The Pember Museum of Natural History and the Pember Nature Preserve provide programs, exhibits and activities for the people of eastern New York and western Vermont. It is the only institution of its kind in the region and serves large numbers of school children each year. The Museum and Preserve offer lectures, field trips, environmental studies, tours, hikes, day camps, outreach and many other special programs.
The Pember Museum collections are a wonderful example of the bio-diversity of the area 100 years ago, and also include specimens from around the world. There are approximately 10,000 objects in the collections of the Pember Museum, covering a wide variety of natural history subjects. Nearly 80% of the collections are on display. Specimens include vertebrate (birds, mammals and reptiles) and invertebrate animals (insects, arachnids and sea life), rocks and minerals, fossils, some anthropological and historical materials, and a herbarium (dried plant specimens).
The Pember Museum and Nature Preserve are ideal sites for field trips. The Pember Museum collects, preserves, exhibits, studies and shares its treasures. It is more than a collection of objects. The Pember Nature Preserve in Hebron is a sanctuary for native animals and plants; it is a place for informal study of the natural world.
The Pember Museum is located on the second floor of the Pember Library and Museum building at 33 W. Main Street Granville, New York (NY Route 149 near the Vermont border). It is 35 minutes from Glens Falls/ Queensbury via US Route 149 or Route 22, or 20 minutes north of Salem, NY via Route 22. The Museum is 40 minutes from Rutland, VT via US 4 or Routes 30 or 31. Enter Granville village by North Street/South Poultney Road from the north, Mettowee Street from the northwest, Quaker Street or Church Street from the south (at McDonalds) or from Blossoms Corners at Route 30 from the east.
Mr. Pember, a member of the prestigious American Fern Society and an avid botanist, collected over 1000 specimens of plants found both locally and from around the continental United States. Iridescent butterflies from around the world in every shape, color and size make up the largest portion of the insect collection. Insects that mimic leaves and sticks and the large Rhinoceros and Hercules Beetles are among the many insects on display.