Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium
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ONLINE INFO FROM THE MUSEUM
While our doors are closed, we’re working on new ways to connect with you. Eye on the Sky meteorologists created remote broadcasting capabilities to keep delivering quality, in-depth forecasts. And our exhibit and collections specialists are sprucing up displays with new audiences in mind. The museum’s team of educators is preparing engaging science content delivered with the latest technology to keep everyone safe and informed.
Kingdom Access Television will also broadcast all of our online programs for those with low Internet access.
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Founded in 1889 by St. Johnsbury industrialist Franklin Fairbanks, the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium is one of the largest museums of natural history in New England. Today, the Museum's mission remains in harmony with the vision of Franklin Fairbanks: to "...inspire an appreciation and responsibility for our place in the natural world."
Collections Estimates total 175, 000 in the following categories:
Natural Science 75, 000 (including mounted birds, mammals, reptiles, and fish; insects; nests and eggs; shells; fossils; rocks; minerals; herbarium)
Historical 95, 000 (including tools, toys, over 2, 500 dolls, political memorabilia, textiles, weapons, 55, 000 archival photographs and documents.
Ethnological 5, 000 (including Oceania, the Near East, Africa, Egypt, Japan, and native North America)
Facilities The Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located on 3.0 acres in the heart of St. Johnsbury's Main Street Historical District. The Museum Main building's 21, 500 square feet contains three floors of exhibits, the planetarium, the Northern New England Weather Center, a lecture room, a classroom/laboratory, administrative offices, and the Museum Shop.
Check here for hours and planetarium showtimes.
Reviews
- August 22, 2013"Honestly the only thing my children enjoy here is the giant globe and the play groups they have here once a month. They have a new nature preschool and have open house once a month. That is great fun and we try to go when they have it. The other part is great if you're an adult but children lose interest fast."- Dadoftheyear1
- June 14, 2012"We live close to this museum, although it's not for young children there is still plenty to do there. I have brought some of the special needs children I work with here and they have loved it. They just did an update to the planetarium so I'm excited to see what it looks like now!"- Vtmomma13
- May 25, 2011"We drove a few hours to go to the museum and after searching their website first I think I went in a little disappointed. You definitely cannot spend the day there and although I thought there were a lot of really interesting artifacts, my young children (5 and 2) really only enjoyed a few. The balcony exhibits are really not little kid friendly- I had to hold my children so they could see what were in the cases- and on a cool May day it was so very hot. My favorite exhibit was the Omni Globe- my kids really enjoyed that too!! While I do believe this museum is a must-see Vermont attraction I think it is most suitable for an adult or older child."- mommasboys
- April 13, 2010"We visited the Fairbanks Museum with our 3-year-old and our in-laws. There are some really interesting exhibits. My daughter really liked the taxidermy animals and the weather station where there were some great hands-on activities. It was a little hard for her to contain herself, so it might be better to take older children? My husband and I really enjoyed it and I know my in-laws did as well. It was interesting to learn more about the local history of the area. I'm looking forward to going back again and spending more time at each exhibit. I would like to visit the planetarium too, we didn't get a chance to see it our first time through."- Hannah B
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