The Grand Manan Museum is located on Route 776 in Grand Harbour - it shoud be one of your first stops when visiting the island.

Its displays give a new, more vibrant context to the world around you - not only the history of Grand Manan - the island, people and fisheries, but through the Allan Moses Bird Collection, a view of some of its wildlife; and through the Geology Collection, many of the fascinating natural wonders the island has to offer.

The roots of the Museum lie in the establishment of Gerrish House Society in 1961. In 1967, the original museum was built through donations and help from the Provincial and Federal Governments. In 1979, the Gannet Lighthouse Fresnell light was moved beside the Museum and the Gallery was built around it. In 1997, the Museum was doubled in size in order to store the many artifacts and archives.

The Museum also runs a weekly series of lectures/slide shows on island history, culture, flora, fauna and geology which are well worth catching. In 2011, there were held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the Gallery. Updates on Museum activities can be found on their new Facebook page.

Opening day for the 2011 season of the Grand Manan Museum is Monday, May 30, at 9 AM. Check out their web site for much more information.

The Grand Manan Whale & Seabird Research Station is involved in active research, as well as offering a small, but highly informative natural history museum located across from the ferry ticket office in North Head, Grand Manan.

The GMWSRS was founded in 1981 by the late Dr. David Gaskin, a professor at the University of Guelph, Ontario and a pioneer of harbour porpoise research. Since 1981, the research station has conducted research on harbour porpoises, right whales, seals and seabirds in the Grand Manan Archipelago. 

We found the museum especially useful to visit just before we went out on the whale watching tour - there is a lot to see and learn on the tours, which ever one you choose to take. The Museum gives you a head start.

We also picked up our copy of the Grand Manan Trails Booklet in the Gift Shop there, although I am sure you can also find it elsewhere on the island as well.

They also have an extensive and informative web site.