Pavek Museum

Better (extremely) late than never.The Pavek affords one a step back in time to an era when Radio was dominant. I find that it has a fascinating collection of all manner of radios as well as TVs and assorted broadcast equipment. The museum has made a heroic effort to preserve the early days of electronic media and to me it serves as a reminder that what's new is old.Hours are somewhat limited (see Pavek online for current info). The price of admission is quite reasonable in my opinion. Unfortunately the Pavek is relatively obscure and not at all well known (at least locally). I suppose that makes the place a "hidden gem." I personally think it deserves much greater recognition.Well worth a look in my book.

We often talk about "hidden gems" as a good think. In the case of the Pavek Museum, it's unfortunate that this gem is hidden. It's located off Highway 100 in St. Louis Park, very near the Post Office and Target.I've lived in the Twin Cities, less than 15 minutes from the museum, since before the museum opened in 1988. Yes, I had never heard of it or even seen it, even though I've been within blocks of it's location many, many times.Recently, I had the opportunity to tour the museum with one of their well-qualified interns. This museum specialized in mass communication, from the invention of the telegraph machine in the 1800's through modern times. In fact, many of the "artifacts" in the museum didn't even exist when the museum opened in 1988!I was most impressed with their exhibits and original objects, including the very first reel-to-reel tape machine brought to the US after World War I. It is a chance to get very close to all of these objects and to better understand the evolution of communication in a relatively short 150 years of advancements.As an adult, I really enjoyed this museum and I think we will find it well worth your time to visit. However, the main bulk of their visitors are school groups. It would be fun to watch kids try to figure out how to use the rotary phone dial they have in their phone booth exhibit. These is also a low-wattage radio station that kids can use to do actual broadcasts.Please help this gem become unhidden because it is a fun and educational museum that can be enjoyed by anyone.

The official name is the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting.Having grown up on The Lone Ranger and Howdy Doody, the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting was a major trip down memory lane. Thanks to local broadcasters who donated equipment, the place is a living treasure of a bygone era. Today's kids can not only learn how radio and TV used to be, when it was new, but they can "work" in a radio newsroom, ripping headlines off the teletype, and sit behind a news anchor's desk. Take a crowd. You'll love it.

My wife and I had a two for one coupon to enter this Nation wide known museum and we caught up to a tour of about five personas making their way through the tour.It starts out detailing how the initial radio signals were sent which was pretty cool, and then you enter a room filled with about 300 kinds of radios and how they were used. It leads to the development of TV. When you see see the original version of TV, it makes the tour almost like something you can not believe.The guide we had was fantastic and the whole tour is really fact filled over the years of radio.With the two for one from the Entertainment Book, it was a cool hour or so.I am a big historical guy and love to learn how stuff began, I was in heaven.We are very lucky to be this close to see this many old transmission mediums!

I can't believe there's only one other review. I understand that radios (ham, shortwave, broadcast, TV, etc.) is a bit of a narrow interest, but this has got to be one of the best telecommunications museums in the world, and I don't say that lightly.You can get a little audio/visual device that will help you along on a self-guided tour (if you want one, I think they are free with admission, which is a very reasonable $7). You punch in the numbers on any exhibit you want to learn more about and a short video or audio clip plays to give you more information, or a demonstration of how the device works. A surprising amount of items here are hands-on. I played a real Theremin (I have seen real ones but there are very few places that will let you play it...)When I was there, only a handful of other patrons were visiting. The curator/manager(?) came out of his office and asked if we'd like to see something special. Then he proceeded to demonstrate several of the hands-off pieces from the museum's collection, including the spark-gap transmitter, the first audio tape player in the USA, some early record players, and even took us into the back room and showed us some of the pieces they are restoring and working on.I spent about 3 hours here and there was still more left to see. Tip: I believe there are often large school tours here so if this affects your enjoyment, you may want to call ahead and check.Tip: This is also called the Pavek Museum.

Well worth the trip in you are in the Twin City area. They also have a Ham Station for you ham radio operators.

I LOVE THIS PLACE SO MUCH! it deserved those caps. i spent hours here and i still feel like there was things to see. it was well organized but also choatic and i loved it. i learned alot here, and you are able to actually touch items. get lost in the era. its cheap to get in and i cant imagine a better way to spend $8 and a few hours time. when i come back to minneapolis i willl be coming back for another turn around this funland. oh btw the staff was super friendly, knowledgeable and even reccomended other fun kitschy things in the area. win win win.

The Pavek Museum of Broadcasting is a rare gem in the Minneapolis area. It is a smaller, but quite engaging museum that is educational, entertaining for both children and adults. The museum staff is very courteous and knowledgeable. The collection consists of a wide array of early switchboard, television, radion and other communication gear. There are interactive displays and an old Wurlitzer (still plays a record) that children can enjoy. If you find yourself in the Minneapolis area with a couple of hours to spend - GO to the Pavek Museum of Broadcasting, it's a real gem.

Tucked away in suburbia, this museum packs a punch! Endless gizmos at which to gawk, many hands on demos for kids, and a museum staff which is clearly passionate about the subject matter.