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All the United States Maine Portland International Cryptozoology Museum

International Cryptozoology Museum

The world's only international cryptozoology museum is host to an unrivaled collection of mysterious objects.

Portland, Maine

Added By
Sarah Brumble
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International Cryptozoology Museum   sporst/CC BY 2.0
International Cryptozoology Museum   sporst/CC BY 2.0
International Cryptozoology Museum   Kellly Verdeck/CC BY-ND 2.0
Feejee Mermaid at the International Cryptozoology. Museum   Photo by Amy Waterman
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International Cryptozoology Museum.   JesseMan / Atlas Obscura User
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International Cryptozoology Museum.   Photo Credit International Cryptozoology Museum/Jessica Meuse
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About

Loren Coleman first started pursuing unusual, often inexplicable animals in 1960, and has since become one of the world's foremost experts in the field of cryptozoology. The discipline, as defined by the master himself, "is the study of hidden or unknown animals. These are usually larger zoological species that, to date, remain unverified by science, such as Yetis, Bigfoot, Lake Monsters, and Sea Serpents, as well as hundreds of other yet-to-be-found animals (cryptids) worldwide..." It also encompasses the study of animals of recent discovery, such as the coelacanth, okapi, megamouth shark, giant panda, and mountain gorilla."

Throughout the years, Coleman has amassed an unrivaled collection of specimens, replicas, and artifacts relating to famous and lesser-known cryptids, including the eight-and-a-half-foot tall, 300-pound "Crookston Bigfoot," a life-size coelacanth, a replica of P. T. Barnum's Feejee Mermaid, and much more. The exhibits also include cryptid hair samples, fecal material, photographs, and footprint casts.

Coleman's International Cryptozoology Museum preserves and presents the collection to the public in a fun and educational manner while acknowledging that cryptozoology is a "gateway science". Cryptozoology is capable of sparking the next generation's interest in more popularly-accepted exploratory and research-oriented disciplines like biology and anthropology.

Besides, as Coleman asserts, it's not really an issue of whether or not one "believes" in Yetis or the Montauk Monster; for belief "belongs in the providence of religion." Coleman focuses on exploring the unexplainable with an open mind, gathering evidence before accepting or denying any larger theory.

Related Tags

Cryptozoology Animals Museums And Collections Strange Science Feejee Mermaids Yeti Bigfoot Natural History Collections Hunting And Taxidermy Statues

Know Before You Go

The building can be entered by two doors - if one isn't open, try the other side of the building.

There is an associated albeit smaller, intimate cryptozoology museum up the road in Bangor.

 

Community Contributors

Added By

littlebrumble

Edited By

Obscurities, jameuse, rugby007, e1savage...

  • Obscurities
  • jameuse
  • rugby007
  • e1savage
  • laurenmishgraf
  • mbison
  • JesseMan
  • sdittman
  • Collector of Experiences
  • missingfilm
  • Dapper Dan 9
  • hannsharonr
  • Michelle Cassidy
  • rrt314
  • Andrew MacLean
  • MrUnderstood
  • zoreev
  • Risaflyyy

Published

February 1, 2010

Updated

September 29, 2022

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Sources
  • http://www.cryptozoologymuseum.com/
  • http://www.lorencoleman.com/bigfoot_captured.html
International Cryptozoology Museum
32 Resurgam Place
Portland, Maine, 04102
United States
43.651443, -70.290602
Visit Website
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