Preparethe placeget us ready

Getting ready for Sensory Friendly Saturday at the Bell Museum.

The University of Minnesota's natural history museum and planetarium in St. Paul, with Sensory Friendly Saturday mornings before opening, sensory packs to borrow and the Rudnick Quiet Space.

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Sensory supports. Sensory Friendly Saturdays, a quiet space and sensory packs.

Hours

Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm; closed Monday and Tuesday. Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Sensory Friendly Saturday is 8 to 10 am on the dates below.

2088 Larpenteur Ave W, St. Paul, MN 55113

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Sat Nov 21 2026Sensory Friendly Saturday at the Bell Museum, 8 am to 10 am. Minnesota Journeys gallery, temporary exhibits, the Touch & See Lab and a short planetarium show at 8:45 am, with lowered lighting, quieter sounds and fewer visitors. Included with regular admission.Sat Dec 19 2026Sensory Friendly Saturday at the Bell Museum, 8 am to 10 am. Minnesota Journeys gallery, temporary exhibits, the Touch & See Lab and a short planetarium show at 8:45 am, with lowered lighting, quieter sounds and fewer visitors. Included with regular admission.

Sensory help, in the museum's words

“You can borrow a sensory pack with tools such as visual timers, weighted lap pads, and hearing protection”

“The quietest time to visit the museum is late afternoon, when we have fewer visitors and our space is generally uncrowded.”

“Any member of the public who can benefit from this environment is welcome to attend this event.”

The Quiet Space is for one family at a time. Ask at the front desk where it is and whether it's free.
For Sensory Friendly Saturdays after Dec 19, check the museum's Sensory Friendly page in December.
Opening weekend for the new planetarium show, Saturday Nov 14, has activities all through the museum, so expect a busier day.

In their own words: bellmuseum.umn.edu. Checked Mon, Nov 2, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell us · How we check

Three things to know

Sensory Friendly Saturday, 8 to 10 am, with lowered lighting, quieter sounds and fewer visitors.
Sensory packs to borrow, with visual timers, weighted lap pads and hearing protection.
The Rudnick Quiet Space, a single-use room for families and individuals with sensory sensitivities.

Visual schedule

Museum Day

Drive to the museum
Park the car
Go in the museum
Get a sensory pack
Go to the Touch and See Lab
Go to the planetarium
Take a break
Bathroom
Walk to the car
All done

Make it yours →

Ask before you go

where the Quiet Space is
where to pick up a sensory pack, or whether it needs an ID
how loud or dark regular planetarium shows are
first aid
strollers, bags or outside food
whether you can leave and come back

Call 612-626-9660

More about Bell Museum

Louder, in the museum's words

Quieter, in the museum's words

Lawrence and Barbara Rudnick Quiet Space, a single-use space for families and individuals with sensory sensitivitiesquiet zone

Late afternoon, the quietest time to visitquiet zone

Museum admission: adults $15, ages 3 to 21 $12, 2 and under free. Planetarium shows and combo tickets cost more. On-duty Personal Care Assistants get in free.
Reserve museum and planetarium tickets online or by phone.
Parking is $6 a day in the lot off Larpenteur Ave, card only; under 10 minutes is free. Accessible spaces are close to the main entrance, and a drop-off area is near the main entrance before you enter the lot. The main entrance is fully accessible from the lot.
Bus: Metro Transit Route 61 stops at Larpenteur Ave and Coffman St. The St. Paul Circulator stops at the museum's drop-off area.
Free wheelchairs and walkers. The planetarium has wheelchair seating and size-inclusive seats.
Questions: 612-626-9660 (10 am to 3 pm, Wednesday to Sunday) or bellinfo@umn.edu. Accessibility office: 612-625-4511 or bellaccess@umn.edu.

Call: 612-626-9660 Museum612-625-4511 Accessibility office
Email: bellaccess@umn.edu Accessibility email

Source: bellmuseum.umn.edu