Bar Harbor History
A Story of Fortitude and Generosity

Bar Harbor history is interesting and extensive.

Here you can learn more about the place you may have already come to know and love.

The Town of Bar Harbor, Maine is located in Hancock County on the Mt Desert Island. It has become known as a famous summer colony and is home to much of Acadia National Park and Cadillac Mountain (the highest point on the island).

Just offshore, you'll find the Porcupine Islands.

Early Bar Harbor History

The first inhabitants of Bar Harbor were the Native American Wabanaki tribe.

They called the area Pemetic, which meant "sloping land" or "mountains seen at a distance." They also referred to the area as the "clam-gathering place."

They would fish, hunt, gather berries, and dig for clams and shellfish. They left giant piles of shells everywhere.

In 1604, the French explorer Samuel de Champlain visited the area rather by accident. He ran his boat aground on the rocks and had to go on shore to repair it.

He called it Isles des Monts Deserts, which means "island of barren mountains."

A settlement was finally established in 1763 by John Thomas and Israel Higgins. It became known as Eden, after Sir Richard Eden. It would not actually be called Bar Harbor until 1918.

The name Bar Harbor comes from Bar Island which protects the harbor. The primary industries at that time were fishing, shipbuilding, lumbering, and agriculture (due to the rich soil on the island).

A Summer Colony is Born

In spite of many previous inhabitants, this region did not really become popular until the 1850s when famous painters, such as Thomas Cole, Thomas Birch, Frederic E. Church, Fitz Henry Lane and William Hart incorporated the majestic mountains of Bar Harbor and ocean scenes into their paintings.

During this time (1855) Bar Harbor history tells us that the very first hotel (Agamont House) in Bar Harbor was built by Tobias Roberts.

Then in 1868, the first summer estate, known as Birch Point was built by Alpheus Hardy. From there on the number of summer cottages and hotels continued to grow.

Change--The Fire of 1947

To get to Bar Harbor at that time you had to travel via train or ferry. It became THE place for the wealthy to summer. Even President William Howard Taft played golf here in 1910.

Many of these extravagant summer estates and elaborate cottages were destroyed in the fire of 1947.

A severe drought developed. Sparks from a nearby cranberry bog started the fire, which grew in intensity over 10 days.

Almost half of the eastern side of the island was destroyed. Nearly 10,000 acres of Acadia National Park burned.

Only the business district was spared. 170 homes, 5 hotels, and 67 elaborate summer homes were completely incinerated.

However, some of the destroyed homes have been remodeled and turned into inns and B&Bs. Thanks to the Great Depression and two world wars, much of the wealthy ambiance of Bar Harbor declined and it became more accessible to the working middle class.

Bar Harbor history is unique, but one thing shines through--the resilience and generosity of its people. Without it this area could not be what it is today.

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