Peary–MacMillan Arctic Museum

Announcement

The Arctic Museum Galleries are Now Open Tuesday-Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. No Reservation Required.

COVID-19 vaccination (including booster) is required of all visitors.
All visitors are encouraged to wear masks within the museum.
Call (207) 725-3416 or email pmam@bowdoin.edu for more information.

Explore the Arctic!

Arctic Museum Exhibits

Fun and Games in the Arctic

September 27, 2022 - December 31, 2022, Hubbard Hall foyer

Communities all over the world love games, and the people of the Arctic, and the Arctic Museum staff, are no exceptions.

Kajak!

October 20, 2020 - November 18, 2022, Arctic Museum main galleries

Inspired by the full-sized Nunatsiavut kayak given to the College in 1891 and on display in the museum gallery for over 50 years, this exhibit explores making and using traditional kayaks from Greenland, Labrador, and beyond. It features over 20 model kayaks and umiaks, as well as associated equipment, historic film and photographs, and the centerpiece of the exhibit, a full size replica of the 1891 Kajak created for this exhibit.

A Resounding Beat: Music in the Inuit World

March 26, 2019 - November 18, 2022, Arctic Museum main galleries

Traditional and contemporary music is a vibrant part of Inuit society. Inuit visual artists often portray traditional drummers, singers, and dancers in their works, highlighting the ways such performances and songs are crucial links to the past. Contemporary musicians are reviving traditional music, performing pieces in their original forms. At the same time, they are incorporating elements of older musical styles into modern genres, creating unique contemporary sounds.

Black Lives Matter:
The Arctic Museum’s
Plan for Moving Forward

In support of the Black Lives Matter Movement, the staff of the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum has been reflecting upon our institutional history and what we can do moving forward to better promote Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) voices, and to actively combat the white supremacy imbedded in our society.

We acknowledge that we are currently an all-white permanent staff at a predominantly white institution of higher education. The idea of the modern museum itself, as originally conceived, is a racist, colonial enterprise, and our particular museum is named for and owes its origin to two individuals who operated within colonial and racist frameworks.

For a long time, Arctic Museum staff have understood that museums are not neutral, and we have prioritized anticolonial practices and programming. Nevertheless, we recognize the reality that much more is needed.