Science Museum of Minnesota receives $6.5 million gift

The Science Museum of Minnesota.

The Science Museum of Minnesota has announced a $6.5 million gift from the estate of William D. Wells, a former University of Minnesota professor who died in 2020.

The largest gift in the museum’s 117-year history will fund the William D. Wells Chair of Science position, which will oversee the museum’s research efforts as well as the care of its collections. Wells’ estate previously donated $9 million to Twin Cities Public Television, the Star Tribune reports.

“We are so grateful to Dr. Wells and his family for helping us pursue bold science and create lifelong learning opportunities for generations to come,” the museum said in a Facebook post.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/jferrer)

"The Science Museum is proud and honored to have received….." Science Museum of Minnesota Facebook post 01/04/2024. Tim Harlow. "$6.5 million gift is largest ever for Science Museum of Minnesota." Star Tribune 01/05/2024.