The museum was originally designed to house the collections of Olof O. Nylander, a self-taught naturalist from Oremolla, Skifvarps, Sweden. Born in 1864, Mr. Nylander became interested in natural history as a youth. His spare time was spent collecting fossils and mineral specimens. As a teenager he apprenticed as a house painter. He lived for two years in Stockholm, working as a painter and spent his free time visiting the many museums in Stockholm.

In 1883 he left Sweden and immigrated to the United States. For the first few years, he worked in Massachusetts, Florida and Rhode Island as a painter. In his free time he cultivated a keen interest in the natural sciences. His skills as a geologist were in demand. Olof was engaged by the U.S. Geological Survey as a field collector. He was also contracted by the Canadian Government and numerous colleges and universities to perform field research, or act as a guide.

Besides his geology and paleontology skills Olof was very knowledgeable of the flora and fauna, and the mollusca of Aroostook County, Maine and the adjoining areas in Canada. Some mollusk shell specimens he collected are as small as the head of a pin, and can be viewed by the public in our museum. He also wrote numerous scientific papers and booklets.  Please refer to our bibliography.

Recognizing his years of service, the University of Maine at Orono awarded Mr. Nylander a Honorary Master of Science degree in 1938. In correspondence to Mr. Nylander, he was frequently addressed as professor or doctor. The following year, in 1939, the Nylander Museum was dedicated in Caribou, Maine.

Olof Nylander was the first director of the museum until his sudden death in 1943. Throughout the years various museums, including the Smithsonian Museum, and the National Museum of Canada wanted to acquire all or part of the original Nylander collection. The collection has remained largely intact, part of which is permanently on display at the Nylander Museum.

Today the Nylander Museum houses the original Nylander collection and additional specimens and objects that have been donated, or are on loan to the museum.