Meet Spotify's Great Grandpa: The Pavek Museum's Journey!

Hang out with us at the Pavek Museum and see how old-school sounds shaped today’s podcasts, streams and bops! 🎧💃🎶

Quick Summary: The Pavek Museum

Discover the vintage roots of modern tech at the Pavek Museum.

Tech Time Travel: Explore the origins of today’s gadgets in a massive collection of historic electronics.
Sound & Stories: Experience the evolution from early radio broadcasts to the digital age of music and podcasts.
Interactive Nostalgia: Dive into hands-on exhibits and create your own broadcast in a tribute to communication history.

Kids can explore what it's like to be a TV or radio host with vintage equipment. — *Kids can explore what it’s like to be a TV or radio host with vintage equipment.*

Tuning You Into the Midwest

Hey hey, it’s Kitty! 😸👋

Jack and I are your Midwest travel experts, born in Minneapolis and now calling Winona home. After 20 years on the road with music and film, we’ve become the go-to guides for Midwest gems, sharing our finds in bestselling books, our daily podcast and blog.

Where am I taking you today?

Spotify in Sweden? Oh no, we’re going wayyy back.

Great Grandpa vibes.👴

Long before streams on your smartphone were a thing.

We’re talking the history of recorded sound itself…and a museum dedicated to all things amazing for your eyeballs and eardrums. 👀👂

The Pavek Museum in St. Louis Park, MN.

*Jack snaps a quick parking lot selfie.* *Essential, we know.* 😹

Tech Roots and Vintage Vibes: The Pavek Museum Adventure

Ever wondered where all the magic in your smartphone started? 📱 Or how we jumped from bulky radios to sleek tablets?

For the tech-curious and history buffs alike, the Pavek Museum is your time machine to the fascinating past of electronic communications.

Minnesota actor Clellan Card and in character as Axel. Digital art by Jack and Kitty Norton. — Don’t miss our feature on popular Minnesota children’s television host Clellan Card, and his groundbreaking show, “Axel and his Dog”. Read more: **https://jackandkitty.com/clellan-card-axel-and-his-dog/**

Uncover the Building Blocks of Today’s Tech

From the first time someone heard a voice crackling through a radio, to the moment a TV screen lit up with images from afar, the Pavek Museum is home to showing us how it all started. 📻📺

This is the old school version of a flatscreen TV! Knobs were used instead of a remote control to navigate viewing. Pretty cool, right? 📺 — *This is the old school version of a flatscreen TV!* *Knobs were used instead of a remote control to navigate viewing.* *Pretty cool, right?* 📺

With a sprawling 12,000 square feet of tech treasures, this museum is like walking through the hall of fame for gadgets.

Meet the Ancestors of Your Playlist

Yep, your Spotify owes them a lot! 👴

The museum showcases the revolutionary AEG Magnetophon tape recorders, which brought high-fidelity sound to American radio—changing music and media forever.

This museum has stuff for old-school gamers too. Here, the Atari 2600 is on display. Look at those joysticks and cartridges!🕹 — *This museum has stuff for old-school gamers too. Here, the Atari 2600 is on display.* *Look at those joysticks and cartridges!*🕹

Imagine Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” without this tech leap; the tunes might not have been as crisp! ❄️🎄

From Radios to Podcasts: The Evolution of Storytelling

It’s not just about the machines; it’s the stories they told.

Dive into the archives and watch interviews with broadcast legends, connecting the dots from the first news bulletins to the podcasts and YouTube channels of today. 📺🎙️

A Hands-on Jump into Broadcasting History

Get ready to feel like a radio star with the museum’s Broadcast Experience, where you can create your own show. 🎙️

Or perhaps podcasting is more your jam? Learn the ropes and maybe start the next big thing—right from the heart of broadcasting history! 🗣🎧

Before hip-hop revolutionized turntables or DJs mixed your favorite electro songs , radio DJ's played records for millions of listeners on radio stations around the world. 🎵 — *Before hip-hop revolutionized turntables or DJs mixed your favorite electro songs , radio DJ’s played records for millions of listeners on radio stations around the world.* 🎵

I'm obsessed. The Theremin is a weird instrument you can play...without TOUCHING it. Space-age magic it seems! 👽 🎵 — *I’m obsessed. The Theremin is a weird instrument you can play…without TOUCHING it. Space-age magic it seems!* 👽 🎵

Summary: The Pavek Museum

So, next time you swipe your touchscreen, spare a thought for the bulky boxes and whirring tapes that started it all. And maybe, just maybe, drop by the Pavek Museum to give a nod to the ghosts of gadgets past.

Who knows, you might just find inspiration for the future! ✨🚀

Know Before You Go

Admission: Adults $11, Students $6, Military $6
Group Tours: Starting at $75 minimum, with a fascinating 45-minute guided experience
Hours: Open Wed-Sat, 10 am to 5 pm, with the last entry at 4:30 pm
Location: 3517 Raleigh Ave, St. Louis Park, MN 55416
Parking: There is plenty of free parking in their lot

Where the Heck is St. Louis Park, Minnesota?

🎉 Want to plan a fun trip to Minneapolis/St. Paul? We’ve got you covered with this related blog post: Top 20 Must-Do Activities in the Twin Cities.