Oceanarium & Education Center

The Oceanarium and Education Center is a nonprofit marine education destination on 20 acres of tidal salt marsh at the northern end of Mount Desert Island. Its Gulf of Maine-focused aquarium, marine museum, and coastal setting give the destination a strongly regional character, with exhibits centered on local ecology, marine biology, fisheries, aquaculture, and the communities connected to the sea. The grounds also provide direct access to the shoreline and salt marsh.

The aquarium includes nine tanks representing Gulf of Maine habitats, along with rare Maine lobsters and a 650-gallon touch pool containing sea stars, crabs, sea cucumbers, and other marine life. Visitors can also climb aboard a full-size 29-foot lobster boat and explore a marine museum featuring a juvenile humpback whale skeleton. A marsh trail leads through meadow, salt ponds, and intertidal habitat, with interpretive signs and guided tours available. The Oceanarium suits travelers interested in Maine's coastal ecosystems who prefer hands-on exploration and regional marine education over a large aquarium with global collections.