42-595: The Abbe Museum is a museum with two locations in Bar Harbor, Maine , on Mount Desert Island . The museum is dedicated to exploring the history and culture of Maine 's Native people, the Wabanaki . It has one location at 26 Mount Desert Street in the center of Bar Harbor, and a second location at Sieur de Monts in Acadia National Park . The Sieur de Monts building is an architecturally distinctive structure, listed on
84-427: A home near Bar Harbor. Martha Stewart owns property in nearby Seal Harbor and frequents Bar Harbor. In mid-October 1947, Maine experienced a severe drought , seeing only half of its usual rainfall. On October 17, sparks at a cranberry bog near Town Hill ignited a wildfire that intensified over the next ten days, due to strong winds that began on October 21, and it was not declared out until mid-November. This
126-412: A large number of artifacts fashioned during prehistoric and historic times by Native Americans and by Europeans who began arriving in the area in the early 17th century. Stone artifacts include projectile (arrow and spear) points; bone artifacts include harpoons, hooks, combs, and a rare flute that may be as much as 2,000 years old. Also included are large number of baskets, and a powder horn attributed to
168-509: A male householder with no wife present, and 47.5% were non-families. 36.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.70. The median age in the town was 45.3 years. 17.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 10% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 32.3% were from 45 to 64; and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of
210-584: A resident at local Reef Point Estate , to design their gardens . A glimpse of their lifestyles was available from the Shore Path , a coastal path skirting waterfront lawns. Yachting , garden parties at the Pot & Kettle Club, and carriage rides up Cadillac Mountain were popular diversions. Others enjoyed horse-racing at Robin Hood Park-Morrell Park. US President William Howard Taft played golf in 1910 at
252-475: A unique octagonal space specifically designed in consultation with Dr. Abbe to house his collections. It is believed to be the only non-domestic example of Mediterranean architecture in the state, and was its first purpose-built museum building. Bar Harbor, Maine Bar Harbor is a resort town on Mount Desert Island in Hancock County , Maine , United States. As of the 2020 census , its population
294-422: A very large part of the industry. In 1886 the annual shipment of cut stone was estimated to be over 3,500 tons. The booming industry quickly attracted settlers, and by 1950 the population had tripled. The Mount Desert Island we see today was largely formed around 380 million years ago by the collision of the continent and an arc of islands, which created the granites and other igneous rocks that comprise most of
336-523: Is 5,089. The town is home to the College of the Atlantic , Jackson Laboratory , and MDI Biological Laboratory . During the summer and fall seasons, it is a popular tourist destination. Bar Harbor is also home to the largest parts of Acadia National Park , including Cadillac Mountain , the highest point within 25 miles (40 km) of the coastline of the eastern United States . From the mainland, Bar Harbor
378-545: Is accessible by road via Maine State Route 3 . The island is directly accessible by air at Hancock County–Bar Harbor Airport , and by ferry from Winter Harbor, Maine , and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia . The town of Bar Harbor was founded on the northeast shore of Mount Desert Island , which the Wabanaki Indians knew as Pemetic , meaning "range of mountains" or "mountains seen at a distance." The Wabanaki seasonally fish , hunt and gather berries, clams, and other shellfish in
420-662: Is its industry. After enough settlers traveled to the island the industry became prosperous. One could find a job in logging , fishing, shipbuilding, coastal trading, or quarry working. The island contained many job opportunities with several logging mills, a shoe factory, and a woolen mill. These industries made the Somes family the wealthiest on the island by 1840 along with the Whiting family, who also owned many warehouses and businesses. The lumber, grist, and wool mills of Somesville were supported by multiple dams. The granite quarries were also
462-409: Is the southern terminus). Mount Desert Island Ice Cream, ranked among the best ice cream shops in the country, made the news in 2010 when President Obama and his family made a surprise visit for a treat. Ben & Bill's Chocolate Emporium , with its lobster -flavored ice cream and lobster statue, is a popular stop. Bar Harbor is featured in the 2007 book The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan as
SECTION 10
#1732855475035504-594: Is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Bar Harbor has a humid continental climate , abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island are located near the coastline and surrounded by the North American continent to the northeast and southwest. This location, combined with prevailing winds that are not from
546-603: The National Register of Historic Places as one of the state's first purpose-built museum buildings, and as a rare example in the state of Mediterranean architecture. The museum was formerly led by CEO Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko, who has been an advocate for decolonizing museums. In 2020, the Abbe board of trustees hired Passamaquoddy tribal citizen Chris Newell to lead the museum under the dual role of Executive Director and Sr. Partner to Wabanaki Nations. The museum collections include
588-597: The Penobscot chief Orono. The core of the collection was made by the pioneering radiologist Robert Abbe , who retired to Mount Desert Island after becoming enfeebled by the long-term effects of radiation exposure. The Sieur de Monts building was designed by Edmund M. Gilchrist, and was completed in 1928. Stylistically it has elements of both the Spanish Colonial Revival and the Italian Renaissance, and has
630-672: The Trenton Bridge . Upon entering the town limits from the north, Route 3 turns east onto Mount Desert Street, before turning south onto Main Street at Bar Harbor's Village Green . It then circumnavigates the eastern portion of Mount Desert Island. Two other streets link Route 3 to Main Street: West Street (the first visitors from the north see) and Cottage Street. Another principal road, Eagle Lake Road, leads west, from its intersection with Eden Street, Mount Desert Street and Kebo Street, into
672-495: The United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 63.11 square miles (163.45 km ), of which 42.24 square miles (109.40 km ) is land and 20.87 square miles (54.05 km ) is water. Bar Harbor is situated on Frenchman Bay , with multiple smaller islands just offshore. Twice a day, at low tide, a sand bar (Bar Harbor's namesake) is exposed, linking the town to Bar Island. This climatic region
714-449: The Atlantic, gives Bar Harbor a continental climate with very cold winters for an island location at such a low latitude. As of the census of 2010, there were 5,235 people, 2,427 households, and 1,275 families residing in the town. The population density was 123.9 inhabitants per square mile (47.8/km ). There were 3,495 housing units at an average density of 82.7 units per square mile (31.9 units/km ). The racial makeup of
756-501: The DeGregoire Hotel (Eden Street at West Street). The Building of Arts civic building, on Kebo Street at Cromwell Harbor Road, also perished. Over 10,000 acres (4,000 hectares) of Acadia National Park were destroyed. The town's business district was spared, including Mount Desert Street, where several former summer homes within a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places operate as inns. According to
798-526: The Kebo Valley Golf Club. He was the last sitting president to visit the town until Barack Obama in July 2010. On March 3, 1918, Eden was renamed Bar Harbor, after the sand and gravel bar, visible at low tide, which leads across to Bar Island and forms the rear of the harbor. The name would become synonymous with elite wealth. It was the birthplace of vice-president Nelson Rockefeller . Bar Harbor
840-520: The Northern Appalachians known as the Acadian Orogeny . In 1975, the central village of Somesville and the harbor area were listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places . The district extends along Main Street from Denning Brook to Maine State Route 3 , and encompasses the entire shoreline of the harbor as far south as Mason and Squantum Points. It includes
882-503: The area. They speak of Bar Harbor as Man-es-ayd'ik ("clam-gathering place") or Ah-bays'auk ("clambake place"), leaving great piles of shells as evidence of this abundance. In early September 1604, French explorer Samuel de Champlain ran aground on a rock ledge believed to be Egg Rock, just off Otter Cliffs, and when he came ashore to repair his boat he met local natives. Champlain named the island Isles des Monts Deserts , meaning "island of barren mountains"—now called Mount Desert Island,
SECTION 20
#1732855475035924-411: The average family size was 2.78. In and near the town, the population was spread out, with 19.8% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males. The median income for a household in or near
966-560: The best soil on Mount Desert Island, it also developed agriculture , with a main focus on dairy . In the 1840s, its rugged maritime scenery attracted the Hudson River School and Luminism artists Thomas Cole , Frederic Edwin Church , William Hart and Fitz Henry Lane . Inspired by their paintings, journalists, sportsmen and "rusticators" followed. Agamont House , the first hotel in Eden,
1008-477: The citizens of Bar Harbor voted for a citizens' initiative to cap cruise ship disembarkations to 1,000 per day. Bar Harbor also hosts many long-distance cyclists, as it is the eastern terminus of the Adventure Cycling Association's Northern Tier Bicycle Route ( Anacortes , Washington , is the western terminus), and the northern terminus of its Atlantic Coast Bicycle Route ( Key West , Florida ,
1050-401: The collision. These granites and volcanic rocks were emplaced adjacent to ~400 million year old siltstones and sandstones that sit on the inland side of the island on which the village of Bar Harbor lies. The mountains of Acadia represent a collisional tectonic event which was soon followed by a related series of continental collisions which led to a major phase in the mountain-building of
1092-467: The four towns of Mount Desert Island, plus the outlying islands of Swans Island and the town of Cranberry Isles. The school also serves students from towns such as Trenton, Hancock, Lamoine and Mariaville on the mainland. The College of the Atlantic is located in Bar Harbor, on Route 3. Bar Harbor's main access road, from the north or south, is State Route 3 , which is the coastal Eden Street taken from
1134-440: The highest point on the Atlantic seaboard. Maritime tours are available, on a wide variety of boats, introducing visitors to puffins , whales, seals, seabirds, lighthouses, even lobsters, illustrating the working waterfront side of Bar Harbor. The town has many historic houses, including large "cottages" along the shore, often converted to other uses today. To protect its housing supply for residents, citizens voted in 2021 to cap
1176-522: The island and its mountains. This is how the mountainous landscape came into being. As recently as one million years ago, a mile-thick glacier moved a few yards each year and eventually reached the Mount Desert Range. During this glacial event, Somes Sound was carved out of the island, giving it a curved U-shaped valley characteristic of glaciation. Today, many types of rock are on the island, including granites and volcanic rocks which resulted from
1218-629: The island as far back as 4000 B.C. After the Native Americans, the first families that settled on the island were Abraham and Hannah Somes as well as James and Rachel Richardson in the year of 1761. Somes was requested by the Massachusetts governor , Francis Bernard , to settle there and establish mills. They named their village Somesville and the inlet it was on, Somes Sound, after Abraham and his family. Somesville's history still attracts many new inhabitants today. An important aspect of Somesville
1260-582: The largest island in Maine. In 1761, Abraham Somes established the first European village on Mount Desert Island, naming it Somesville . Also named for him is Somes Sound, the only naturally occurring fjard on the East Coast of the US. Bar Harbor itself was incorporated as Eden on February 23, 1796, named after Sir Richard Eden, an English statesman. Early industries included fishing, lumbering and shipbuilding . With
1302-1027: The national park. The town is served by the Hancock County–Bar Harbor Airport , which provides year-round nonstop flights to Boston, Massachusetts . Bar Harbor is the western terminus for The CAT , a high-speed summer ferry service across the Gulf of Maine to Yarmouth , Nova Scotia , Canada , operated by Bay Ferries . The 3.5-hour route returned to service in 2022 after previously operating from 1955 to 2009. Downeast Windjammer Cruise Lines operates regular summer ferry service across Frenchman Bay between Bar Harbor and Winter Harbor . The population of Bar Harbor, and Mount Desert Island generally, increases dramatically from May through October with "seasonal" residents and tourists. Many come for Acadia National Park, with its hiking trails and carriage roads, providing opportunities for biking, bird watching, and mountain climbing, with Cadillac Mountain being
Abbe Museum - Misplaced Pages Continue
1344-482: The north end of Somes Sound . The village was established by Abraham Somes who was the first European settler on the island. It attracted many people because of its mills and quarries. The entire village is part of the Somesville Historic District . The history of Somesville dates back to Native Americans . The first Native Americans to visit the island were not permanent residents but they visited
1386-704: The number of vacation rentals in Bar Harbor. In 2012, the American Planning Association named the Village Green one of their top ten Great Places in America for Public Spaces. Cruise ships visit Bar Harbor from May through October (most in September and October), with 154 ship visits and more than 222,000 passengers in 2018. The forecast for 2019 was 176 ship visits and more than 254,000 passengers. In November 2022, concerned about crowding and overtourism ,
1428-408: The population. There were 2,142 households, out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.5% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.7% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and
1470-401: The setting of Westover Hall, a boarding school. The Far Harbor add-on for the video game Fallout 4 is located on Mount Desert Island, with Bar Harbor being reimagined as the post apocalyptic settlement of Far Harbor. Somesville Somesville is the oldest village of the town of Mount Desert on Mount Desert Island in southeastern Maine , United States. It is located on
1512-488: The town was $ 37,481, and the median income for a family was $ 51,989. Males had a median income of $ 31,085 versus $ 25,417 for females. The per capita income for the area was $ 24,103. About 4.9% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over. Conners Emerson School, founded in 1962, is located in Bar Harbor, serving students of grades K through 8. Mount Desert Island High School serves
1554-579: The town was 46.3% male and 53.7% female. As of the census of 2000, there were 4,820 people, 2,142 households, and 1,163 families residing in or near the town. The population density was 114.2 inhabitants per square mile (44.1/km ). There were 2,805 housing units at an average density of 66.5 units per square mile (25.7 units/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 97.88% White , 0.15% Black or African American , 0.21% Native American , 0.89% Asian , 0.08% from other races , and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.62% of
1596-419: The town was 94.7% White , 0.8% African American , 0.2% Native American , 2.8% Asian , 0.4% from other races , and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population. There were 2,427 households, of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.8% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.0% had
1638-587: The year. John D. Rockefeller Jr. , son of John D. Rockefeller of Standard Oil Co. , donated about one-third of the land in Acadia National Park and built the carriage roads that are used for hiking and biking. J. P. Morgan owned a house that is adjacent to the town. Cornelius Vanderbilt built cottages in Bar Harbor, while the Astor family owned hotels and cottages in Bar Harbor and the surrounding areas. Roxanne Quimby , co-founder and CEO of Burt's Bees , has
1680-531: Was one of several wildfires in the state that year. Nearly half the eastern side of Mount Desert Island burned, including 67 "cottages" —nearly one-third of the 222 cottages that stood at the time. (Many were empty or for sale; only 135 were occupied that summer.) Five historic grand hotels were also destroyed. These were Agamont House (Main Street), Hamor House (Main Street at Cottage Street), Belmont Hotel (Mount Desert and Kebo Streets), Malvern Hotel (Kebo Street) and
1722-573: Was also used for naval practices during World War II . More specifically, Bald Porcupine Island (one of the five Porcupine Islands ) was used to fire live torpedoes . In October 1944, the submarine USS Piper fired 12 live torpedoes at the island. Of those fired, one failed to explode on the first attempt but was later detonated by the twelfth torpedo. In 1996, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers surveyed all 30 acres of Bald Porcupine Island for unexploded ordnance . Nine were found. Many influential people have called Bar Harbor home for at least part of
Abbe Museum - Misplaced Pages Continue
1764-626: Was established in 1855 by Tobias Roberts. Birch Point, the first summer estate, was built in 1868 for Alpheus Harding . By 1880, there were 30 hotels, including the Mira Monte Inn , a historic landmark that survived a massive fire in 1947. Tourists were arriving by train and ferry to the Gilded Age resort that would rival Newport , Rhode Island . The rich and famous tried to outdo each other with entertaining and estates, often hiring landscape gardener and landscape architect Beatrix Farrand ,
#34965