Bakken Museum
Minneapolis, MN

"The Bakken is a center for education and learning that furthers the understanding of the history, cultural context, and applications of electricity and magnetism in the life sciences and their benefits to contemporary society."

Located in a newly expanded Tudor mansion along the shores of Lake Calhoun in Minneapolis, the Bakken Library and Museum houses an internationally recognized collection of rare books, manuscripts, and instruments documenting the history of electromagnetism in biology and medicine. The Bakken was founded in 1975 by Earl E. Bakken, inventor of the first transistorized cardiac pacemaker. Since its inception it has been what can best be described as a hidden secret visited only occasionally. However, the recent construction of a significant addition has increased its visibility and the museum's message and mission have become more greatly appreciated.

Lately there has been an emphasis on development of its classical gardens related to medicinal healing herbs and plants. Damon Farber Associates' role included organizing parking in a manner that would screen vehicles and service from the public view, design of a future rooftop garden terrace and the implementation of a storm water pond that manages runoff. The new entry courtyard and pond incorporate native, emergent wetland plantings that provide seasonal color, a habitat for wildlife and provide a visually aesthetic and functional foreground for the Museum.

The Bakken is an independent, nonprofit educational institution that collects archival materials related to the history of electricity and magnetism in medicine and the life sciences. They promote a broad humanistic understanding of science and its role in history. Their primary audiences are students, teachers, scholars, and the general public.