Close up of a plant with snow and frost.

Heart & Solstice

Welcome the new season and celebrate the returning light at the Bell

The winter solstice marks the shortest day of sunlight in our hemisphere—after December 21, the days begin to get longer again!

Take heart and celebrate the season with the Bell Museum. We have lots of activities for you! Take a Winter Walk through Minnesota Journeys with our gallery scavenger hunt. Learn how the greenhouse effect keeps Earth warm at our Climate Cart — even during the shortest days of sunlight! Explore fascinating plants and the relationships that sustain them in the temporary exhibit Curious Allies. Learn about winter constellations in the planetarium when you see Minnesota Night Skies. 

Want to dive into the season with music and sound? See our award-winning planetarium show Secrets from a Forest, then explore the science of sound when you try making and learning about sound waves at a gallery cart in the Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Horizon Hall. Come learn and play with us!

snowflake
Bell Museum Special Hours – We are excited to celebrate the Winter Solstice with you! Enjoy additional open hours December 29-31. Stay up to date on seasonal hours as you plan your visit to the Bell Museum.

In-Person Activities

  • The Christmas Bird Count
    Saturday, December 20, 10 am–4 pm

    The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was founded in 1900 as a way to promote conservation by counting, rather than hunting, birds on Christmas Day. The CBC uses a specific method to count birds. Each count takes place on a single day between December 14 to January 5 in an established 15-mile diameter circle.

    The Bell Museum is located in the Saint Paul (North) Count circle. Volunteers will be out counting birds on designated routes in our circle on Saturday, December 20. We will support the CBC as a FeederWatch site by reporting the birds we observe at our feeders on count day.

    Visit the Touch and See Lab all day to connect with volunteers who will be identifying and counting the birds that visit our feeders.

  • Secrets of Sound
    December 17–January 4

    As seen in the new planetarium show Secrets from a Forest, materials like wood and strings can be manipulated to intentionally create specific waves that result in musical notes. Explore the science of sound waves with multiple senses using a gallery cart that has been converted into a string instrument!

  • Solar Observing
    December 21, 12-2pm

    Join us December 21, 12–2pm* as we celebrate the winter solstice and observe the Sun through our telescopes on the Learning Landscape outside the museum. Safety note: Never look directly at the Sun without proper solar filters. The Bell Museum telescopes utilize safe solar observing equipment.

    *This event is dependent on clear weather. In the case of clouds, the event will be canceled.

  • Funky Friends Seek & Find
    December 17–January 4

    Complete a scavenger hunt to explore the funky friends you can spot in the Bell Museum’s dioramas!

  • Solstice Snow Globe
    December 17–January 4

    Draw your favorite sign of winter and add it to our group artwork, or take it home.

  • Seeing Sound
    December 17–January 4

    Can you match images of birds to their songs?

  • Knock on Wood
    December 17–January 4

    Compare the texture, weight, and look of different types of wood.  What makes one kind of wood better for certain jobs, like making violins?

  • Planetarium shows
    December 17–January 4

    Learn about seasonal constellations in Minnesota Night Skies, experience the intimate connections between sound and nature in the award-winning planetarium show, Secrets from a Forest, and more!

     

  • Curious Allies
    December 17–January 4

    Experience the exhibition about fascinating plants and the relationships that sustain them! Check out artwork of fungi, lichens, and plants submitted by artists around the world. Visitors are invited to explore their inner illustrator with opportunities to draw real specimens in the gallery.