Another must do when vacationing on island, and in Town. It is small, but the folks at Maria Mitchell are very dedicated. There are things to see, do, and touch. Except for the giant lobster (who looks delicious by the way - but probably tough as a horse!). A must do, and a great cause! read more

Maria Mitchell Aquarium - Entry way in the aquarium. - Museums Near Me - Nantucket, Massachusetts

The total aquarium is like 300 square feet. Manage those expectations! But with a 4 year old in hand, it was enjoyable. I think a slightly older child would find it even more engaging and potentially stay longer than the 20 minutes we were there for. They have 1 touch tank with some crabs and clams that you can touch and pick up. They have 1 tank that you can look into with a young shark, more crabs and young fish that was pretty cool. Inside the 2 enclosed rooms they have more tanks filled with baby fish, a lobster, etc... Highlight: seeing a shark fetus swimming around in a sac before being born. And also seeing a newborn shark and puffer fish. $10/adult and $8/child. A little pricey for what it is, but sigh, Nantucket. I feel like children's admission should always be free for educational purposes, but that's just me. Staff and volunteers were nice and enthusiastic! read more

I want to give 5 stars and a shout out to the amazing staff at the aquarium. We happened to be at Nantucket during off season, but we booked a 1 hour private feeding event. It was awesome, and Izzy was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about all her creatures. This was great for my two daughters who were able to ask questions, interact, and watch/feed the creatures. We really enjoyed ourselves and it was a memorable experience. We learned a lot--the tiny horseshoe crabs were my favorite. read more

Located on the shoreline of Nantucket Harbor, the Maria Mitchell Aquarium has been a favorite summer destination for locals and visitors alike. Locally-collected specimens (released back into the wild at the end of the season) are on exhibit. Displays are always changing and include anything from seahorses to octopuses! You can really get a glimpse of what is in Nantucket waters and also get the "feel" for the local ecosystem at the outdoor touch tank, where you can touch a variety of crabs, clams, scallops, baby horseshoe crabs, and more. In addition to year-round Nantucket inhabitants such as dogfish, squid, octopuses, horseshoe crabs, and more, the Aquarium houses some surprises. As the warm waters of the Gulf Stream flow northward, young tropical fish are occasionally swept up in the current and brought into Nantucket waters. Surprises like the French angelfish, groupers, butterfly fish, damsel fish, jacks, permits, and other tropical species tend to make an appearance in Nantucket waters and hence made appearances at the Maria Mitchell Aquarium. A quaint little place but filled with a lot of information and passion, there are three rooms filled with tanks from floor to ceiling of different fish, cartilaginous fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates.The staff and volunteers work incredibly hard collecting and maintaining these animals and are all truly amazing; they are knowledgeable and passionate about marine biology. Beyond meeting Nantucket's water-dwelling inhabitants at the Aquarium, you can also encounter many forms of marine life in their natural habitat during one of their interactive programs offered through the Aquarium such as Feeding Frenzies, Marine Ecology Walks, Beachcombing Walks, Whale Watches and Seal Cruises. Remember its only open during the Summer Season (Late May to early September)! But its a great place for kids and adults alike! You see, experience, and learn a lot. read more

I'm sorry, because I love aquariums and I love little local places, but I just cannot give the Maria Mitchell Aquarium a higher rating. We have a 2 year old and were staying almost right next door and we thought it would be a good activity for our son. I could tell it was going to be little, but I guess I just didn't realize how little. It has a tiny touch tank, about 2ft by 6 ft, one larger pool that's about maybe a 6ft wide circle, and then two small rooms with about 10 -12 small tanks per. The fish you can see are interesting, the coolest being a gigantic lobster, but there is just so little to see. The very small spaces make it challenging to walk around, especially with a 2 year old. Maybe if he was a little older it would have been better for him. Anyway, we will consider our $28 admission a donation to support local marine life, but we only stayed about 20 minutes if that. read more

The staff was lovely but this place is just a few fish tanks and not worth $36 for the 10 minutes it took us to walk through there. If you have small children and want them to experience the local wildlife, take them on the Critter Cruise - fun experience for kids and adults. read more

I came here today with my family and we had so much fun! The fish are very pretty to look at and the squid jumped out of the tank at me, which was quite exciting! The staff do a great job telling everyone about the fish. They also have a cute gift shop. read more

This quaint aquarium is no less than a magical Nantucket experience. The glistening waters of Nantucket are only the surface of the beautiful world underneath the waves that very few have the oppertunity to explore. The aquarium provides that unique oppertunity and I guarantee you will find a new found appreciation for Nantucket and its wild life. read more

Firstly, the ladies at this aquarium are so very nice! My six year old daughter saw them hunting for fiddler crabs for the exhibit below our condo and joined in and they, without hesitation, explained and taught her about them right there. At the time we didn't know we were around the corner from the aquarium. We went over and ALL of the staff was kind and answered questions about the locally caught critters. It's a small establishment but we spent over an hour there learning and playing in the touch tanks. Both our 6 year old & 2 year old loved it!! My husband and I learned a ton as well! I think it was a great experience and our stay wouldn't have been complete without it. The visit will be as fulfilling as you make of it. read more

This is an annual must see for any family with small children who are curious about sea-life. This very small and hands-on museum is so much fun for little ones. It only takes an hour or so to see the 4-5 displays. The young staff is full of knowledge and fun facts. Cost (2016) is $10 per adult and $8 per child. Check out their website for special activities and camp information. read more

Awesome Experience with amazing animals and great service! To think that those 50+ species on display were all caught locally is mind-blowing, and, better yet, the staff release everything at the end of each summer, meaning when we come back next year we'll see new stuff! So adorable, amazing, and beautiful at the same time. read more