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      Exhibition

      Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend

      On view September 28, 2024 to June 15, 2025

      Today's hours:

      10 am–5 pm

      Monday

      10 am–5 pm

      Tuesday

      Closed

      Wednesday

      Closed

      Thursday

      10 am–5 pm

      Friday

      10 am–5 pm

      Saturday

      10 am–5 pm

      Sunday

      10 am–5 pm

      Monday

      10 am–5 pm

      Tuesday

      Closed

      Wednesday

      Closed

      Thursday

      10 am–5 pm

      Friday

      10 am–5 pm

      Saturday

      10 am–5 pm

      Sunday

      10 am–5 pm

      Often called the unicorns of the sea, narwhals have fascinated people across cultures for centuries.

      These highly recognizable creatures spend their lives in the Arctic waters of Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. Dive deeper into the world of these unique ocean dwellers and learn about their changing arctic ecosystem through firsthand accounts of scientists and Inuit community members. Hear soundscapes of the Arctic and narwhal vocalizations and touch an 8-foot-long cast of a real narwhal tusk. This family-friendly exhibition in The Dotty Brown Art & Nature Center is part of PEM’s Climate + Environment Initiative.

      ​​Follow along on social media using #NarwhalsatPEM

      Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend is organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. This exhibition at PEM is made possible by Carolyn and Peter S. Lynch and The Lynch Foundation. We thank Jennifer and Andrew Borggaard, James B. and Mary Lou Hawkes, Chip and Susan Robie, and Timothy T. Hilton as supporters of the Exhibition Innovation Fund. We also recognize the generosity of the East India Marine Associates of the Peabody Essex Museum and the support and guidance of the Art & Nature Center Visiting Committee.

      Smithsonian logo
      TOP IMAGE: The elusive narwhal with its magnificent spiral tooth. Photo by Glenn Williams, Narwhal Tusk Research.

      Time to explore: Plan for 30-45 minutes for this gallery space.

      Curator interview

      Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend

      Events that may interest you

      Lecture

      Narwhal Biology and a Tusk with a Twist

      Saturday, November 23, 2024 from 2—3 pm

      Drop-In Art Activity

      Narwhal Soft Sculptures

      Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays | Select dates in November

      Keep exploring

      A conversation with the organizing curator of Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend

      Blog

      A conversation with the organizing curator of Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend

      8 Min read

      Blog

      A conversation with the organizing curator of Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend

      8 Min read

      Narwhal: Revealing an Arctic Legend

      Press Release

      New PEM exhibition explores “unicorns of the sea”

      Press Release

      New PEM exhibition explores “unicorns of the sea”

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