All Posts
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Statewide Biodiversity Survey
Published05/07/2020
In 2019, Bell Museum curators embarked on the creation of a baseline biodiversity survey to document plant and animal species on six U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) recreation areas, with a particular focus on locating species of conservation concern. -
Minnesota Icons: Showy Lady’s Slipper
Published05/03/2020 , By Heather Cummins
In 1902, the showy lady’s slipper, also called the pink and white lady’s slipper, became Minnesota’s state flower. Showy lady’s slippers have been protected in Minnesota since 1925, making it illegal to pick, uproot, or unearth these special symbols of our state. Lady’s slipper orchids get their name from the… -
Diorama Spotlight: Cranes in the Red River Valley
Published05/01/2020 , By Adam Hartman, gallery programs assistant
It’s early May in the Red River Valley. Thousands of lesser and greater sandhill cranes gather just outside Fertile, Minnesota, on the sand dunes that remain of the dried lake bed of glacial Lake Agassiz. This is one of the sandhill cranes’ pit stops on their annual spring migration from… -
The Bell Celebrates Global Volunteer Month
Published04/30/2020
Volunteers are critical to all the Bell’s mission to ignite curiosity and wonder, explore our connections to nature and the universe, and create a better future for our evolving world. Our mission depends on dedicated volunteers to engage visitors as docents, gallery cart assistants, and in our astronomy programs. For… -
Reading the Signs from Salamanders
Published , By Eve Daniels
While the “Salamander Capital of the World” isn’t a top roadside attraction, it does tell us a lot more about the past and future of our species than dinosaur sculptures ever will (no offense to Dinny the Dino). Located in the southern Appalachian mountains, this region is a rainbow of… -
Minnesota Skies: May 2020
Published , By Deane Morrison, Thaddeus LaCoursiere & Sarah Komperud
In May we lose the two brightest lights in the evening sky: Venus and Sirius, the brightest of stars. Sirius begins the month very low in the southwest and drops out of sight by mid-month. In the last two weeks of May, most of the other bright winter stars also… -
Congratulations to our Graduates
Published04/28/2020
All the education and outreach that goes on at the museum would not be possible without talented University of Minnesota students—from the Touch & See Lab and exhibit galleries to the ticketing desk, Curiosity Shop, Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Planetarium, scientific collections, and beyond. As the academic year comes to… -
Gift Cards for Curiosity Shop
Published04/27/2020
Can’t wait to explore the Curiosity Shop again? Support the Bell Museum’s mission to ignite curiosity and wonder by purchasing a gift card to the Curiosity Shop! Cards can be purchased with a credit card over the phone Monday–Friday (10 am–5 pm) by calling (612) 626-9660; please leave a message… -
Happy International Crow and Raven Appreciation Day!
Published , By Heather Cummins, gallery programs coordinator
Crows and ravens are members of the bird family Corvidae (also referred to as corvids) which contains ravens, crows, magpies, and jays. The genus Corvus contains 45 or more distinct species occurring across the globe. In Minnesota, our representatives of the genus include American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos) and common/northern ravens… -
Social Distancing with the Stars!
Published04/23/2020 , By Sarah Komperud, planetarium programs coordinator
Social distancing didn’t stop our Skynet Scholars this spring. The program moved online for its last two sessions in April as the students created images they took through world. M100 – Spiral Galaxy-class, research-grade telescopes from around the globe.