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Bell Museum
@bellmuseum.bsky.social
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Minnesota’s official natural history museum, serving learners of all ages by igniting curiosity for the natural world
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It's planting season! While most gardens are bedded down for the winter, many native plant species require a cold period to germinate. Plus, the melting and thawing of snow works seeds into the soil. Last week, Learning Landscape Gardener Alex Wegrzyn helped students spread new seed at the Bell.
A woman in a flannel shirt extends her hand, releasing invisible seeds between her fingers. She is surrounded by brown, dead plants. Tiny black seeds rest in the hand of a student. A man in a yellow vest directs others toward brown plants with nodding stems full of seeds. A man in a yellow vest and glasses hands paper envelopes of seeds to students.
November 24, 2025 at 4:32 PM
bellmuseum.bsky.social
For a few brief and beautiful minutes last night, Minnesotans across the state stopped what they were doing to step outside and catch a glimpse of the aurora. These photos were taken at the Bell by Planetarium Manager Sally Brummel.

Did you experience the aurora last night? Send us your pictures!
Night view of the Bell Museum with aurora visible in the sky, featuring an informational sign with a map in the foreground. A vivid display of the Northern Lights in a night sky, featuring streaks of pink and green above the Bell Museum. A vivid display of the Northern Lights in a night sky, featuring streaks of pink and green above the Bell Museum. A vivid display of the Northern Lights in a night sky, featuring streaks of pink and green above the Bell Museum.
November 12, 2025 at 5:15 PM
bellmuseum.bsky.social
Salvage Wildlife, Statewide! Bell curatorial staff Dr. Keith Barker and Sam Getty recently visited Salvage Wildlife partner Concordia College to teach a crash course on bird-prepping.

Volunteer specimen preppers learned the ins-and-outs of turning a salvaged bird carcass into a scientific specimen!
Two women lean in, smiling, while pulling apart the red carcass of a small bird. The woman holding the bird wears blue gloves. A man sits at a table, holding a brown and white dead bird. Students stand in a circle around him, with faces of interest and mild disgust. Leaning over a tray of gray feathers, Bell staff member Sam Getty helps a student dissect a bird. A book that reads "Manual of Ornithology" rests on the table. A student with long red hair hits the "dab" pose, in front of a mounted black bird wing.
November 11, 2025 at 6:51 PM
bellmuseum.bsky.social
Come see us at ConFluence 2025!

This year, the Bell Museum will be at ConFluence: Futures in Color. This 2-day convention in NE Minneapolis celebrates art, sci-fi, futurisms, and fantasy centered on content by and for Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color.

www.confluencemn.com
Graphic for 'Confluence: Futures in Color' featuring colorful floral patterns against a dark background with text overlay.
October 17, 2025 at 12:02 AM
bellmuseum.bsky.social
Something to chew on while you read... patrons at the Austin Public Library get to "check out" a real mammoth tooth, thanks to a loan from the Bell Museum!

Specimen loans are just another way we bring natural history education statewide. If you're in Austin, go say hello to the big tooth!
Mammoth themed books sit on a table, next to newspaper clippings. In the background are shelves of books. A brown fossilized tooth on a white platform. The tooth is large, with ridges on top. A sign reads "mammoth tooth" outside of a building.
October 14, 2025 at 9:06 PM
bellmuseum.bsky.social
Two people stand in front of a planetarium with a meme on the screen. The meme is a humorous picture of "cowboy advice" that says, "1. be rootin, 2. be tootin, and 3. and by god by constellation shootin" A group photo at the GLPA+WAC conference A group of people in a modern building wearing nametags A group of people wearing nametags at a conference with a sign that says Welcome GLPA in the background
October 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM
bellmuseum.bsky.social
It's almost time for this year's Statewide Star Party! From Sept 17-20, host sites throughout Minnesota will become activated with astronomical celebrations. Find a location near you at www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/2025-statewi...

📸: Jeffers Petroglyphs
A long exposure photograph of star trails with a dirt road and building in the foreground
September 17, 2025 at 3:54 PM
bellmuseum.bsky.social
Calling current UMN students! We’re hiring for two student positions — Museum Guides and Planetarium Assistants! If you’re interested in connecting people to nature, science, and astronomy, these positions might be a good fit for you! Apply by Sept 15.

www.bellmuseum.umn.edu/employment/
A Bell Museum guide holds out a gecko A Bell Museum astronomy student guides a planetarium experience
September 12, 2025 at 4:16 PM
bellmuseum.bsky.social
That’s a wrap for this year’s summer camps!

Yesterday was our last day of summer camps at the Bell. Our summer camps are a huge team effort and wouldn’t be possible without all our amazing camp staff, educators, and you! Thanks to everyone who helped make this year’s camps out of this world 🚀
Students practice giving a weather forecast against a whiteboard backdrop A summer camp instructor and a student work together on a colorful craft project A group of students in a classroom, one holding a notebook that says "Tomorrow's city, today!" A group of students holding up craft garden projects
August 21, 2025 at 9:13 PM
bellmuseum.bsky.social
Find us at the MN State Fair!

• STEM Day in Dan Patch Park on Thur, Aug 21
• Eco Experience on Sat, Aug 23, & Sun, Aug 24
• #UMN Crossroads Building on Mon, Aug 25

Meet our team, connect science, and learn more about what Minnesota’s state natural history museum has to offer!
A group of fairgoers at the Minnesota State Fair with a fair ride overhead
August 20, 2025 at 3:25 PM
bellmuseum.bsky.social
We’re thrilled to share that @arisimpacts.bsky.social has awarded the Bell’s Solution Studio the 2025 Impact Goals Award! Solution Studio, our recurring makerspace, has featured the work of scientists working on urban ecology, as part of the @msp-lter.bsky.social

researchinsociety.org/awards-2025/
March 21, 2025 at 4:48 PM
bellmuseum.bsky.social
Have you seen our monarchs & milkweed exhibit yet? Stop by the Bell Museum to learn more about what a day in the life of a monarch looks like!
March 13, 2025 at 4:20 PM