The Natural Science Museum is home to snakes, frogs, turtles, and insects. These are the stars of our popular Carnivorous Critters and Meet the Animals programs. Some animals live with us year round and visit the schools in the winter. Other animals just spend the summer with us and are then released back into the wild each fall.
We have a collection of over 900 bird specimens representing most of the species seen on Nantucket. Some of these are on display in the Museum in seasonally changing exhibits that highlight interesting groups of birds or interesting behaviors. The rest of our collections are kept in the
Research Center
next door, which also holds visiting hours throughout the summer.
Our job at the Natural Science Museum is to document the species that live on Nantucket and provide opportunities for visitors to learn about them. When you visit our museum, you will see both live animals and preserved specimens in our collections.
The museum’s collections are an important resource for researchers and form the backbone of the public exhibits. You will also learn more about our active scientific research projects, like our Barn Owl research.
Stop by our Hinchman House Natural Science Museum Gift Shop to pick up educational toys and books, as well as scientific gear to continue your exploration of the world around you, including binoculars, field guides, insect vials, butterfly nets, and more! You can also purchase Maria Mitchell Association apparel perfect for exploring the outdoors! Stop by or shop online!
The MMA has been displaying natural history exhibits since 1904.
Exhibits have been on display in the Hinchman House since 1945.
Call Us: 508.228.9198
Email Us: info@mariamitchell.org