Maine Tourism: Islesford Historical Museum

The Islesford Historical Museum is located on Little Cranberry Island just off the coast of Mount Desert Island in Frenchman Bay. The Museum has exhibits relative to island living dating from the early 1800's. The exhibits include tools, fishing items, household items, woodworking items, and information on shipbuilding.

To get to Little Cranberry Island, you can take a 2 ½-mile boat trip from Mount Desert Island that on a calm day will take about twenty minutes. As you approach Little Cranberry Island and make your way through the tangle of fishing boats in the harbor, you will notice two buildings that stand out from the rest. On the shoreline, you will see a 1 ½ story wooden structure and directly behind that is the Islesford Historical Museum. The Museum building is a 1 ½-story brick Georgian Revival building. These two buildings are a part of Acadia National Park and both serve to preserve the memory of the history of the Cranberry Islands.

In every corner of the museum, are exhibits that tell the story of island life, including family memorabilia, tools and the tales reflective of the independence and self-reliance needed to survive the harsh environment.

The museum has restrooms, drinking fountains, and a small bookstore. Open Monday through Saturday, from mid-June through September 9:00 am to noon and 12:30 to 3:30 pm. On Sundays, the museum opens at 10:45 am.