Bar Harbor:
The summer holiday home of the rich and famous and the playground of the wealthy at the turn of the 20th century, this is a place that is unique among the thousands of island communities lining the Maine coast. Nestled among the mountains, forests, and the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean is the picturesque village of Bar Harbor. The masts of fishing boats tilt rhythmically back and forth as the waves lap against the rocky shore.
When the first Europeans settled the eastern side of Mount Desert Island, they named their town Eden. This was in honor of an English statesman, Sir Richard Eden. The name they chose proved to be well-suited. Even after the name was changed to Bar Harbor in 1918, the air of paradise remained.
Mount Desert Island is blessed with a unique ecology that makes it a garden of plenty. The early settlers discovered that while the soil was poor, the sea was rich, both in food and opportunity. The thin, rocky earth provided perfect conditions for the trees that were used to build ships.
