"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.
