St. Peter Museum of Inventions
Our museum contains many famous Renaissance inventions.
Open Now! Leanardo da Vinci exhibit
This is our newest exhibit and it focuses on some of Leonardo's inventions, paintings, and sculptures. He was born in 1452 and died in 1519. In his life time he made a great effect on society. He started out as an artist and sculptor, but then later became interested in science and inventing. He never was educated in Latin or Science, and this is why many people ignored his ideas. In this exhibit you will discover how his inventions worked and why they were so important. We hope you will come and join us and discover how some of these inventions still effect us today.
St. Peter Museum of Inventions
Hours: Mon-Fri 9 am-5 pm
Sat: 9 am-3 pm
Sun: Closed
Admission Adults $5 Children 12 Y.O. or younger $3
Group rates available
Contact us at, www.stpetermuseum.org
or call 507-931-0000
Leonardo's Flying Machine
He drew plans for it in 1485. The official name for it was a ornithopter. It was based off of a bird, where there was two wings a person would flap to make them fly. This was the first flying device ever invented. There isn't any evidence that he ever built the flying machine, but even having the plans to build something like that is years ahead of its age.
Leonardo's Robotic Knight
It was designed in 1495. It was a robot that resembled a knight in armor. It was able to sit up, move its arms, and neck. It was operated by a series of cables and pulleys. Just like the flying machine we have no proof that he built it, however the robot has been built by others and works. He also made a self-propelled cart, and some argue that it was the first robot Leonardo made. Either way this robot may have been the most advanced thing He created.
Leonardo's Machine Gun
Leonardo based the "machine gun" off of the cannon. It was basically a fan shaped frame on wheels with 12 cannons attached to it. It wasn't exactly rapid fire, but it would have been faster than anything else from his time frame. It was also useful because it was lightweight and on wheels so it could easily be moved.
Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci
The image above is probably one of the most famous, and well know paintings in the world. Originally called La Gioconda Leonardo first painted it between 1503 and 1506. It is a portrait of Lisa Gherardini, who is the wife of Francesco del Giocondo. Leonardo painted it with oil on a poplar panel. Today the French Republic owns the painting and it is on display in the Louver museum in Paris. It has been there since 1797 and is on display permanently.
Modernizing Da Vinci's Machine Gun