Bar Harbor history

Foundation and Early Years

The history of the area where Bar Harbor is now located began long before the arrival of Europeans. Initially, these lands were inhabited by the Wabanaki people, who called the island Pemetic ("The Sloping Land") and used it for seasonal hunting and gathering shellfish.

The first European to explore this region was Samuel de Champlain in 1604; it was he who named the island L'Isle des Monts Deserts (Island of Desert Mountains). A permanent English settlement was established here in 1763 by Abraham Somes and James Richardson. In 1796, the town was officially incorporated under the name Eden, and it was only in 1918 that it received its modern name — Bar Harbor.

Key Factors of Development

The development of the settlement was defined by a unique combination of geographical advantages and natural resources:

• Geographical Location: The town is situated on the shores of a convenient deep-water harbour. Its modern name comes from a sandbar that is exposed during low tide, connecting the town to Bar Island.
• Marine Resources: Proximity to the fish-rich waters of the Atlantic made fishing and shipbuilding the foundation of the early economy.
• Tourism Potential: In the mid-19th century, the picturesque landscapes attracted the attention of artists from the Hudson River School (such as Thomas Cole and Frederic Church), whose paintings glorified the beauty of the island throughout the country.

Early Cultural and Economic Features

Initially, Bar Harbor was a modest community of fishermen and farmers, but in the second half of the 19th century, its appearance changed radically:

• The Era of "Rusticators": Following the artists, wealthy city dwellers were drawn here, wishing to take a break from industrialisation and live a "simple life" in nature.
• Summer Capital of the Elite: By the end of the 19th century, during the "Gilded Age", the town turned into a fashionable resort. America's wealthiest families, including the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Astors, built grandiose summer residences here, which they modestly called "cottages". This transformed Bar Harbor into a centre of social life and culture of that time.

Chronology of Events

• 1604: French explorer Samuel de Champlain lands on the island and names it the "Island of Desert Mountains" (L'Isle des Monts Deserts).
• 1763: Abraham Somes and James Richardson establish the first permanent English settlement at Somes Sound.
• 1796: The settlement is officially incorporated as the town of Eden, named in honour of the English statesman Richard Eden.
• 1844: Renowned artist Thomas Cole visits the island, and his paintings begin to attract the first tourists and intellectual elite to the region.
• 1855: The first hotel, "Agamont House", opens, marking the beginning of the fishing village's transformation into a popular resort.
• 1913: After long debates, the ban on the use of automobiles on Mount Desert Island is lifted, changing the transport logistics of the region.
• 1916: President Woodrow Wilson proclaims the creation of the Sieur de Monts National Monument, the predecessor to Acadia Park.
• 1918: The town of Eden is officially renamed Bar Harbor in honour of the famous sandbar connecting the town to Bar Island.
• 1919: Lafayette National Park is founded, becoming the first US national park east of the Mississippi River.
• 1929: The park receives its modern name, Acadia National Park, and The Jackson Laboratory — a major centre for biomedical research — opens in the town.
• 1947: The devastating "Great Fire" destroys over 17,000 acres (approx. 6,900 hectares) of land and many historic mansions of the "Gilded Age", ending the era of the exclusive resort for millionaires.
• 1950s: The town is rebuilt and reoriented towards mass family tourism, contributing to the development of modern tourist infrastructure.

Key Milestones of Development and Transformation

The evolution of Bar Harbor represents a series of radical transformations that turned a small settlement into one of the main tourist centres of New England. Several key stages can be highlighted that had a decisive influence on the economy and urban planning:

• Transition to a Service Economy (1850s):
  The construction of the first hotels and piers marked a departure from exclusively maritime trades (fishing and shipbuilding). This formed a new economic foundation for the town, fully oriented towards serving seasonal visitors.
• Urbanisation of the "Gilded Age" (1880–1910s):
  The influx of capital from the wealthiest US families led to large-scale construction. The town developed advanced infrastructure: water supply, electricity, parks, and the famous Shore Path. The architectural appearance of the town was redefined by grandiose summer residences in the cottage style, securing Bar Harbor's status as an elite resort.
• Transport Revolution (1913):
  Lifting the ban on cars entering Mount Desert Island became a turning point in urban planning. This required the modernisation of the road network (including the construction of a bridge to the mainland) and made the town accessible not only to those arriving by steamships and trains but also to car tourists.
• Economic Diversification (1929):
  The founding of The Jackson Laboratory was a crucial event extending beyond tourism. The emergence of a major biomedical research centre created jobs for skilled specialists and provided the town with economic stability during the off-season.
• Urban Planning "Reset" (1947):
  The Great Fire destroyed most of the historic mansions on "Millionaires' Row". This event forced the town to change its vector of development: instead of restoring closed private estates, the vacated lands were used for the construction of hotels and motels. The elite resort transformed into a democratic destination for family holidays.
• Integration with the National Park:
  The town's development is inextricably linked with Acadia Park. The construction of carriage roads (initiated by J.D. Rockefeller Jr.) and the Park Loop Road created a unique "city-park" logistical link, which is the basis of tourist traffic today.
• Rise as a Cruise Port (Late 20th – Early 21st Century):
  The modernisation of port facilities allowed Bar Harbor to accommodate large cruise liners. This led to a significant growth in the daily flow of tourists and stimulated the development of retail and restaurant businesses in the coastal zone.

Architectural Appearance and Urban Planning

The architecture of Bar Harbor is a unique blend of the modest heritage of a New England fishing village and the luxury of the "Gilded Age". The urban development of the town is inextricably linked to its transformation into an elite summer resort in the second half of the 19th century. During this period, the town's landscape was enriched with grandiose mansions known as "cottages", many of which were designed by leading architects of the time.

Despite the devastating fire of 1947, which destroyed a significant part of the historic buildings, magnificent examples of architecture remain in the town, shaping its charm today.

Main Styles and Historical Eras

The architectural fabric of the town correlates clearly with the stages of its popularity among the American elite. The main directions are represented by the following styles:

• Shingle Style — Late 19th Century:
  The most characteristic style for Bar Harbor. It emerged in New England as a reaction to the excessive decorativeness of the Victorian era. Buildings are distinguished by continuous cladding with wooden shingles, asymmetrical facades, wide verandas, and a harmonious merger with the natural landscape. This is the style of summer residences striving for "natural" elegance.
• Queen Anne — 1880–1900s:
  A Victorian style popular during the resort's heyday. It is characterised by complex roof shapes, the presence of turrets, bay windows, stained glass, and abundant wooden decor. These buildings created a festive and romantic atmosphere in the resort town.
• Colonial Revival — Early 20th Century:
  A style turning to the origins of American architecture. It is distinguished by symmetry, classical columns, and strict proportions. It was often used for public buildings and later mansions, symbolising stability and patriotism.
• Art Deco — 1930s:
  Represented sparsely but vividly. This style brought geometric forms, modern materials, and a touch of Hollywood glamour to the town during the interwar period.
• Neo-Gothic and Romanesque Style:
  Used primarily in religious architecture, lending the town's churches monumentality and solemnity.

Landmark Buildings Shaping the City's Look

Several key structures serve as living illustrations of Bar Harbor's architectural history:

• St. Saviour’s Episcopal Church: A magnificent example of Neo-Gothic architecture. The building is famous for its collection of stained glass windows by the Tiffany studio, considered some of the best in the country.
• La Rochelle Mansion: A luxurious building in the Georgian Revival style (a subtype of the Colonial style). Built in 1902, this brick mansion on the oceanfront is one of the few surviving "cottages" of the high nobility and now serves as the home of the Bar Harbor Historical Society.
• The Criterion Theatre: Built in 1932, this theatre is a gem of the Art Deco style. It has preserved its original interior and is an important cultural centre connecting the town with the era of jazz and classic cinema.
• Jesup Memorial Library: An exquisite example of Colonial Revival. The red brick building with a monumental portico became a symbol of civic pride and education in the early 20th century.
• The Turrets: A stone mansion resembling a medieval castle, built in 1895. It is now part of the College of the Atlantic campus and vividly demonstrates the "Gilded Age" elite's desire for romanticism and grandeur.

Distinguished Personalities of Bar Harbor

The history of the town is inextricably linked with the names of influential politicians, patrons of the arts, scientists, and artists who lived here or made a significant contribution to the development of the region.

• George Bucknam Dorr
  Conservationist, "Father of Acadia National Park"
  A wealthy heir to a textile empire who dedicated his life and fortune to preserving the nature of Mount Desert Island. He lived at the "Old Farm" estate in Bar Harbor. It was thanks to his efforts and lobbying that the first national park in the eastern United States was created.
• Beatrix Farrand
  Landscape Architect
  One of America's most famous female landscape architects and the only female founding member of the American Society of Landscape Architects. Her ancestral estate, "Reef Point" in Bar Harbor, was a centre of garden art, and the landscaping principles she developed are still used in the region today.
• Clarence Cook Little
  Geneticist, Scientist
  In 1929, he founded The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor. This institution turned the resort town into a global centre for biomedical research and genetics, ensuring the economic stability of the region beyond the tourist season.
• Joseph Pulitzer
  Media Magnate, Publisher
  The legendary newspaper publisher after whom the Pulitzer Prize is named. He owned the grandiose summer estate "Chatwold" in Bar Harbor. Specifically for him, as he suffered from sensitivity to noise, a soundproofed "Tower of Silence" was added to the mansion.
• Mary Roberts Rinehart
  Writer
  The author of detective stories, often called the "American Agatha Christie", was connected to the town through many years of living at "Farview" house. She played an important role in restoring community spirit after the Great Fire of 1947, actively participating in the life of the town.
• James G. Blaine
  US Secretary of State, Senator
  An influential 19th-century politician who owned the "Stanwood" home. His presence in Bar Harbor contributed to transforming the town into a summer residence for the Washington political elite and the diplomatic corps.
• Nelson Rockefeller
  US Vice President, Governor of New York
  Born in Bar Harbor in 1908. A representative of the famous dynasty, whose family played a key role in financing the construction of carriage roads in Acadia Park, which forever changed the landscape around the town.