Ocean science, told through mermaid myth
The idea is simple: almost every coastal culture on earth has a mermaid story, so start there and follow it down to the science. Each placard opens with a myth — Sedna, the Inuit goddess of the sea; Tlanchana, a freshwater mermaid from central Mexico; the Moclips Mermaid from our own stretch of coast — and then explains the marine life or ocean process underneath it, with artifacts set around it. It is an easy stop with children and it does not take long. Siren Circe holds the mermaid throne through the middle of the day, and most visitors end up at the oyster-shucking exhibit, hunting for a pearl. The museum sits on the grounds of Westport Winery Garden Resort on Highway 105, roughly halfway between Aberdeen and Westport, so it pairs with the sculpture gardens and a meal without moving the car.
More things to do in Westport & Grayland
Furford Cranberry Museum · Grayland Community Hall · Johns River Boat Launch · Westport Aquarium · Westport Go-Carts · Westport Winery