The Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum is a celebration of the Far North and of two of the men who first helped explore it. The two Bowdoin alumni, Robert E. Peary and Donald MacMillan, were among the first to reach the North Pole in 1909 and 1916. Their expeditions inspired the selection of the polar bear as Bowdoin’s mascot. The museum is made up of thousands of artifacts and photographs brought back from their travels. Founded in 1967, the museum celebrates both these explorers as well as Bowdoin’s continuing commitment to Arctic studies. Take a moment in front of the centerpiece of the museum, a stuffed polar bear from 1915 that MacMillan captured in Greenland.
Wander through the three closely packed rooms and let yourself be transported to the frigid North. Peer at the thousands of collected photographs MacMillan took of his expeditions, from black and white photographs of the Inuits he encountered to hand-tinted glass lantern images of the tundra. Watch the brief films taken during that early age of exploration. Compare the historic Inuit artifacts, such as the magnificent beadwork, weaving and ritual garb, to the small but growing collection of modern Inuit arts and crafts. Imagine yourself in one of the expeditions’ sleds, speeding across the frozen Arctic while being pulled by dogs.
The museum’s collection is much larger than the materials that are on display. Every 2 years, the exhibits change over, so you will always find more to return for. The college’s Arctic Studies Center is extremely active. Check the museum’s calendar for educational lectures, workshops and events that can make the contents of the museum come alive.
The Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum is open every day, except Monday, during business hours and on Sunday afternoons. Entry is free. Find the museum on the main floor of Bowdoin’s Hubbard Hall, near the Bowdoin Museum of Art on the quad. It is a 10-minute walk from Brunswick Station, with rail connections to other locations in Maine. Parking is available for all college visitors in the on-campus lots.
