Immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, and stories of our planet’s largest remaining intact forest in the new exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum, which opens this summer with the Boreal Forest exhibition.
July 26, 2025 – September 27, 2026
Discover Earth’s Northern Crown Jewel
Stretching like a sparkling halo across the northern hemisphere, the North American boreal forest remains one of our planet’s last true wilderness areas. This summer, the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) invites visitors to journey into this remarkable ecosystem through its newest exhibition, Knowing Nature: Stories of the Boreal Forest.
Opening July 26 at PEM’s Dotty Brown Art & Nature Center, this family-friendly bilingual exhibition (English and Spanish) offers a rare glimpse into a forest that covers one-third of the continent yet remains unfamiliar to many Americans.
“Covering 33% of the Earth’s forested area, the boreal forest is the last intact forest in the world. It is critical to the health of our entire planet, yet many people have never heard of it or don’t know much about it,” explains Jane Winchell, the Sarah Fraser Robbins Director of PEM’s Dotty Brown Art & Nature Center.
A Living Ecosystem: Home to Millions
While often perceived as remote wilderness, the boreal forest is a living ecosystem home to:
- 3.7 million people
- Over 300 Indigenous communities
- 85 species of mammals
- 32,000 species of insects
- Two billion migratory birds
- The last great herds of barren-ground caribou
The exhibition, developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, weaves together themes of climate change, Indigenous perspectives, and the deep relationship between people and nature through compelling storytelling and immersive experiences.
Experience the Forest Through All Seasons
Visitors will journey through the forest’s four seasonal cycles, discovering its beauty and ecological importance through:
- First-person narratives from scientists, artists, and Indigenous community members
- Commissioned artwork including Cree birchbark creations and handmade snowshoes
- Contemporary jewelry showcasing regional artistic traditions
- PEM-commissioned works by NEA Heritage award recipient Elizabeth James-Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag)
- A historic 1803 Wabanaki birchbark canoe model from PEM’s collection
- Stunning photography and videography capturing the forest’s majesty
Interactive Forest Immersion
The exhibition goes beyond visual displays to create a truly immersive experience:
- An 8-channel birdsong soundscape that transports visitors into the heart of the forest
- A migratory bird challenge that brings the journey of boreal birds to life
- Touchable works and hands-on animal track tables for tactile exploration
- “A Boreal Balance” digital game that demonstrates ecological interconnections
- Family activity guides available in both English and Spanish
“We are thrilled to share the sights, sounds, textures, and stories of the boreal forest,” says Winchell. “A learning journey that starts with curiosity, builds empathy and leads to action. We are all connected to the boreal forest and our health and wellbeing are tied to its future.”
Why the Boreal Forest Matters to Everyone
This mega-forest plays a critical role in maintaining global environmental health:
- Regulates Earth’s climate as the world’s largest land biome
- Functions as a critical water reservoir
- Stores 2-3 times more carbon than tropical forests
- Provides essential breeding grounds for billions of migratory birds
- Represents one of the last places where natural cycles continue largely undisturbed
Join the Opening Celebration
Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 26, when PEM hosts a full day of opening activities including:
- Quillwork demonstrations with Native American artist Elizabeth James-Perry
- PEM Campus Tree Trek exploration
- The Caterpillar Lab interactive experience
- Drop-in artmaking activities for all ages
Plan Your Visit
Dates: July 26, 2025 – September 27, 2026
Location: Dotty Brown Art & Nature Center, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA
Hours: Thursday–Monday, 10 am–5 pm
More information: pem.org
The exhibition is presented as part of PEM’s Climate + Environment Initiative and is made possible by the National Audubon Society, with additional support from The Anders Foundation, Charlie and Nancy Hogan, and Anne C. Madison, along with Carolyn and Peter S. Lynch and The Lynch Foundation.
Share your experience with us using #PEMKnowingNature
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The mission of the Peabody Essex Museum is to celebrate outstanding artistic and cultural creativity by collecting, stewarding and interpreting objects of art and culture in ways that increase knowledge, enrich the spirit, engage the mind and stimulate the senses. Through its exhibitions, programs, publications, media and related activities, PEM strives to create experiences that transform people’s lives by broadening
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