Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum & Arctic Studies Center

The Museum, named in honor of famous Arctic explorers and Bowdoin alumni Robert E. Peary (Class of 1877) and Donald B. MacMillan (Class of 1898), was established in 1967, and the Arctic Studies Center was added in 1985. The Museum’s collections reflect the long tradition of work in the Arctic by Bowdoin faculty, students, and alumni that began in the 1860s and that continues to this day.

Artifacts in the Museum’s collection include Peary and MacMillan’s expedition equipment, Inuit art, films, archival papers, natural history specimens, and much more. The Museum’s exhibitions now change approximately every two years to show as much of the collection as possible. Visit http://www.bowdoin.edu/arctic-museum/ for descriptions of their most recent exhibits.

The Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum offers guided tours to school groups and other interested organizations. These free tours are led by trained docents and can be geared to any age group and to particular interests. Tours include highlights of current exhibits as well as hands-on activities.

The museum is located on the main floor of Hubbard Hall on the Bowdoin College campus. Admission to the Museum is always free! Visit for details on the current exhibits, hours, and more information.