BANGOR, Maine — The Rock & Art Shop on Central Street in downtown Bangor — owned by the Sohns family, who also own another Rock & Art Shop on Route 1A in Ellsworth — has a one-of-a-kind exhibit up through Nov. 13. The Natural History Freak Show is a collection of their many odd items, from a shrunken head (OK, not a real shrunken head) to a giant clam; from an eight-legged pig to a deep sea isopod. Tony Sohns, who is also a natural history educator in schools and libraries statewide, and his sisters, Annette and Amanda, put together the exhibit partially because of the Halloween season, and partially as an opportunity to excite and inspire younger patrons of the shop about science, history and art. The shop is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sundays.
Emily Burnham is a Maine native and proud Bangorian, covering business, the arts, restaurants and the culture and history of the Bangor region. More by Emily Burnham
And I thought this story was going to be about Congress which is filled with shrunken heads, weird pigs, and all sorts of other odd items. It is also filled with misogynists and crooks, but that is another story.
Rock shops are absolutely one of the best places to begin a young child’s interest in science. Kudos to these folks for thinking out of the box and expanding the opportunites to stimulate a young mind.
The Sohns family has added so much to downtown with their funky, eclectic store! Everyone should check it out!