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The Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium is much more than Northern New England’s museum of natural history — it is a place to marvel at the wonders of our world. Perfect for families and visitors of all ages, the Fairbanks Museum invites you to explore your universe.

The Museum holds over 30,000 objects from an eclectic permanent collection, including natural science specimens, historical artifacts, archival photographs and documents, and ethnological treasures.

“Balancing Science and Wonder” introduces guests to the history of the Fairbanks Family and their legacies, including the Fairbanks Museum, the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, and St. Johnsbury Academy. This exhibit includes a timeline of leading voices who shaped the Museum through its long history.

Changing and long-term exhibits focus on aspects of culture, art and technology relating to the history, traditions and landscape of the Great Northern Forest and around the world.

The Museum is home to the Lyman Spitzer Jr. Planetarium, the only public planetarium in Vermont, where you can journey through the cosmos, guided by one of our astronomy experts. Stroll through a living display of native butterflies and their host plants in our Shippee Family Eye Care Butterfly House (open June – Sept).

Bring your questions about rocks, bones, bugs and plants that you find in the fields, forests and wetlands where you are to our Naturalist’s Corner, where our team will do their best to answer your questions about invasive species, healthy ecosystems and native habitats.