hink you know the real Frankenstein story? When you think of Frankenstein, who or what do you see? Most likely, its the monster portrayed by Boris Karloff in the 1931 movie. But, did you know that the original story was written more than 100 years before this classic film was made? That Victor Frankenstein is the name of the college student (not a mad scientist!) who put the creature together and brought him to life? That the creature never had a name, but could read, write and speak? Do you want to discover more about the real Frankenstein story?

Click on the dull yellow eyes of the creature above to discover the rich history and science of Frankenstein through this virtual version of The Bakken's exhibit Frankenstein: Mary Shelley's Dream. Find out more about the original story written by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley when she was just 18 years old. You'll find photos of museum artifacts that are part of the exhibit with links to all kinds of information about the science, literature, and life experiences that inspired Mary Shelley to write this timeless tale. We hope you have a shocking good time, and learn something new along the way!

isit The Bakken in person to see our real Frankenstein exhibit and take a step back in time to the early 1800s when a young Mary Shelley put pen to paper. At The Bakken you'll experience a dramatic multi-media immersion into Victor Frankenstein's laboratory and Mary Shelley's study!

f you and a high school or college group are interested in meeting Mary Shelley and learning more about her life and the creation of her most famous story.  Click here for information about our Mary Shelley Field Trip, called Finding Frankenstein.

The Bakken's Virtual Frankenstein exhibit was created in collaboration with the Minnesota Humanities Commission with support from the 3M Foundation.