Take a Bar Harbor History Tour

Tour Bar Harbor With Us & Experience Its Rich Heritage

A Bar Harbor history tour like the one here is a fun (and educational) way to get to know Bar Harbor.

We've put together a fun tour of Bar Harbor for you that passes by a number of historical buildings in the town. Sure, you can take commercial Bar Harbor tours if you really want to, but why not start with this totally free walking tour?

Bar Harbor History Starts Here

This short tour shouldn't take you much more than an hour (if that), but passes 25 historical sites, starting and ending on the Village Green. The map below can be blown up larger in a separate window by clicking on it, so you can follow along with the text on this page.

Click to enlarge

Photo: lori05871/Flickr

1. The Congregational Church (1888-89)
2. Abbe Museum (*see more info below)
3. St. Savior's Episcopal Church, Rectory & Cemetery (*see more info below)
4. Jesup Memorial Library
5. YWCA (1913)
6. Holy Redeemer Catholic Church (1907)
7. Anne's White Columns Inn, 1937 (originally Christian Science Church)
8. Ledgelawn Inn (1876)
9. Mira Monte Inn (1860)
10. Primrose Inn (1878)
11. Holbrook House (1876)

Make a right on Holland Ave, and look for the following Bar Harbor history points of interest...

12. Castlemaine Inn, 1886
13. Graycote Inn, 1881

Then, make a right on Cottage Street, where you'll find these highpoints:

14. Original Staffords, once the town's largest livery stable, now a supermarket (1894)
15. Original high school, now municipal building
16. Original Brown's Furniture Store, 1888
17. Post Office (1910) (National Historical Register)
18. Criterion Theatre, features floating balcony (1932)

Next, make a left on Main Street and look for this:

19. The Fire Station (1912)

Make a left back on to West Street, where you'll find the following:

20. Bar Harbor Club
21. Manor House Inn
22. Kedge
23. Bar Harbor Tides
24. Saltair Inn
25. LaRochelle (Sea Coast Mission)

That brings us back to where we started... the Village Green!

*More Info on St. Savior's Church

This church is the oldest, tallest and largest public building on Mount Desert Island. It was named for the French Jesuit Mission that was established on the island in 1613. The building of the church started in 1871, and was completed in 1878. Over time, the building was expanded further, ending in 1900. The church and the rectory are on the National Register of Historic Places.

*More Info on Abbe Museum

This small museum focuses on Native American history. Contemporary Native American artists are the focus with plenty of exhibits and activities throughout and teacher and student workshops available for those who are interested.

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