Research Center
Home to our historic and current herbarium, entomological, ornithological, mammalian, and geologic collections that date back over 100 years.
Have you wanted to find out more about our island birds or what exactly plankton look like under a microscope? How birds are prepared to become specimens or why it’s important to keep herbarium species that date back over 100 years?
The MMA Research Center has all of these answers and more. Originally built in the 1830s as Maria Mitchell’s father’s, William Mitchell, schoolhouse, the MMA Research Center began a new life in 1919 as the MMA Science Library. In 1933, a stucco-sided wing was added to house Maria Mitchell’s papers and library, as well as a unique special collection of science-related books.
The building was conserved and renovated in 2018, to serve not just as a climate-controlled repository for these important island collections, but to serve as a laboratory and classroom space to be used by the MMA, island scientists and researchers, school groups, and researchers and scientists from off-island.
Facility Open Hours
The Research Center is open for the winter by appointment only.
Please call 508.228.9198 for more information.
Check our calendar for future Biological Collections Open Hours with Ginger Andrews, the MMA’s Field Ornithologist. Open hours have concluded for the winter and are by appointment only. Please call our offices at 508.228.9198 or e-mail jgurley@mariamitchell.org to schedule.
At Open Hours, visitors learn about the collections, why collections are so 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! This program is FREE to all visitors. No reservations are required; this is a walk-in program.
The Research Center is also open by appointment for research. Please call 508.228.9198 for more information.
2 Vestal Street, Nantucket, MA
Our Collections
Today, the Research Center is the home to the MMA’s historic and current herbarium, entomological, ornithological, mammalian, and geologic collections that date back over 100 years. Visit our
Natural Science Collections page for more information about our collections.
Attend A Program
The Research Center hosts special lectures and demonstrations, open hours, and invites school and other groups to work with us on-site with pre-planned programming.
