The University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum of Natural History celebrates its 140th birthday March 1.
They’ll serve birthday cake that day to the first 140 visitors at 2 p.m., when a presentation will be made. More cake will be available at 5:30 p.m.
It’s on the University’s Minneapolis East Bank campus, at 10 Church St. SE.
The Bell is the state’s official natural history museum, founded in 1872 when the Legislature decided “to provide for a geological and natural history survey of the state” and ordered that “natural history and geological specimens be prepared and a museum to be established at the university.”
Said Museum Director Susan Weller:
“Since 1872, the Bell Museum of Natural History collections have documented our state’s biological diversity, and its artistic public displays have educated us on environmental issues. Rather than rest on our laurels, we strive to be a place where creativity will flourish in the sciences and arts — a cradle of innovation. Just last year, we added a portable planetarium to our educational programs and embraced the disciplines of astrophysics and planetary sciences. It’s exciting to think about all that lies ahead for the museum.”
