The museum houses the prestigious and extensive collections of naturalist Olof O. Nylander; among the exhibits are minerals, fossils, marine specimens, rocks, shells and Indian artifacts; other highlights include wildflowers, mounted birds, butterflies, and an herb garden. Changing interactive exhibits are also scheduled, as well as additional specimens and objects donated, or on loan, to the museum.
Born in Sweden, the self-taught Nylander spent most of his life amassing and classifying; his endeavors earned him an honorary Master of Science degree from the University of Maine. In addition to his other considerable skills, he was very knowledgeable of the flora and fauna, and the mollusca of Maine's Aroostook County, and adjoining areas in Canada. Some of the mollusk shell specimens he collected, as small as the head of a pin, can be viewed by the public at the museum. Sought after by many prestigious museums, the collection remains largely intact and on permanent display here.