Marine Biological Laboratory
Marine Biological Laboratory
Marine Biological Laboratory
4
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) is dedicated to scientific discovery and improving the human condition through research and education in biology, biomedicine, and environmental science. Founded in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, in 1888, the MBL is a private, nonprofit institution and an affiliate of the University of Chicago. Learn more about the Marine Biological Laboratory by visiting the Pierce Exhibit Center at 100 Water Street open from April - October. Free public tours are available M-F in July and August at 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM. Reservations are required.
Duration: < 1 hour
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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4.0
33 reviews
Excellent
20
Very good
7
Average
2
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Greg J
Spring, TX69 contributions
Oct 2019
As part of a Road Scholar outing we toured the MBL with Alan Kuzirian. He was an amazing individual with an incredible story to tell. His research in Alzheimer prevention is revolutionary. But, back to the MBL - the lecture and tour were a combination of classroom presentation, walking around and hands-on. Their founders philosophy of "study nature, not books" continues today. Their research into memory using seal slugs is extraordinary. Monitor the developments around Bryostatin for breaking developments. There was too much to cover in this review - just GO if you can!
Written 5 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Manuela C
Germany43 contributions
Sept 2018 • Business
The idea of having working spaces within the MBL during summer for people coming from other parts of the countries or the world is very smart. Facilities are great
Written 22 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Manuela!
Written 25 September 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ken E
Durham, NC26 contributions
Jul 2018 • Friends
Woods Hole and it’s institutions line the Main Street of the village. For some inkling of what goes on there visit the WHOI visitors center on School St, it’s in an old white church building. Also the fisheries’ aquarium at the other end of Main Street is worth an hour or so, be sure to go up the stairs at the end to see the live specimen tanks. Ask questions of the staff, great for little ones. Mid town, the MBL also has a visitor center, again ask about tours. The best way is to know someone who works there and ask them for a tour, I know that’s not many of you. Woods Hole is steeped in so much science from basic research in biology to WHOI’s Alvin submersible, that found the Titanic and so much more. It is literally a world treasure, but you have to dig a little and be resourceful to discover the jewels.
Written 18 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jennifer S
1 contribution
Jul 2018 • Solo
I love woods hole and the research being done. I don’t love seeing perfectly healthy, intelligent animals being held captive. The poor female octopus in the gift shop spends her days banging her head into the corner of her small fish tank she sadly calls home. PETA can do nothing as the laws aren’t in place to protect these poor creatures. She just wants to be free.
Written 23 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting the Marine Biological Laboratory on your recent trip to Woods Hole and thank you for your concern about the welfare of the octopus located in our Exhibit Center. The health of the animals in our care is of utmost concern to us. Our highly-trained and experienced animal care specialists evaluate the health of all animals at the laboratory daily to make their stay with us as comfortable as possible.
In the wild, many octopus species, including the species on display in the exhibit center, Octopus vulgaris, live in dens and prefer to inhabit small spaces. For this species the tank size in the exhibit center is appropriate and we ensure this is the case through our daily monitoring.
Cephalopods (octopus, squid, cuttlefish, nautilus) can provide unique scientific value and MBL researchers are embarking on a groundbreaking new effort to culture cephalopods in the laboratory with the goal of creating a new model organism. You can learn more about this work and all MBL research by taking a free MBL tour (mbl.edu/tours) or by visiting mbl.edu/cephalopods.
Written 24 July 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mls445
Cohasset, MA31 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
This is a very small place, but has some interesting things and a small gift shop. We learned some things, but small children not very interested. It is worth a visit because it doesn't take long.
Written 8 January 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FancyNancyBoston
Boston304 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
I had signed up in advance for one of their twice a day limited space tours. It starts in the visitor center & moves across the street to the holding tanks where we saw horseshoe crabs and starfish. The two children on the tour were totally fascinated by all this and even the adults were having fun. We went outside to see the striped bass swimming around in the pond at the rear of the lab. We then went to the library which was ok but nothing special. Good history lesson about some of the famous researchers. Since the tour is free and the volunteer docent seems to enjoy his "work" I thought it was an ok use of an hour.
Written 11 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cathy m
Scandia, MN46 contributions
Jul 2017 • Solo
Great little piece of history at the laboratory and so many scientific discoveries have taken place there. Amazing lab for biology students to spend a summer researching marine biology.
Written 31 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KMc4528
Virginia Beach, VA490 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
We walked all around and through this building. We (even the kids ages 9-16) enjoyed the FREE exhibit on photos through the microscope very much, though it was limited to one wall (4*, but reduced to 2* do to poor tour info) It was well promoted with plenty of signage. However, it was only after we left Falmouth and peeked at Trip Advisor, that I realized we missed a free tour!
We arrived early (9am) and there was on the street parking (metered). As we pulled out, 2 cars fought over our single spot!
Plenty to see and do in walking distance!
Walking between the exhibit and the Aquarium, the kids were pleased/shocked to see a artistic giant tick! Took photo. There were benches suitable for picnics also.
We arrived early (9am) and there was on the street parking (metered). As we pulled out, 2 cars fought over our single spot!
Plenty to see and do in walking distance!
Walking between the exhibit and the Aquarium, the kids were pleased/shocked to see a artistic giant tick! Took photo. There were benches suitable for picnics also.
Written 19 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
corsha1
Nashua, NH440 contributions
Aug 2016 • Friends
We went to MBL on a Friday, so the tour was free. If we had paid for this, we would have wanted our money back. The tour guide, Joe, started the tour with, I'll be cutting this tour short because I have another one right after this one. There were 12 of us on the tour. By the end of the tour, only 5 remained. It starts with a 3 minute video that will put you to sleep. He then heads over to another building to look at the holding tanks where they have specimens they are doing research on. If you don't walk fast enough, he will leave you behind! Once in the building he starts talking, as if to himself, as he rushes the group along. Not caring if the whole group is there and if everyone can hear him. With the wet floor I'm surprised no one fell. Then the race is on to the next building where he shows you the library. Nothing of interested, just books that you can see at your own local library. Then he looks at his watch, and rushes the group across the street. Across the street was the gift shop where he dropped us off and vanished. This was the worst travel experience in Woods Hole and I would not ever again waste my time on this tour. If you want to learn about the MBL take the tour offered through the Woods Hole Historical Society where they know more about the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), than the MBL tour itself.
Written 14 August 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gregory K
Ilderton149 contributions
Jul 2016 • Couples
Spent the evening there on Friday. Saw the rare books on display. Saw two Nobel certificates, and held T.H. Morgan's Nobel medal, then attended the Friday evening lecture with my favourite novice scientist. What could be better. Oh yeah, stopped off at the Captain Kidd afterwards for appetizers. I recommend it wholeheartedly.
Written 31 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingMARINE BIOLOGICAL LABORATORY: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Marine Biological Laboratory
- Marine Biological Laboratory is open:
- Mon - Sat 10:00 - 17:00
- Hotels near Marine Biological Laboratory:
- (0.18 mi) Woods Hole Inn
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- (2.06 mi) Woods Hole Passage Inn
- Restaurants near Marine Biological Laboratory:
- (0.13 mi) Water Street Kitchen
- (0.10 mi) Captain Kidd Restaurant
- (0.09 mi) Woods Hole Market & General Store
- (0.08 mi) Shuckers World Famous Raw Bar
- (0.15 mi) Landfall Restaurant