History
From the first inhabitants of the region, the Native American Wabanaki, to the French explorer, Samuel de Champlain in 1604, to the settlement established in 1763 by Israel Higgins and John Thomas, Bar Harbor has an interesting and fascinating history. The Native Americans called the region Pemetic meaning "sloping land" – Champlain referred to the area as Isles des Monts Deserts, meaning "island of barren mountains" – in 1796, the community was incorporated as Eden – and finally became known as Bar Harbor in 1918.
Bar Harbor, Maine has a fascinating history as a summer resort. The first summer residents were the Wabanakis. Although the area was discovered by the French Explorer Champlain in 1604, the area was not popularized until the 1850's when noted painters such as Frederic E. Church and Thomas Cole depicted the majestic mountains and ocean scenes in their paintings.
Agamont House, the first hotel in Bar Harbor, was established in 1855 by Tobias Roberts. Birch Point, the first summer estate, was built in 1868 by Alpheus Hardy. As more and more people discovered the country around Bar Harbor, the number of hotels and cottages increased. Travel to the area was via train or on the Mount Desert Ferry.
The region became extremely popular with the wealthy in the later 1880's and magnificent summer estates were built in the area. Many of these extravagant "cottages" were lost in the fire of 1947, while others have been renovate into inns and beds and breakfasts.
In 1916, Lafayette National Park was established. The name was changed to Acadia National Park in 1929.
Due to the depression and the two World Wars, some of the extravagance and ambiance of Bar Harbor was lost. However, today, visitors by the thousands flock to the small community to relish in its history and the spectacular scenery that surrounds it.
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