I wasn’t sure what to expect as I walked down Avon Street to the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine. The only one of its kind, the museum showcases a bizarre, extraordinary, and diligent collection of mythical and unusual creatures from around the world.
In other words, if you’re looking for the Jersey Devil or Bigfoot, this is your best bet at finding them among the oddities and rare zoological specimens. The museum was founded in 2003 as a family-friendly museum and preserves native art and contemporary souvenirs as part of its scientific and education mission.
My Visit to the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine
At first, I wasn’t sold. I was not totally impressed with the museum itself, the artifacts were crammed together like some sort of man-cave den, it looked more like a collection of souvenirs acquired by founder and director Loren Coleman. However, I wasn’t so quick to give up either…so I began to browse.
From leprechauns and gnomes to the Loch Ness Monster, this place really had it all. A Yeti, Bigfoot, the Jersey Devil, and a mermaid… given the time, you could learn a great deal about these legendary and otherwise mythical creatures here.
Irish folklore states that if you catch a leprechaun, a solitary fairy usually depicted as a little bearded man with a coat and hat, he may reveal his hidden pot of gold. If you ever see one, don’t glance away or he will disappear!
As easily as humans walk on land, gnomes are said to be able to move freely through the earth and if the sun’s rays hit his body, he will turn to stone. They are said to be guardians of precious stones and treasures hidden underground.
I was actually learning a lot at the International Cryptozoology Museum, and most appreciatively, a lot about what The Fairytale Traveler writes about. Where else was I going to see a collection like this?