The museum excels at engaging visitors of all ages, though the Touch & See Lab is particularly magical for children.
The planetarium shows are designed to accommodate everyone from young kids to astronomy enthusiasts, and the interactive displays throughout make science accessible and fun.
Best Times to Visit: Weekday afternoons tend to be less crowded, giving you more space to explore at your own pace. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays. Weekend visits offer more energy but also larger crowds, especially for popular planetarium showtimes.
Special Programming: Beyond the permanent exhibits, the museum regularly hosts Star Parties on the rooftop observation deck, science camps, and special temporary exhibitions that rotate throughout the year, giving repeat visitors fresh reasons to return.
Bell Museum
📍 2088 Larpenteur Ave W, St. Paul, MN 55113
