Project Page

Notification is hereby given to the public of the intent of the Seacoast Science Center (SSC), with partial funding from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to construct a new building and make renovations to the existing building located at Odiorne Point State Park, New Hampshire. The proposed building will be constructed on the west side of the existing structure. Portions of the current Seacoast Science Center that abut the historic Sugden House will be removed. The Sugden House will remain.

The mission of the Seacoast Science Center is  to spark curiosity, enhance understanding, and inspire conservation of our Blue Planet. The project will provide interpretive exhibits for visitors to Odiorne Point State Park. The purpose of this project is to enhance and expand the Seacoast Science Center for the benefit of the community.

The overall objective for this project is to provide the state of New Hampshire and its regional coastal partners in southern Maine and northern Massachusetts with an updated environmental science institution. From a contemporary museum setting, the SSC will be able to engage upwards of 150,000 visitors each year with programs and exhibits that weave together natural history, environmental challenges, historic, present, and future human uses, with conservation measures and adaptive strategies targeting the preservation of the coastal character and natural resources of the region. The facility will be a public model for sea level rise resilient planning and construction, environmentally sustainable museum operations, and a community focal point for environmental learning, recreation and conservation.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), an Environmental Assessment (EA) has been prepared to assess the potential impacts of the proposed action on the human environment. This EA is available for agency and public review and comment for a period of thirty (30) days, and is accessible at https://tinyurl.com/59th8vpm.

The posting on the SSC website with the link to the document can be found at: https://www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/project-page-ea-review. For those without electronic access, a hard copy of the report is available for review at SSC, located at 570 Ocean Blvd., Rye, NH 03870.

Comments, which will become part of the official project record, may be emailed to Kate Leavitt, SSC Executive Director, at k.leavitt@sscnh.org until March 9, 2026.