Bar Harbor, Coastal resort town in Hancock County, Maine, US
Description
Bar Harbor sits on the northeast shore of Mount Desert Island, spreading across waterfront, hills, and coves overlooking Frenchman Bay. The settlement spreads between harbor facilities, residential streets, and forested slopes that run down to the water.
History
Founded in 1796 under the name Eden, the settlement kept that designation until 1918. The name change referenced the tidal sandbar leading to the neighboring island.
Culture
The name recalls the sandbar that connects Bar Island to the mainland at low tide, a feature visitors can walk across on foot. This natural bridge shapes the coastal character and draws daily walkers who must watch the tide schedule carefully.
Practical
The harbor area offers several docks and water access points used throughout the year. When visiting, keep track of tide times, especially if planning to walk out to the nearby island.
Did you know?
A fire in 1947 reshaped the landscape dramatically, destroying large forest areas and numerous buildings across the island. Traces of this event remain visible in the current vegetation and settlement pattern.
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Acadia National Park
4 km
Cadillac Mountain
3.8 km
Asticou Inn
10.8 km
Blackwoods Campground
8.4 km
Bar Harbor Inn
755 m
Abbe Museum
2.8 km
Carriage Paths, Bridges and Gatehouses
4 km
Highseas
3.9 km
Asticou Azalea Garden
10.7 km
Eegonos
2.8 kmAgamont Park
684 m
Mira Monte Inn
99 m
John Innes Kane Cottage
902 m
West Street Historic District
528 mThe Farm House
822 mStone Barn Farm
8.1 kmRedwood
1.1 km
Jesup Memorial Library
224 m
Ivy Manor Inn
475 mThe Turrets
1.3 kmHiggins Barn
12.3 km
33 Ledgelawn Avenue
108 mFernald Point Prehistoric Site
12.6 kmChurch of Our Father
5.1 kmCleftstone
1.3 km
Reverie Cove
694 m
Ellsworth City Hall
7.8 km
Sand Beach
6.7 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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