The Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium is a combination natural science museum, history museum, and planetarium located in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. It was founded in 1890 by businessman, politician, naturalist, and collector Franklin Fairbanks.
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Growing up in the area, I've had the pleasure of enjoying the Museum most of my life and I've always considered it one of our local treasures. What happened today was such an immense disappointment that it warranted this one-star review of the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium FRONT DESK STAFF.
My kids and wife are members of the Museum's Homestudy Group- a S.T.E.M. based educational program that meets once a month and costs $50, paid for in advance. This month was a presentation in the Planetarium followed by a field trip, so the kids were especially excited. Because the FREEZING RAIN had created a sheen of BLACK ICE on the road in places, it took us longer than we had expected to make the drive. We arrived 10 minutes late, but certainly did not expect what followed:
My Wife: Hi, we're with the homestudy group. Sorry we're a bit late. Are they in Planetarium?
Front Desk Guy: Yes.
My Wife: Ok, great! So we can just head up to join them?
Front Desk Guy: Oh, uh... No.
My Wife: I'm sorry?
Front Desk Guy: They've already started.
My Wife: But we've already paid for this and it only just started... we can't just quietly go in and take a seat?
Front Desk Automaton: No.
He then told her that he thought they would be out in "about 30 minutes" and resumed ignoring us. We waited I'm fact for over 50 minutes before the kids were so bored and fidgety that we had to leave.
I remember paying for our group membership and receiving the itinerary- nowhere did it read, nor were we ever told that if we were 10 minutes late we would be excluded entirely from the program we already paid for. Therefore, due to the cold unapologetic apathy we were given from the Front Desk Guy, I expect either an apology and a Planetarium experience for myself and my kids, or a refund.
Because today we literally PAID for the cold...
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As new residents in Vermont, my wife and I wanted to explore St. Johnsbury and decided to visit the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. This historic museum is a fascinating blend of natural history, science, and culture, offering a variety of exhibits that cater to visitors of all ages.
One of the activities we chose was the 3:30 PM Planetarium showing (available only on Saturdays and Sundays). We attended the Lyman Spitzer Jr. Planetarium, which provides an immersive, 360-degree experience. The regularly scheduled presentations are recommended for children ages seven and older, and once the doors are closed, no additional guests are admitted, so be sure to arrive on time!
The show we attended, OneSky Project, was a collection of short films that presented the perspectives of different cultures and Indigenous societies from around the world. Each film explored themes of "Finding Patterns" and developing tools, or as the program describes it, "To Seek Far." It was a thought-provoking and visually stunning experience that made us appreciate the different ways people throughout history have understood the night sky.
Overall, our visit to Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium was an excellent introduction to St. Johnsbury. The museum itself is filled with engaging exhibits, and the planetarium show was both educational and inspiring. We highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore the wonders of science and...
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A person at our hotel warned us this museum was "historical" and to expect "stuff and signs." Nothing could have been further from the truth! Yes, there are cases against the walls with many, many taxidermed animals from all over the world. However, they are interspersed with interactive elements and thoughtful commentary that made the collection a delight. I think kids especially will like seeing lifesize examples of weird and wonderful creatures. (Moose are really tall!) There are tons of local history mini exhibits about the role as a weather center and other things specific to the local area, and the staff that ran the planetarium show was engaged, thoughtful, and dedicated to ensuring everyone had a positive experience. You could tell museum staff had put a ton of thought into the mix of older items and modern ways of receiving information. Gift shop items interspersed with exhibits and were thoughtfully curated. Along with the St. Johnsbury Atheneum, this can be a lovely, 3/4 day excursion without even roaming the streets looking at the fabulous...
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