Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association Fall Museum Hours and Programs

Kelly Bernatzky • October 7, 2021

Join the Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) this fall for open hours at the Hinchman House Natural Science Museum and Research Center, as well as various public programs, including Beach Biology Field Trips and Open Nights.

 

Beginning on October 9th, the Natural Science Museum will be open on Saturdays from 10am-1pm. Admission is $5 per person and FREE for Members. Included with admission is a 10am-11am “Animal Feeding” program with museum staff. No registration is required; tickets will be available at the door.

 

Each month during the off-season, the museum will have a different theme with special exhibits, seasonal trivia, and live animals. This month, the museum theme is “Ominous Animals”, featuring bizarre animals and other mysterious science. The museum will be open on Saturdays from 10am-1pm through November 20th and reopen again after the new year.

 

On October 23rd, in celebration of National Chemistry Week and Mole Day (10/23), the MMA will be handing out free take-home science kits as part of our Everyday Science program supported by ReMain Nantucket.

 

The Research Center will also be open on Saturdays from 10am-1pm for Biological Collections Open Hours with the MMA’s Field Ornithologist, Ginger Andrews. At Open Hours, visitors learn about the collections, why collections are important to science, and examine different specimens during each session. From specimens of birds and mammals to insects and plants, you never know what will be on display!

 

Biological Collections Open Hours at the Research Center are free for everyone. No reservations are required.

 

The ever-popular Beach Biology Field Trips will begin this Saturday, October 9th. Each Saturday through November 20th, MMA Aquarium Director, Jack Dubinsky, will lead walking trips at Madaket Beach from 2-3:30PM. Participants will discover shells and bones of over 15 species of marine animals and are likely to observe live mole crabs, sand fleas, shore birds, beach insects, and seals! Beach Biology Field Trips are $10 for Members and $25 for Non-Members. Registration is required; please use the link below to reserve a space:

http://mariamitchell.doubleknot.com/openrosters/viewactivityspaceavailable.aspx?orgkey=3437&categoryid=13916

 

The first fall Open Nights of the season will be this coming Friday, October 8th and Saturday, October 9th both from 7-8:30PM. Visitors to Open Nights will join the MMA’s professional astronomers for an impressive tour of Nantucket’s night sky. The MMA staff will lead constellation tours and guide visitors through different viewing stations outside the observatory domes. Programs take place at 59 Milk Street Extension and are weather permitting. No reservations are required; tickets will be available at the door. Open Nights are $10 for Non-Members and FREE for Members. For updates on weather cancellations, please call (774) 325-1081or visit www.mariamitchell.org/open-nights. Additional Fall Open Nights are scheduled for November 4th, November 5th, December 8th, and December 9th.

 

As of this time, masks are required for all in-person MMA programming and site visits.

 

Please stay tuned for upcoming press releases on additional fall programming, including night hikes, bird walks with Ginger Andrews, and more.

 

The Maria Mitchell Association is a private non-profit organization. Founded in 1902, the MMA works to preserve the legacy of Nantucket native astronomer, naturalist, librarian, and educator, Maria Mitchell. The Maria Mitchell Association operates two observatories, a natural science museum, an aquarium, a research center, and preserves the historic birthplace of Maria Mitchell. A wide variety of science and history-related programming is offered throughout the year for people of all ages.

For Immediate Release

October 7, 2021

Contact: Kelly Bernatzky, Development Associate

kbernatzky@mariamitchell.org

Recent Posts

Maria Mitchell In Her Own Words

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • March 30, 2026
1882. Mch.13.3 p.m. I start for Faculty. As I sit, I feel as well as I ever did in my life; I go to Faculty and we probably shall elect what we called the “honor” girls. I dread the struggle that is pretty certain to come . . .The whole system is demoralizing and foolish. Girls study for “prizes” and not for learning when “honors” are at the end. The unscholarly motive is wearing. Maria Mitchell once said, “You cannot mark the human mind because there is no intellectual unit.” She did not like grades or prizes as you can see by her words above. I have to agree. Whether it be in academics or sports or some other activity, you should be rewarded in what you learn and how well you do – not to achieve a prize at the end. It’s the same idea with giving prizes to everyone so no one feels left out – just don’t do it. Learn how to lose gracefully.  JNLF

Women’s History Month

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • March 23, 2026
March is Women’s History Month – though all months should be women’s history month! Maria Mitchell was one of the founders of the Association for the Advancement of Women (AAW), was its president for a term (1875), and founded its Science Committee which she chaired for the remainder of her life. When the fourth Congress of the AAW met in Philadelphia in October 1876, Julia Ward Howe (also a friend of Maria’s) was serving with Maria on the executive committee. Maria presented a paper, “The Need for Women in Science.” In it she stated, Does anyone suppose that any woman in all the ages has had a fair chance to show what she could do in science? . . . The laws of nature are not discovered by accidents; theories do not come by chance, even to the greatest minds; they are not born of the hurry and worry of daily toil; they are diligently sought, they are patiently waited for, they are received with cautious reserve, they are accepted with reverence and awe. And until able women have given their lives to investigation, it is idle to discuss the question of their capacity for original work. She is not saying that women cannot be scientists – she is saying they need to be given the opportunities. Maria was incredibly busy with the AAW – it took up a great deal of her time – and at the next meeting in November of that year some aspects of the meeting were wonderful according to her account –“excellent” papers, “newspapers treated us very well. The institutions opened their doors to us, the Centennial gave us a reception. But – we didn’t have a good time!” It appears there was discord among the women. A few opposed the subject of “Woman Suffrage,” but Lucy Stone was able to present her paper on the subject despite this. And, some women felt that the West was not well represented and was overshadowed by New England, thus women representing the western states protested the nomination and election of Julia Ward Howe as president of the AAW. But she won. Whew! It was not always easy and controversies constantly abounded with many schisms over time within the women’s rights movement. I often wonder what Maria might think of the place of women today – how far things have come from her time or would she be surprised that there still is inequality? What would she think? In honor of Women’s History Month, visit the National Women’s History Alliance, the National Women’s History Museum, and the National Collaborative of Women’s History Sites. These places will also point you in the directions of women’s history sites across the country and how to find out more information about all these women who paved the way for us!  JNLF

Women’s History Month – On the Road with the NHA

By Jascin N. Leonardo Finger • March 17, 2026
For several years now, we have been teaming up with the Nantucket Historical Association in March for Women’s History Month. We visit each senior living or meeting site on island – five in all over the course of the month. We work to unique history of the place of women in our community then and through today – an incredible legacy that in the nineteenth century and earlier was quite unusual. We highlight women from all walks of island life, their accomplishments, and how they helped and influenced others. You see, Maria Mitchell was not the only incredible woman that Nantucket produced. For example, Eliza Codd was the island's first woman architect - and the leading architect on island when she practiced. Nantucket women shared their knowledge, path, support, and guidance with others both here and away and became major influences in the rights of women, women’s education, and the general place of women in society. Pretty incredible for such a small island! JNLF
Show More