Frequently Asked Questions

How long are Bell Museum memberships valid?
All benefits are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase and for members who have paid in full or are current on their monthly payments.

Can I begin using my membership immediately?
Yes! Your membership is active the day you register. Within a week, you will receive digital membership cards via email along with other membership details. Your membership is valid on the date of purchase, so you can always give your name at the visitor services desk.

If you did not receive your membership information, please email us at bellmembers@umn.edu or call 612-624-4112 to ensure your contact information is correct.

Does my membership cover parking too?
Bell Membership does not include parking fees.

Paid surface lot parking, managed by UMN Parking & Transportation Services, is available with an entrance off of Larpenteur Ave. The daily rate is $6. Note: The parking fee is waived for any vehicle in the lot under 10 minutes. Pay stations only accept credit cards.

If the parking lot is full, an attendant will be on site to direct you to nearby parking alternatives.  To contact UMN Parking & Transportation please call 612-626-7275.

If you prefer to use public transportation, consider using the University of Minnesota’s free bus service.

Will I be getting physical plastic membership cards?
Recently, The Bell Museum ceased printing physical membership cards. Using digital membership cards is more environmentally friendly as it cuts down on paper and plastic waste, and it means you never have to worry about forgetting your membership card at home. 

Your digital membership card is unique to your membership and displays your name, membership level, any available reciprocal memberships, expiration date, and a unique barcode. Simply show your digital membership card to our staff at the Ticket Desk or Curiosity Shop to take advantage of your member benefits.

While we are no longer printing physical cards for each membership, a select number of physical cards are available for PDF download or printing. If you are interested in obtaining one of these cards, please reach out. Likewise, if you have issues with your eMembership Card, please contact us—we are always happy to help!

NOTE: Mammoth and Supporting Level members are advised to have their digital membership cards to present to participating ASTC and Smithsonian affiliate museum’s to receive free or reduced admission.

Can I change the names on my membership?
The names listed on a membership can be changed in limited circumstances. Please send the name change requests by email to bellmembers@umn.edu.

Does my membership cover our nanny or PCA?
Admission is always free for on-duty Personal Care Attendants visiting with a client. To include a child care provider on your membership, they must be named as the second adult on the Family, Mammoth or Supporting Level membership.

Recently, The Bell Museum ceased printing physical membership cards. Using digital membership cards is more environmentally friendly as it cuts down on paper and plastic waste, and it means you never have to worry about forgetting your membership card at home. 

Your digital membership card is unique to your membership and displays your name, membership level, any available reciprocal memberships, expiration date, and a unique barcode. Simply show your digital membership card to our staff at the Ticket Desk or Curiosity Shop to take advantage of your member benefits.

All adults named on the membership are able to download a digital membership card following the same process. To access your digital membership card, follow these steps:

1. Download the free eMembership Card app in the Apple App Store or Google App Store
2. Open the eMembership Card app and allow location access so the museum list will appear with nearest museums first.
3. Tap on the Bell Museum logo. If you do not see the Bell Museum logo, tap on the eMembership Card logo at the top of your smartphone screen. When the Bell Museum populates, tap on it. 
4. Click “Find My Membership Cards” and enter your last name and membership ID number, which can be found at the top of this email. 
5. Verify your information, and click “Download my cards.” If the information needs to be corrected, please send us an email with your name, membership number, and corrected information. 
6. Your membership card will appear on your screen with the button “Add to Wallet.” Click this button, and your card can be found in your Google Wallet or iPhone Wallet app. 

If you forget to complete this process, don’t worry. You can always provide your Membership ID number to the Ticket Desk employees, and they will help you access your benefits. While we are no longer printing physical cards for each membership, a select number of physical cards are available for PDF download or printing. If you are interested in obtaining one of these cards, please reach out. Likewise, if you have issues with your eMembership Card, please contact us—we are always happy to help!

I’m trying to renew my membership online. How do I log in to my account?
Login to your account using your email address and password. 

If you can’t remember your online login information, do not create a new account. Any new account you create will not be linked to your existing membership. Instead, please request a password reset from our team.

Request Password Reset

You can also call the membership office at 612-624-4112 to reset your password or troubleshoot the login process. If you are unsure whether or not you have an account, please fill out this form.

Help! I’m having trouble renewing my membership online. What should I do?

Please contact us at bellmembers@umn.edu or at 612-626-0089 describing your problem or error message. We will get back to you shortly!

Can my membership be refunded?
Unfortunately, no. Memberships are not refundable or transferable. This includes Supporting Level memberships with the monthly payment option.

I received mail referencing my “gift” to the museum, but I thought I bought a membership. What does this mean?
The Bell Museum is part of the University of Minnesota.  Membership purchases are processed through the University of Minnesota Foundation and since they are fully or partially eligible for a charitable gift tax deduction are referred to as “gifts”.

Can I visit the museum first and decide to become a member later that day?
Yes! You can apply the cost of your gallery admission towards the purchase of your membership. Simply bring your ticket receipt to the front desk and they can process your new membership purchase. Please note, gallery admission cost and member discount of 50% off the planetarium tickets will only be applied to memberships purchased on the day of your visit.

Discounts cannot be combined with other offers and are not available for Supporting Level Memberships or Gift Memberships.

Can I apply a current discount to my past membership purchase?
No. Special promotions and discounts cannot be applied to past membership purchases. No price adjustments can be made once a membership purchase has been processed.

Can I pay for the membership from a Donor advised fund, retirement account IRA or trust fund?
No. All Supporting Level memberships are partially tax-deductible. Due to IRS regulations we cannot accept payment for membership from a Donor Advised Fund or an IRA. 

All Supporting Level memberships are tax deductible, excluding benefits with a Fair Market Value. The tax deductibility for Supporting membership levels are:

• Adventurer – $300 ($258 tax-deductible)
• Innovator – $500 ($416 tax-deductible)
• Discovery Circle Patron – $1,000 ($874 tax-deductible)

Is my membership tax-deductible?
All You + A Friend, Family, and Mammoth memberships are fully tax-deductible. All Supporting Level memberships are tax deductible, excluding benefits with a Fair Market Value.

Can I purchase a membership as a gift for someone else?
Yes! Gift memberships can be purchased online, on-site at the front desk, and over the phone by calling 612-624-4112.

To process a gift membership, we must have the recipient’s name(s), mailing address, and email address; if these are not provided at the time of purchase it will delay the activation of the gift membership, and we will reach out to you for additional details.

Can I purchase a Supporting Level membership, pay for it through monthly installment payments but the membership is in another person’s name?
Yes! Purchase the membership as a Gift Membership and the membership will be under the gift recipient’s name with their contact information so they receive all correspondence, welcome materials, and benefits.

Do you offer discounts on Memberships?
Yes. We offer a $5 discount on You + A Friend, Family, and Mammoth Memberships for people ages 65+. Only one discount can be applied to each membership purchase. Discounts cannot be combined with other promotional offers. Discounts are not available on Supporting Level memberships or Gift Memberships.

We also offer reduced-cost Curiosity Memberships ($15) to qualifying guests. Get more details on Museums for All at Curiosity Memberships.

How do planetarium benefits work?
All members receive a 50 percent discount off the purchase of planetarium tickets. These tickets can be purchased online or at the front desk. 

Supporting Members also receive combination gallery and planetarium guest passes in accordance with their Member Level. Guest passes can be redeemed at the front desk.

Do I need to reserve my tickets in advance for a planetarium show?In general, planetarium tickets do not need to be purchased in advance of your visit and seats are sold first-come, first-serve to interested museum guests. During especially busy times, such as school holidays or summer weekends, you may want to reserve a ticket online to guarantee your seat. You’ll need to create an account if you don’t have one already.

Members can make reservations by visiting the ticketing website (recommended), on-site at the front desk, or by calling the general museum ticketing line at 612-626-9660.

Can my Bell Museum membership be used for discounts at other museums around the United States?
Yes! Our Mammoth and Supporting Level Memberships provide expanded benefits that include access to museums across the United States through the ASTC Passport Program.
The Association of Science Technology Centers provides access to more than 300+ museums and aquariums through the ASTC Passport Program. Click to view the full list.

We suggest you call your destination museum in advance to confirm your benefits. 

Please note, the ASTC Passport program does not include science centers & museums located within 90 miles radius of:

1. The science center or museum where you are a member
   AND
2. Your residence

Special exhibits, planetariums, or theaters may not be included.

What is the Smithsonian Affiliate benefit for Supporting Members?There are over 200 Smithsonian Affiliate museums across the United States, and Bell Museum Supporting level members receive expansive benefits and access to Smithsonian affiliate museums as well as discounts for specific Smithsonian programs and experiences.

As a Supporting Member, you receive:

• Reciprocal admission/discount benefits at participating Smithsonian Affiliates
• Smithsonian Magazine subscription
• Personalized Smithsonian Affiliate membership card
• Free admission to the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum 
• Discounts on all Smithsonian Folkways Recordings

To use your Smithsonian Affiliate membership, learn more by visiting this site.