Akin Free Library: a little treasure chest

A grand old library upstairs and a wonderfully odd little museum downstairs. I loved it. Isamu was less interested, and the fragile displays and very difficult stroller access made this a short visit for us.

Not stroller friendlyFragile displaysThree floors30-minute visit

Akin Free Library’s stone exterior and clock tower beneath a gray sky

LocationPawling, NY

Visit typeIndoor museum stop

Time we spent30 minutes tops

Plan aheadStroller access is difficult

A rainy-day change of plans

It started raining, so we headed to Akin Free Library in Pawling. What a cool little place! We were there for 30 minutes tops, but there is a surprising amount tucked into this small building.

Three floors, three different experiences

The first floor is a grand old library. Upstairs, there are some cool ceramics and historical Quaker Hill pieces from the 1700s, 1800s and beyond. But the basement is the real treasure chest.

The basement is the best part

There is a mineral room, tons of taxidermied birds, snakes, tortoises, Native American artifacts and plenty of animal horns. There are also unusual scientific specimens, including preserved human fetuses and the famous shrunken head from Ecuador. It feels like an old-fashioned cabinet of curiosities, with something different in every case.

My interest and Isamu’s were very different

I thought it was great. Isamu wasn’t that interested in the cases, though, and I kept feeling like he was going to break something priceless. Everything felt fragile, and this was very much a place to look rather than freely touch and explore. For a child who wants movement or hands-on activities, a short visit may be plenty.

Very much not stroller friendly

This was very not stroller friendly on our visit. With the collections spread over three floors, I would not plan on exploring the whole building with a stroller. Families who need step-free access should contact the library about which spaces they can reach before going. I don’t have bathroom or diaper-changing notes from this visit.

The rest of our afternoon

We attempted White Pond afterward, but the rain was too much. We also tried Daryl’s House, the Hall & Oates-associated restaurant, around 3 p.m. They seemed to be between services, so we didn’t stay. Those were attempted stops, rather than places we can review from this outing.

The historic stone Akin Free Library and its clock tower on a rainy afternoon — A rainy-day discovery on Quaker Hill.

Isamu looking at brightly glowing minerals in a dark display room — Exploring the fluorescent mineral display.

Liz holding Isamu beside a taxidermied golden eagle — Me and Isamu with the golden eagle.

A taxidermied fox above glass museum cases filled with natural-history specimens — The basement is packed with things to see.

Akin Free Library sign listing the natural-history and historical-society museums — Two museums tucked into one little library.

A closer look at the illuminated mineral display.

What families should know about the collection

The basement includes human remains and taxidermy, which some visitors may find unsettling. The shrunken-head photo is tucked below so you can choose whether to view it.

View the shrunken-head display photo

A museum display labeled as a shrunken human head from Ecuador — The shrunken head displayed in the museum’s collection.

Would we recommend it?

Yes, for a short stop if you enjoy history, minerals and unusual old museum collections. I’m glad we went, but it was more my kind of place than Isamu’s. Keep expectations flexible if your child needs hands-on exploration, and plan around the stroller limitations.

378 Old Quaker Hill Road, Pawling. The posted seasonal hours are Saturday and Sunday, 1–4 p.m., May through October. Check Akin Free Library’s website for current visiting information.