This description refers to exhibits in the museum's former location on 10 Church St.
Dioramas 

The Bell Museum's dioramas were located on two floors of the Minneapolis site, and displayed Minnesota's habitats, along with the birds, animals, plants and insects that populate them.
There are moose, elk, bear, beavers, cranes, fish, and more.
The dioramas serve as an opportunity to learn animal facts, observe animal behavior, and find out how species survive.
Constructed between 1920 and the late 1940s, the Bell Museum's dioramas illustrate what Minnesota was like before the ax and plow.

Renowned artist Francis Lee Jaques completed backgrounds on nine of the large dioramas and ten of the medium-size dioramas.
Jacques grew up in Minnesota where he pursued his passion for painting and illustrating nature.

Touch and See Room 

The Touch and See Room came into being in 1968.
Public Education Coordinator Richard Barthelemy, known as Bart, realized that young and old visitors alike wanted to get their hands on all the specimens that are traditionally behind glass in museums.

Bart started by sitting down with groups and passing around bones and furs and feathers and such and talking with them about what was there.
He teamed with Dr. Roger Johnson from the University of Minnesota's Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education to figure out how to make the experience work at its best.
Shortly after Touch and See opened, the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. visited the Bell and then launched its famous discovery room.

Now, the touch and see room is home not only to the original collections, but also to multiple live specimens, including snakes, frogs, geckos, cockroaches, and tarantulas.

Rainforest Gallery 

“Under the Fig Leaf” is a living rainforest and active research project managed by the museum's Curator of Plants, Professor George Weiblen.
Many of the plants were grown from seeds collected by Weiblen in tropical forests around the world like Papua New Guinea.
Visitors can get a ground floor and canopy view of the mini rainforest and learn about related University of Minnesota research.

ExploraDome 

The museum's former film screening room was retrofitted to house a halfdome planetarium theater.
Museum staff lead audiences on a virtual voyage from the surface of the Earth to the edge of the known universe in an intimate environment, holding up to 15 people per show.
All presentations are given live by a planetarium educator and allow for audience interaction, unless noted as "pre-recorded."

Geodome 

The museum's inflatable geodome is the traveling version of the ExploraDome that is brought to the school and locations across the state and region.
It was the first geodome theater in Minnesota.
Primarily used for educational outreach visits, the geodome also makes an annual trip the Minnesota State Fair for STEM Day.

Traveling Exhibits 

The Bell Museum of Natural History develops and circulates exhibitions on a broad range of topics.
With these exhibitions, the Bell seeks to instill a greater appreciation of our natural world and promote a better understanding of contemporary ecological issues.
Although many of the exhibitions are designed for small-to medium-sized spaces, the Bell's exhibits have traveled to museums of all sizes throughout the United States and Canada.
Most of the exhibits require gallery installation, but several are self-supporting, lightweight, and easily assembled.
These are ideal for bookings in either museum or non-museum settings, such as visitor centers, schools, and libraries.
This description refers to exhibits in the museum's former location on 10 Church St.
Dioramas 

The Bell Museum's dioramas were located on two floors of the Minneapolis site, and displayed Minnesota's habitats, along with the birds, animals, plants and insects that populate them. There are moose, elk, bear, beavers, cranes, fish, and more. The dioramas serve as an opportunity to learn animal facts, observe animal behavior, and find out how species survive. Constructed between 1920 and the late 1940s, the Bell Museum's dioramas illustrate what Minnesota was like before the ax and plow.
Renowned artist Francis Lee Jaques completed backgrounds on nine of the large dioramas and ten of the medium-size dioramas. Jacques grew up in Minnesota where he pursued his passion for painting and illustrating nature.
Touch and See Room 

The Touch and See Room came into being in 1968. Public Education Coordinator Richard Barthelemy, known as Bart, realized that young and old visitors alike wanted to get their hands on all the specimens that are traditionally behind glass in museums.
Bart started by sitting down with groups and passing around bones and furs and feathers and such and talking with them about what was there. He teamed with Dr. Roger Johnson from the University of Minnesota's Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education to figure out how to make the experience work at its best. Shortly after Touch and See opened, the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. visited the Bell and then launched its famous discovery room.
Now, the touch and see room is home not only to the original collections, but also to multiple live specimens, including snakes, frogs, geckos, cockroaches, and tarantulas.
Rainforest Gallery 

“Under the Fig Leaf” is a living rainforest and active research project managed by the museum's Curator of Plants, Professor George Weiblen. Many of the plants were grown from seeds collected by Weiblen in tropical forests around the world like Papua New Guinea. Visitors can get a ground floor and canopy view of the mini rainforest and learn about related University of Minnesota research.
ExploraDome 

The museum's former film screening room was retrofitted to house a halfdome planetarium theater. Museum staff lead audiences on a virtual voyage from the surface of the Earth to the edge of the known universe in an intimate environment, holding up to 15 people per show. All presentations are given live by a planetarium educator and allow for audience interaction, unless noted as "pre-recorded."
Geodome 

The museum's inflatable geodome is the traveling version of the ExploraDome that is brought to the school and locations across the state and region. It was the first geodome theater in Minnesota. Primarily used for educational outreach visits, the geodome also makes an annual trip the Minnesota State Fair for STEM Day.
Traveling Exhibits 

The Bell Museum of Natural History develops and circulates exhibitions on a broad range of topics. With these exhibitions, the Bell seeks to instill a greater appreciation of our natural world and promote a better understanding of contemporary ecological issues. Although many of the exhibitions are designed for small-to medium-sized spaces, the Bell's exhibits have traveled to museums of all sizes throughout the United States and Canada. Most of the exhibits require gallery installation, but several are self-supporting, lightweight, and easily assembled. These are ideal for bookings in either museum or non-museum settings, such as visitor centers, schools, and libraries.
Bell Museum of Natural History