This Incredible Museum In Vermont Is A Fantastic Day Trip Destination

For well over a century, the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium has been entertaining and educating people from all over the world. In fact, Yankee Magazine called Fairbanks the second best history museum in New England! It's also Vermont's only public planetarium. With an area so rich in history, this is quite an honor! Let's take a closer look at all the things you'll find on a day trip to this museum in VT.

The Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury was founded in 1889 by Franklin Fairbanks.

He wanted everyone to have an opportunity to see exquisite examples of natural science. He also collected beautiful artifacts from around the world.

Today in this Victorian building you'll find over 175,000 objects in the collection!

The museum is organized into 3 different departments: natural science, historical, and cultural.

You'll find incredible examples of mounted birds, mammals, reptiles and fish, nests, eggs, shells, fossils, rocks and minerals.

But please don't touch the bears!

You'll even find art made solely out of bugs!

Here you can see the artwork of John Hampson displayed. His medium? Dead bugs and bug parts.

Moths, beetles, butterflies alike are painstakingly arranged into a colorful picture that can be hung on a wall. Each picture is made up of between 6,000 and 13,000 bugs and took 3-4 years to complete.

Great architectural details are everywhere, too. Check out this wooden stairway to collection heaven!

There is also a wonderful planetarium with offers guided tours of the cosmos every day.

This was an incredible spot to catch the recent solar eclipse!

And what a great turnout it had!

The Fairbanks Museum still looks a lot like it was when Franklin Fairbanks opened the doors over 100 years ago!

Because we love a good throwback, here is a photo of the workers whose artistry we still admire today. They are pictured on the steps of the museum's main entrance.

Be sure to plan extra time during your visit to explore the outside.

The grounds are equally as stunning.

Not to mention the hikes and scenery of nearby towns and attractions!

Plan a trip soon so you can head on into the butterfly house. Prepare to be wowed!

The Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium is located at 1302 Main Street in St. Johnsbury. It's open every day from 9 AM - 5 PM. You're going to love it!

If you enjoy a good day trip to a museum in VT, be sure to check out these 9 museums in Vermont that are too weird for words.