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www.mermaidmuseum.org
This eclectic museum is worth a stop while exploring Northwestern Washington. It’s located off Highway 105, between Aberdeen and Westport. The building is set back off the road and easy to miss, so look for the signs for Westport Winery, which is located next door. There’s accessible parking out front, with barrier-free access over to the museum. Inside, there’s plenty of space to maneuver a wheelchair around the mounds of memorabilia, photos, artwork and ocean treasures.

The exhibits range from a sea glass collection to clips from the Little Mermaid, to shark jaw bones, sea creature photos and a sizable art collection. As you browse through the artifacts, you’ll learn about the anatomy of a mermaid, see objects that illustrate the siren sea stories, hear about hoaxes and learn about different cultural views of mermaids. These mythical creatures were described by Christopher Columbus as “not half as beautiful as they are painted”, and seafarers who captured them reportedly received three wishes. Myth or mystery, it’s a fun and fanciful stop. And don’t miss the gift shop that’s bursting with mermaid memorabilia.