Collections:
The Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum collection is built around material donated by Donald B. MacMillan during his long career as an arctic explorer and researcher. MacMillan gave the museum his unparalleled collection of over 5000 black and white photographs, as well as glass lantern and 35 mm slides, motion picture films, and objects he collected in Greenland, Labrador and Baffin Island. Since that time the museum collection has continued to grow. Photographs and motion picture film continue be an important aspect of the collection, as do historic Inuit artifacts. We also continue to purchase contemporary art and crafts from across the Arctic. Highlights of the collection are discussed in more detail below.
Facilities:
The museum is located on the main floor of Hubbard Hall on the Bowdoin College campus.
Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM
Sunday 2 to 5 PM
Closed Mondays and National Holidays
Activities:
The Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum offers guided tours to school groups and other interested organizations. Tours are led by trained docents and can be geared to any age group, from preschool to adult. Tours include highlights of current exhibits as well as hands-on activities. Tour groups will have the opportunity to try on Inuit snow goggles, play with an ajugaq, try a bow-drill, feel various types of fur, and even hold a walrus tusk! Tours can be customized to focus on Arctic exploration, the environment, or Native peoples.