Privacy Policy
Effective Date: May 12, 2026
The Abbe Museum (the Museum, we, us, or our) is committed to protecting the privacy of visitors to our website, ticket purchasers, merchandise customers, and newsletter subscribers. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your choices regarding your data.
By using abbemuseum.org, purchasing a ticket, shopping in our online store, or signing up for our newsletter, you agree to the practices described in this policy.
1. Information We Collect
A. Newsletter Sign-Up Form
When you subscribe to the Abbe Museum newsletter, we collect:
Your name
Your email address
This information is used solely to send you Museum news, event announcements, and programming updates. You may unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of any email.
B. Online Ticket Purchases
When you purchase tickets through our website, we collect:
Your name
Your email address
Payment information (processed securely through a third-party payment processor — we do not store credit card numbers)
Ticket type and quantity
Ticketing is processed through Squarespace Commerce and ShopKeep and its affiliated payment partners. Payment data is transmitted directly to the payment processor using industry-standard encryption and is not stored on our servers.
C. Online Merchandise Purchases
When you purchase merchandise through our online store (powered by ShopKeep), we collect:
Your name
Your shipping and billing address
Your email address
Payment information (processed securely by ShopKeep's payment infrastructure — we do not store credit card numbers)
Order details
Merchandise transactions are governed in part by ShopKeep's privacy practices. We encourage you to review ShopKeep's privacy policy at lightspeedhq.com.
D. Automatically Collected Information
When you visit abbemuseum.org, our website platform (Squarespace) may automatically collect certain technical information, including:
Browser type and version
Device type and operating system
IP address (anonymized)
Pages visited and time spent on each page
Referring website or search terms
This information is used to understand how visitors use our site and to improve our content and digital experience. It is not linked to personally identifiable information without your consent.
E. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to enable core site functions, improve performance, and analyze traffic. We use:
Essential cookies — required for the site to function (e.g., shopping cart, form submissions)
Analytics cookies — help us understand site usage in aggregate (e.g., Squarespace Analytics)
Most browsers allow you to control or delete cookies through your settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain parts of the site.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
Process ticket orders and send confirmation emails
Process and fulfill merchandise orders
Send newsletters and event announcements to subscribers who have opted in
Respond to inquiries or requests
Improve our website, programming, and visitor experience
Comply with legal obligations
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
3. How We Share Your Information
We share personal information only in the following circumstances:
Service Providers — We share information with third-party vendors (Squarespace, ShopKeep, email marketing platforms) that help us operate our website and process transactions. These vendors are contractually obligated to protect your data and use it only for the services they provide to us.
Legal Requirements — We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or governmental authority.
Organizational Transfers — In the unlikely event of a merger, acquisition, or organizational restructuring, your information may be transferred as part of that process.
We do not share your information with other nonprofits, museums, or partner organizations without your consent.
4. Data Retention
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy or as required by law. Transaction records are retained in accordance with standard nonprofit financial record-keeping requirements. Newsletter subscriber data is retained until you unsubscribe.
5. Your Choices and Rights
You have the right to:
Unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time using the link in any email
Request access to the personal information we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate information
Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal obligations
To exercise these rights, contact us at: info@abbemuseum.org
6. Security
We take reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. All payment transactions are processed using SSL/TLS encryption. However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Children's Privacy
Our website is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately at info@abbemuseum.org, and we will promptly delete it.
8. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including partner organizations and artists' websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to review their policies separately.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will post the updated policy on this page with a revised effective date. Continued use of our website following any changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please contact:
Abbe Museum
26 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor, Maine 04609