International Cryptozoology Museum: Evidence of the Unexplained

Why It Stands Out

The museum serves as a physical archive for things that technically do not exist according to mainstream textbooks. Visitors can stand before the towering Crookston Bigfoot, a replica that reaches eight and a half feet in height and weighs 300 pounds.

The exhibits bridge the gap between myth and reality, featuring items like hair samples, footprint casts, and even fecal material from alleged cryptids. It also highlights the success stories of the field—animals like the okapi, the mountain gorilla, and the megamouth shark, which were once considered mere rumors before being documented by science.

Beyond the large-scale models, like the life-size coelacanth or the replica of P.T. Barnum’s famous Feejee Mermaid, the museum promotes a philosophy of open-minded inquiry.

Coleman describes the discipline as a gateway science, a way to hook people into the wonders of biology and anthropology. Here, the focus isn't on belief, which the founder suggests is better left to religion, but on the collection and analysis of evidence.

Whether it’s a lake monster or a sea serpent, the goal is to gather data before reaching a final conclusion.

Before You Go

The museum is located in Portland, though fans of the unusual should note that a smaller, more intimate sister location also exists further north in Bangor. When arriving at the main building, keep an eye on the entrances; there are two doors on different sides of the structure, so if one appears locked, try the other side of the building.