Collections
Dorr Museum of Natural History
Curated by students. Available to all.
The Dorr Museum’s collections offer a unique resource for teaching, research, and artistic exploration. All specimens are prepared by College of the Atlantic students through hands-on coursework in natural history, anatomy, and museum studies. Our growing collection supports COA’s mission to blend science, creativity, and experiential learning.
Contact Dorr Museum Director Carrie Graham at [email protected] for collections access.
What’s in the collection
Thousands of specimens. Endless learning opportunities
Our holdings represent the rich biodiversity of coastal Maine and beyond. Core collections include:
- Mammal and bird study skins
- Reptiles and amphibians
- Fishes and marine invertebrates
- Insects and terrestrial arthropods
- Complete bones and skeletons
- Bird eggs
- Taxidermy mounts of birds and mammals
Collections are used by students and faculty for research, class demonstrations, independent studies, and creative projects.
Search the database
Browse our records online through ARCTOS.
A portion of the Dorr Museum’s collections is digitized and available through the ARCTOS collaborative database—a shared platform used by natural history institutions worldwide. You can search by species, collection type, or taxonomic category.
Related resource: The Herbarium
15,000+ plant specimens and counting.
The College of the Atlantic/Acadia National Park Herbarium houses dried specimens of vascular plants, mosses, lichens, and fungi. This collection, maintained by COA, documents regional flora and supports coursework and student research.
Stories from the Field
From rare visitors to regular sightings, the bears in Acadia National Park
College of the Atlantic students and faculty will collaborate with the National Park Service and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries on a multi-year study of the local bear population, the Bangor Daily News reports via Bar Harbor Story. Read More
All-hands effort studies mountaintop mammals
Vertebrate ecologist Dr. Brittany Slabach ’09 is using her Second Century Stewardship to collaborate with COA students, faculty, and alumnx on a study that examines how recreational trail use and sub-alpine management affects mountaintop mammal communities in Acadia National Park. Read MoreReady to build your own path?
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