Maine Memory Network

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - Rustication

"Rustication Steamship "Mount Desert," leaving Southwest Harbor, ca. 1900 In the 19th and early 20th centuries, steamship was the preferred…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - The Founding of Acadia National Park

"The Founding of Acadia National Park George B. Dorr, Mount Desert Island, ca 1940 George Dorr said of Acadia National Park, "The spirit and…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - The Division of MDI Begins

"The Division of MDI Begins In April 1795 a vote was passed that the town should be divided. The selectmen were instructed to draw a line dividing…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - Rusticators come to MDI

"Rusticators come to MDI The mid-1800s brought about change to Mt. Desert Island. Artists, including Frederick Church, came to the island to visit…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - The Bryants and Rockefellers: Two Seal Harbor Families

"The Bryants and Rockefellers: Two Seal Harbor Families Marvin Bryant, Seal Harbor, ca. 1920Trenton Cemetery & Keeping Society Text by Eliza…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - Welcome and Introduction

"Welcome and Introduction The Great Harbor and mountains of Mount Desert Island. Photo by W.H. Ballard, circa 1940."

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - The Granite and Ice Industries

"The Granite and Ice Industries Granite Quarry Crew at Work, Mount Desert Island, ca. 1890 Men at work in Hall Quarry."

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - You Can Get Here From There

"You Can Get Here From There Before cars were allowed on Mount Desert Island, steamboats were the primary mode of transportation to Mount Desert."

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - The Indian Encampment

"The Indian Encampment Wabanaki family inside tent, Bar Harbor, ca. 1885Maine Historic Preservation Commission Rusticators were curious about…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - Summary: The Future: Recycle or Start from Scratch?

"Summary: The Future: Recycle or Start from Scratch? Aerial View of Northeast Harbor Looking North Towards Asticou ca."

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - MDI and the Fire of 1947

"MDI and the Fire of 1947 Belmont Hotel after the Fire of 1947Bar Harbor Historical Society The Fire of 1947 wiped out nearly 70 summer homes…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - Permanent Settlement

"Permanent Settlement The first permanent white settlers were the Abraham Somes family and the James Richardson family from Gloucester, Massachusetts."

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - Early Years on Mt. Desert Island

"Early Years on Mt. Desert Island Higgins Saw Mill, Somesville, 1890 Higgins Saw Mill which is believed to have been located in…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - Original Mount Desert Island Pilot Project (2006)

"Original Mount Desert Island Pilot Project (2006) This project began as part of the pilot phase of what would become the Maine Community Heritage…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - Wabanaki Today

"Wabanaki Today Wabanaki Today The Indian encampments are no longer part of the cultural or physical makeup of Mount Desert Island; however the…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - Cottagers

"Cottagers Chatwold, Bar Harbor, ca. 1900Jesup Memorial Library As Mount Desert Island’s visitor count rose, many wealthy rusticators opted for…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - …then came the settlers…

"…then came the settlers… Granite mountains, Mount Desert, 1837Maine Historical Society While exploring Mount Desert as a place “to carry on…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - The Indian Encampment: Behind the Scenes

"The Indian Encampment: Behind the Scenes Indian encampment, Bar Harbor, 1881Abbe Museum All the cooking at the Indian encampment is done…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - Northeast Harbor: Rustic to Rusticators

"Northeast Harbor: Rustic to Rusticators Northeast Harbor Fleet Race, ca. 1930Great Harbor Maritime Museum In 1761, Abraham Somes moved his…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - …next came the artists and rusticators.

"…next came the artists and rusticators. Thomas Cole’s View across Frenchman’s Bay from Mount Desert Island after a Squall, 1845. Oil on canvas."

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - Activities for Rusticators

"Activities for Rusticators Climbing Newport (Champlain) Mountain, 1886Abbe Museum Bar Harbor comes as near affording universal satisfaction to…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - A Short History Of Performing Arts On Mount Desert Island

"A Short History Of Performing Arts On Mount Desert Island Text by Gina Sabatani and Taylor Thomas-Marsh Nestled alongside Maine's central coast, the…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - Beginnings

"… Beginnings Glooskap and Keanke spearing the whale, 1884Maine Historical Society The human history of Mount Desert Island began thousands of…"

Mount Desert Island: Shaped by Nature - Building Of The Arts Era

"Building Of The Arts Era Building Of The Arts, Bar Harbor, Maine The Building of the Arts was officially dedicated in 1907 and remained the…"