Museum of Natural History - St. Johnsbury, VT - American Guide Series on Waymarking.com

In St. Johnsbury, along Main Street, is the St. Johnsbury Museum and Planetarium, known in the American Guide Series volume for Vermont as the Museum of Natural Science.

The American Guide Series for Vermont has the following about this location:

4. Museum of Natural Science, 81-85 Main St., presented by Colonel Franklin Fairbanks in 1891, is the best architectural work in town. Constructed of Longmeadow red sandstone in the Richardson Romanesque style, it is modeled somewhat after the Billings Library at the University of Vermont (See BURLINGTON), which Richardson considered representative of his finest work. The guardian lions by the entrance are strikingly rendered. The extensive variety of exhibits includes a complete collection of Vermont flora; a large bird collection; exhibits of mammals, reptiles, fish, and insects, shells, minerals, fossils, and ethnological specimens from abroad; relics from early history and various wars; a collection of old china, pewter, and glassware. The history of Vermont agriculture is illustrated by the array of agricultural implements. The museum, in cooperation with the public schools, sponsors an educational program. Such a museum is unusual for a town the size of St. Johnsbury, its only competitor in the State being the Fleming Museum at the University of Vermont (see BURLINGTON). American Guide Series: The WPA Guide to Vermont - #14 The Green Mountain State, p. 139

The museum today is essentially the same as described. The first floor has many exhibits showing stuffed animals in various poses. Somewhat ironic is the one showing endangered animals. One difference is that a planetarium has been added to show astronomy-related shows. Also, a butterfly house has been added to the property outside the main building to educate the public about butterflies in the area. Also, of particular note is the display of flower clippings showing what is currently blooming.

Book: Vermont Page Number(s) of Excerpt: 139 Year Originally Published: 1937

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Date Logged Log User Rating   06/15/2018 ORDIMIC visited it