Abbe Museum

Elite '09

142

266

Kathleen H.

Beverly, MA

10/21/2007

The Abbe Museum is worth a stop on your trip to MDI and Acadia National Park - it is located right across the street from the village green in Bar Harbor. It's pretty cheap to get in, and a good way to spend a couple of hours, especially on a rainy afternoon.

The Abbe offers and introduction to Native American culture in Maine past and present. There is a gallery that usually has some kind of local art exhibit that rotates regularly.

Some of the basketwork is really astounding, and I enjoy the language exhibits, which include both transcription and listening stations.

AND. . .what is really great? On the lower level - clean nice restrooms, and a learning center for the kids, which consists of native american-originated puzzles and hand games around the perimeter of the round, fully windowed room, bean bags to sit in, a huge drawing pad with lots of crayons, and some really excellent picture books telling various native american tales. There is very soothing drum and chant music piped in, which seems to calm the savage beasties.( I'm always much calmer after an hour there).

Last time I was there, as my daughter designed a beautiful rug at one of the art stations,  I learned about a tribe that gave a large amount of their meager funds for relief of people affected by the Irish potato famine - because after the Trail of Tears, they felt they had to help others who dealt with starvation and unjust loss. WOW.

So, hey, it's educational! Stop by.

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