Science Museum of Minnesota

Science Museum of Minnesota
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Name	Science Museum of Minnesota
Location	Saint Paul, Minnesota
Type	Science museum
Visitors	1 million
Director	Alexandra Foster

Science Museum of Minnesota. The Science Museum of Minnesota is a large museum located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, near the Mississippi River and Downtown Saint Paul. It is one of the largest science museums in the United States, with a collection of over 1.75 million natural history specimens and artifacts. The museum is affiliated with the Association of Science-Technology Centers and the American Alliance of Museums.

● History

The Science Museum of Minnesota was founded in 1907 by Charles Spencer and Thomas Sadler Roberts, with the goal of promoting public understanding of science and natural history. The museum's first home was in the Minnesota State Capitol building, but it soon outgrew this space and moved to its current location in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Over the years, the museum has undergone several expansions and renovations, including a major renovation in the 1990s led by Ralph Rapson and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The museum has also been recognized for its contributions to science education and community outreach, including partnerships with the University of Minnesota, Macalester College, and the Saint Paul Public Schools.

● Exhibits

The Science Museum of Minnesota features a wide range of exhibits on science and natural history topics, including dinosaurs, space exploration, and environmental science. Some of the museum's most popular exhibits include the Dinosaur Gallery, which features a Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton and a Triceratops fossil, and the Experiment Gallery, which offers hands-on activities and demonstrations of scientific principles. The museum also hosts temporary exhibits on topics such as climate change, genetics, and robotics, in partnership with organizations like the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the European Space Agency. Visitors can also explore the museum's Omnitheater, which shows IMAX films on topics like space exploration, oceanography, and wildlife conservation, in collaboration with the IMAX Corporation and the BBC.

● Collections

The Science Museum of Minnesota has a vast collection of over 1.75 million natural history specimens and artifacts, including fossils, minerals, and anthropological objects. The museum's collections are used for research and education by scientists and students from around the world, including those from the University of California, Berkeley, Harvard University, and the British Museum. Some of the museum's most significant collections include its dinosaur fossils, which are studied by paleontologists from the University of Chicago and the American Museum of Natural History, and its Native American artifacts, which are used to teach about the history and culture of indigenous peoples in North America, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of the American Indian.

● Education

The Science Museum of Minnesota offers a wide range of education programs for students and teachers, including field trips, workshops, and summer camps. The museum's education programs are designed to promote science literacy and critical thinking skills, and to inspire students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), in collaboration with the National Science Teachers Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The museum also partners with schools and community organizations to provide outreach and professional development opportunities for teachers, including those from the New York City Department of Education and the Los Angeles Unified School District.

● Facilities

The Science Museum of Minnesota is located in a building designed by Ralph Rapson and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, with a total area of over 370,000 square feet. The museum's facilities include exhibit galleries, classrooms, laboratories, and a theater, as well as a gift shop and a cafe, operated in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society and the Walker Art Center. The museum is also home to the Mississippi River Visitor Center, which provides information about the Mississippi River and its ecosystem, in collaboration with the National Park Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Visitors can also explore the museum's outdoor spaces, including a garden and a plaza, designed by Landscape Architecture Magazine and the American Society of Landscape Architects. Category:Science museums in the United States