Reviews of George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History (Museum)

Katie Johnston

Cute little place, loved the touch tank!

Tonya Mayo

This museum is comprised completely of student projects. We hung out here while waiting for Diver Ed's. It was air conditioned, has restrooms, and kept the kids entertained

Rae Cornwell

We visited the Dorr Museum first thing after checking into Acadia and reviewing the board of ranger programs. That day, there was a park ranger hosting a family-friendly touch tank talk about the local marine life. It may be aimed at children but my husband and I were enthralled! Apparently the rangers go and find fresh creatures from the Acadia shore before each session and bring them all in, fresh and rested, and ready for the public to learn about them in the water tank, which is at a comfortable height. I cant say I'd ever been spat at by a clam before! Id also note that you do get to see creatures that you won't see at Wonder Land beach, like starfish and sea cucumber. We toured the facility after the touch tank talk and found it full of gorgeous taxidermied creatures & animal artifacts native to the area, such as whale bones, animal pelts, stuffed seals, and tons more. Very educational and delightfully immersive place to bring the whole family. You'll maybe spend about 30 minutes to an hour here.

Brett Shaver

Great museum for all ages. They have a lot of info on local ecology and dioramas depicting wildlife. They even have a touch tank with live sea animals that occasionally has a ranger guided discussion. They recently added a live bee hive, too. Our whole family thoroughly enjoyed it

Natividad Salomee Ramos Vasconcelos Montalvan

Very Enriching

Tim Hoy

An excellent place to introduce kids to the amazing natural history of Acadia. It has an awesome touch tank, well crafted wildlife displays, and very interesting exhibits. This free little museum backs a really big impact punch.

Truth Muller

Great little natural history museum with incredible dioramas and exhibits all mad eby College of the Atlantic students.

Cassie Bosley

This is small natural history museum at college of the Atlantic near bar harbor. They have a fantastic touch tank, go when the ranger is leading a program, we learned so much about the sea creatures! And got to hold or touch about 6 or 7. We had such a great visit to Acadia but this was the highlight for my 9 year old! We enjoyed the taxidermied displays and the touch exhibits also. Admission is by donation but recommended $3.50 adults and $1.50 for kids.

Thomas Strehan

Lots of taxidermy all tailored by COA students. Cool touch tank exhibitions led by national park rangers at designated times.

brian d

Went for the ranger talk at the tidal pool tank, but the rest of the museum's exhibits are very educational and well-done, and all by the students! Free to visit (donation requested).

Hyeon Im

The museum features a local collection of preserved or stuffed insects, animals and some plants that are collected by College of Atlantic faculty and students. They also have a reach-in watertank with starfish and other small marine animals. Telephone booth has listening station for frogs and insects was also very interesting. Donation based. Well worth visiting.

Maura Muller

Fantastic little museum packed with wonderful exhibits and an excellent gift shop on beautiful COA campus.

Kavitha Sagi

Great public resource and awesome places to take kids for about an HR to touch and learn things. Don't forget the giant whale skull!

Debora Graas

Great exhibit. Worth it to stop by.

Kim Uttley

Took the kids on a rainy day, it was a lot of fun.

Mary Ternus

Love this place! Curated by COA students, featuring the fauna of this area.

Jacqueline Scarlett

So beautiful

DKB Unknown

Really nice collection of local and area wildlife displays and a great touch tank!

steve Cook

Great place! We stopped here with the kids while we were exploring Bar Harbor. It is free but you can leave a donation. They have a nice little live creature exhibit with lobster, crabs and star fish etc. Not a place to go for a long trip, but it is fun for an hour stopover.

Wonchan Song

The most strange museum I have ever visited. All the animals displayed there are killing others.

Richalene Thibeau

What a great place! Such a friendly and knowledgeable staff made this an awesome experience!

Mark Jacobsen

Cool stuff. Something to do for.about an hour.

Teri Giancola

Awesome museum! Very cool, a touch exhibit. Great for the whole family!!!

Blake Latham

Excellent, quaint museum. Best "touch" tank in the area. Starfish (seastars), sea cucumbers, huge sea snails, etc. Awesome for kids and adults. Admission is by donations. Very nice exhibits and very modern and clean building. Nice staff. This should be a must stop on every visit to the area! Check times for when open and least busy.

Brandon Himoff

Great small museum. Enjoyed the tidal pool tank especially.

Robyn Chiricolla

Great place

Alan Semon

For a very small, college student run museum, this place is wonderful! The students were all very pleasant and the one at the tank was simply chock-full of information. The displays are nicely laid out and the placards well written and informative. The gift shop had lots to offer folks of all ages and interest levels. I liked that there were many exhibits that you were encouraged to touch (pelts of various animals, whale baleen, and a hawk's wing to name but a few), so often these kinds of museums are look-only, nicely done! Sits right on the main road leading from the mainland into Bar Harbor on the College of the Atlantic campus, very easy to find.

Jeremy Dooley

Fun stop. Better parking needed.

Donald Halferty

This is a wonderful museum. Great for kids and adults. The ranger demonstrations are very well done !!

sherry klaver

This is a wonderful museum! It may be small but they have put a lot of work into the exhibits! Our kids age 11,10,9,8 and 8 months loved it! They enjoyed seeing the animals and the skeletons! The adults in our group especially enjoyed learning new facts about the animals in this region! We would absolutely recommend going if you are near the Bar Harbor area! It is free but the ask for donations. It is a worthy cause!

Robert Zulkeski

Cool college museum, lots of great little exhibits and awesome taxidermy. Recommend this of your looking for a small stop on your way into Bar Harbor or if your staying across the street in one of the motels!

Smita Ray

Great place to visit with kids. It's small , yet informative collectives. The staff was extremely helpful.

Terra Fletcher

Incredible taxidermy that is definitely worth seeing, especially if you have any background in natural science or taxidermy arts. The suggested donation is $3.50, which is a steal for what you get to see anyway.

Ben Stacy

Small, but great. Free, but please donate.

Kevin McNeil

Compact, informative nature museum just minutes from central Bar Harbor. Pay as you wish donation admission. Hosts the excellent Touch Tank Talk family program led by an Acadia Park ranger. Great for kids of all ages. Highly recommended.

Callahan Bryer

Nice museum to stop by for a few. Touch tank, a few small exhibits, and a gift shop.

Jordan Katz

Tank talk was great, as are the other displays.

April Moyer

Very cool visit. Got to hold a starfish.