Thread: Bar Harbor - Background & What's Ashore

Bar Harbor, Maine - Background

Although Maine was not one of the original 13 colonies, in name, the entire territory was part of Massachusetts until 1820, so technicalities aside, residents consider their home to be one of the founding states of the American union. Nowhere is American pride or patriotism as evident as it is in the northernmost part of New England. Stars and stripes seem to fly from every home and business.

Bar Harbor is on the eastern side of Mount Desert Island. Samuel Champlain named desolate Cadillac Mountain and named the island “L’lle des Monts Deserts”. It was the beginning of the 16th century and though encampments appeared and disappeared during the years that followed, the island was not truly settled until much later. When Bar Harbor was established in 1796, Maine was still a Massachusetts province.

By the mid 19th century, the picturesque island had begun to attract painters in search of new landscape subjects. As they returned to cities to sell their work, customers began to inquire about the beautiful scenes in their work. Soon, tourists were coming to Bar Harbor. Rail and steamboat travel in the 1850’s brought more people. The island became known as a colony of spacious mansions for New York and Boston millionaires who owned them. For almost a century, Bar Harbor was an exclusive high society resort.

An uncontrolled and dangerous 1947 fire brought the party to a halt. Dozens of lavish homes and forested areas burned when the blaze broke out in mid-October of that year. It had been a particularly dry season and the forest was dry. The flames quickly spread four days later when the wind picked up. By the time the wildfire was finally brought under control, more than 17,000 acres had burned, more than half in Acadia National Park. The post war years had been particularly hard on New England and many of the houses were never rebuilt. The forest eventually revived, but the golden era of Bar Harbor as a resort was over.

Bar Harbor, Maine - What’s Ashore

Is a pleasant place to stroll. The small seaside community has been a favorite summer resort for many years. West Street lines the Waterfront and features some of the town’s finest 19th century mansions, but others are restored as upscale inns.

The harbor is still the town focus. You can enjoy a short (fairly flat) hike a road that leads straight off the pier to the eastern side of Agamont Park. The shore Path leads out along the eastern shore. The trail is less than a mile and it crosses the front lawns of Bar Harbor’s largest summer “cottages”. It ends at Hancock Street which leads you back to Main Street. Main Street is where you can find the small shops, restaurants and the Town Green. Another area to explore is Mt Desert Street which is a national historic district at the park. Abbe Museum has an ethnographic collection of first nation artifacts. Also on this street, many of the homes have been restored as hotels and inns.

Three churches, Saint Saviour’s, the “typical” New England style Congregational, and Holy Redeemer number among the impressive architectural works. At the corner of Maine and Cottage Streets, bicycle, canoe and kayak rentals can be found. The Post Office can also be found on Cottage Street - just blocks west of Main. Acadia National Park is the seventh most visited national park in the United States. Hikes, nature walks and other outdoor activities are offered. Autumn is a great time to view Cadillac Mountain when the leaves on the deciduous trees change from summer green to a riot of brilliant red and gold.

The shore road leads from the pier out to Hull’s Cove before turning up the slopes of the highest peak on the Atlantic Coast of the Americas. From the top you have sweeping views of the forested mountainside, numerous coves and beaches and some of the smaller islands surrounding Mount Desert Island. If the weather is fair, you can even view your ship.

After descending the mountain, follow the one way road in a circular route along the Mount Desert island cost. Other places to view in the park are Thunder Hole, Otter’s Point, Bubble Pond, Jordon’s Pond and Seal Harbor. The landscape was glacier-carved eons ago.(We visited these places a few years ago and recommend that everyone see them.)

(Added note -- we have also walked the entire town which is really great -- we didn’t do the trails.)

If you're into walking, the carriage roads in the park are great. Designed and built to accomodate the horse drawn carriages of the day, they are wide and well maintained. Pick up a booklet at the park headquarters that will guide you to the various roads and describe them.

Our neighbors took their teenage daughters up the hiking trail to Cadillac Mountain a number of years ago. Parents loved it - kids hated it.

Thank you Krazy Kruisers for the information on Bar Harbor. We will be leaving on 9/21 for a 9-night Canada/New England cruise and will be making a stop their. So your information was very timely and interesting, making it someplace we're excited to be visiting.

Pete

What other ports do you stop at Pete?

Originally Posted by Krazy Kruizers

Bar Harbor, Maine - What’s Ashore

Is a pleasant place to stroll. The small seaside community has been a favorite summer resort for many years. West Street lines the Waterfront and features some of the town’s finest 19th century mansions, but others are restored as upscale inns.

The harbor is still the town focus. You can enjoy a short (fairly flat) hike a road that leads straight off the pier to the eastern side of Agamont Park. The shore Path leads out along the eastern shore. The trail is less than a mile and it crosses the front lawns of Bar Harbor’s largest summer “cottages”. It ends at Hancock Street which leads you back to Main Street. Main Street is where you can find the small shops, restaurants and the Town Green. Another area to explore is Mt Desert Street which is a national historic district at the park. Abbe Museum has an ethnographic collection of first nation artifacts. Also on this street, many of the homes have been restored as hotels and inns.

Three churches, Saint Saviour’s, the “typical” New England style Congregational, and Holy Redeemer number among the impressive architectural works. At the corner of Maine and Cottage Streets, bicycle, canoe and kayak rentals can be found. The Post Office can also be found on Cottage Street - just blocks west of Main. Acadia National Park is the seventh most visited national park in the United States. Hikes, nature walks and other outdoor activities are offered. Autumn is a great time to view Cadillac Mountain when the leaves on the deciduous trees change from summer green to a riot of brilliant red and gold.

KK- Thank you sooo much for posting this information!!

KK, I'm so glad you posted this. It was like a being back on your cruise with you, even if it was only a brief flashback.