Otter Cliffs Radio Station, Naval radio station in Mount Desert Island, Maine.
Description
Otter Cliffs Radio Station is a naval radio receiving facility on Mount Desert Island positioned on dramatic sea cliffs overlooking the Atlantic. The location allowed direct reception of radio signals across the ocean to Europe with far fewer obstacles than other East Coast installations faced.
History
Lieutenant Alessandro Fabbri established the station in 1917 to support military radio communications during World War I. The facility operated as an active receiving center until 1935, when it relocated to Winter Harbor at the urging of a prominent local benefactor.
Culture
The station employed over 100 Navy personnel and 25 Marines who managed radio communications during World War I from this Atlantic coast location.
Practical
The site sits on a clifftop with direct ocean views and is accessible via the Coastal Loop road on Mount Desert Island. Nearby attractions and straightforward access make it a possible stop while exploring the Acadia area.
Did you know?
The station had to move in 1935 to preserve the natural landscape of Ocean Drive. The relocation reveals how environmental concerns shaped infrastructure planning even in that era.
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