The International Cryptozoology Museum In Maine Is Not For The Faint Of Heart
By Michelle|Published February 10, 2017
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Michelle
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Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
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In Maine we have no shortage of strange, from stores shaped like blueberries to eerie stories of (reported) UFO abductions. BUT, one of the strangest things about Maine is the many reported sightings of mysterious animals. There have been sightings of giant half-man, half-animal beasts from almost every region in the state and whether they’re real or not has yet to be proven. Wherever you stand in the debate about whether these reports are bogus, at least we have one institution dedicated to doing the research: The International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland!
These animals are typically larger and are mainly unverified by any sort of science. Examples are things like Yetis, Bigfoot, Lake Monsters, and Sea Serpents.
There are also hundreds of other yet-to-be-found animals. These are known as cryptids and exist worldwide.
Cryptozoology also refers to the study of animals that have only recently been discovered, such as the coelacanth, okapi, megamouth shark, and giant panda.
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The primary mission of the International Cryptozoology Museum is to "educate, inform, and share cryptozoological evidence, artifacts, replicas, and popular cultural items with the general public, media, students, scholars, and cryptozoologists from around the world."
One of the most notable exhibits is the Coelacanth, which is perhaps the most photographed specimen in the museum. At 5.5 ft long, this lifesize model is based on the creature found in Africa in 1938.
The museum is the result of five decades of field research, travel, and dedication to gathering materials, native art, as well as various samples proving the existence of different animals.
Some of the exhibits are man-made to show the more elusive animals, such as this one-of-a-kind movie prop, "FeeJee Mermaid," which was created for the 1999 A&E film, "P. T. Barnum."
While some may not believe in the existence of some of the attractions found here, it's worth a visit if only to challenge your own beliefs about the world.
While the museum is certainly strange, it exists, in part for a wonderful reason. Loren realized that cryptozoology can be a "gateway science" for young people.
For many, future interest in things like biology, zoology, the study of wildlife, anthropology, ecology, marine science, and conservation depend on being interested in science at a young age. This museum fills a necessary educational, scientific, and natural history gap in the learning that was available to some people and might still exist today for some kids.
Take a visit to the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland at 4 Thompson’s Point Road, Suite 106, Portland, Maine 04102. On-site parking is available. Learn more on their website or on Facebook.
