Bell Museum

As a VENUE: Host your event…

A timeless venue for your special even! Nestled on the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus, the Bell Museum’s elegant building offers unique event spaces from the intimate to the grand. An event hosted in Minnesota’s official natural history museum, whether a small meeting or a large gala, is sure to be memorable. Five distinctive event spaces are offered:

• Whole Building Rental: A full-museum rental can accommodate 600 guests for a standing reception, 120 for buffet dining, and 150 for seated dining. Guests have access to the museum’s permanent galleries, as well as beautiful Horizon Hall.
  • Capacity: 600 guests for a standing reception; 120 for buffet dining; 150 for seated dining
• Horizon Hall: Horizon Hall’s soaring ceilings and elegant windows provide a lovely backdrop for any kind of gathering. A space full of wood, metal, stone and glass, the hall is perfect for lectures, receptions, dinners, and gatherings of all kinds. The added interest of reflective surfaces combined with fantastic natural light also create a wonderful canvas for unique photos. The Lounge is also included in Horizon Hall rentals. In this smaller space, stylish chairs and sofas provide spot to sit and relax around a beautiful modern fireplace.
• Whitney and Elizabeth MacMillan Planetarium: Our digital planetarium offers a unique event space accommodating 120 guests in tiered theater seating for a lecture, planetarium show or the perfect spot to get married under the stars, rain or shine.
  • Capacity: 120 guests
• Ruth and John Huss Observation Deck: You can hold your event beneath the stars on the museum’s observation deck, allowing guests to explore the sky with our high-powered telescopes.
• The Nucleus: The Nucleus is an intimate space tucked into the Minnesota Journeys gallery on the museum’s second floor. Options for layout include round tables and theater seating.
  • Capacity: 60 guests at round tables; 80 guests in theater seating

Support the Bell Museum …by simply booking your next special occasion here:
https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/private-events-rentals/

As a SHOP: Discover unique gifts…

Dating back to Renaissance Europe, cabinets of curiosities were made to showcase collections of extraordinary objects and the wonders and oddities of the natural world. In many ways they were the predecessor to the modern museum. In our Curiosity Shop, you’ll find uniquely curated collections of products for the science geek, nature nut, and space case in your life. Venture out to sketch using our custom observation notebook, complete with a map to the real locations behind our renowned Minnesota wildlife dioramas. Bring the Universe to your home with our plush planet set. Show off your wild side with genuine natural history specimens. Curiosity Shop proceeds support Bell programs, collections, and education. Merchandise is catalogued within these collections: * Masks with Dioramas (& Floral Prints) * Stocking Stuffers * Art Supplies * Puzzles for Days * Plush Animals (& Planets) * Fossils & Rocks * Books * Bird Gifts of All Kinds * Assorted Delights, and * Jewelry.

Support the Bell Museum …by simply purchasing your specialty merchandise here:
https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/shop/

Be a DONOR: Show that you care…

Membership:

Our members are kind of a big deal! Members enjoy a full year of onsite and virtual programs for explorers of all ages. By joining as a member, you gain access to great Bell benefits, and become part of a community dedicated to exploring the mysteries of the universe, and our place in it. Today is the day that your gift can ignite curiosity and spark wonder in our community and beyond! It’s easy to give the gift of membership at the Bell. All member levels can be purchased as gifts from friends and family. Memberships at specified levels are offered: * Curiosity * You + A Friend * Family * Mammoth * Adventurer * Innovator, and * Discovery Circle Patron.

Donations:

Make your gift, your way. Every dollar of your tax-deductible gift supports the exhibits, collections, education programs, research, and initiatives at the Bell Museum.

• Make a Gift: Invest in the transformative nature of science at the Bell for all Minnesotans. Several funds are available to support.
  • ExploraDome Fund: This fund support the activities and programming of the ExploraDome as it teaches about the universe, educating Bell visitors and schools across Minnesota with on-site and traveling domes.
  • Bell Museum K-12 and Family Education Programs: This fund supports K-12 and family educational programming for learners of all ages in the museums galleries and auditorium, in classrooms across the state of Minnesota, and community venues.
  • Bell Museum and Planetarium Fund: This fund supports the Bell Museum‘s mission to discover, document, and understand nature and promote informed stewardship of our world.
  • Bell Museum Exhibits Fund
  • Bell Museum without Boundaries Fund: This fund supports the Bell’s programs, community engagement and outreach efforts in support of the Bell Museum‘s mission as directed by the museums executive director.
• Individual Giving: Today is the day that your gift can ignite curiosity and spark wonder in our community and beyond. Join us by making a donation to the Bell Museum as we expand virtual natural history experiences as a Museum without Boundaries. Your gift allows our community to deepen their understanding of the natural world, marvel at the universe, and imagine a better future for our evolving planet. Learn more and give today to support the Bell as a museum without boundaries.  Give online or by mail.
  • Donor Advised Funds: Giving to the Bell Museum from your donor advised fund is simple. You can recommend a grant from your fund to the University of Minnesota Foundation.
  • Workplace Giving: Support the Bell Museum through your workplace giving campaign.
  • Matching Gifts: Increase the impact of you gift through your companies matching gift program.
• Planned Giving: Including the Bell Museum as part of your estate and planned gift plans will create a sustainable future for the Bell Museum and ensure that we continue to engage this community as we understand the past and shape the future.
  • Wills & Living Trusts
  • Retirement Assets
  • Bank or Brokerage Account
  • IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution
• Corporate Giving: Corporate donors play a critical role in supporting the Bell Museum’s efforts to showcase the natural wonders of our state, envision solutions for our changing world, and inspire the next generation of STEM professionals. In recognition of their generous contributions, the Bell provides a number of platforms for its corporate donors and their employees to achieve their social responsibility, marketing, and community and client engagement objectives.

Volunteer: As Minnesota’s state natural history museum, the Bell’s mission is to ignite curiosity and wonder, explore our connections to nature and the universe, and create a better future for our evolving world. The Bell volunteer program provides support at both special events and ongoing programming.

Support the Bell Museum …by simply joining, giving, and volunteering here:
https://www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/give/