This Is Maine's Quirkiest Little Town
Bar Harbor, Maine, is positioned to be a charming component of the northeastern edge of Mount Desert Island. However, this quaint village is anything but ordinary and everyday coastal living. Predominantly a resort community, the 5,500 permanent residents enjoy a unique environment that combines multiple contrasts, from Gilded Age mansions to quirky lobster shacks, as well as high-end art galleries and T-shirt stores selling moose-poop trinkets. What truly distinguishes Bar Harbor is not simply its breathtaking ocean views or accessibility to Acadia National Park; it’s the people and small businesses, and their knack for embracing the strange and weird.
History With a Dash of Eccentricity
Bar Harbor did not always have this name. In the 1760s, its beautiful surroundings had given the settlement the name Eden. The name was changed in 1918 to Bar Harbor to acknowledge one of the prominent features of the coastal community, a visible sandbar that appears at low tide. This has become a walking trail for those willing to time their departure to avoid being stranded by the rising tide.
By the turn of the 20th century, Bar Harbor became a hotspot for the Gilded Age, a place of prominence and wealth for America’s most affluent citizens. For example, the Rockefellers and Vanderbilts constructed enormous ‘cottages’ in the region, although this is a gross underestimate of the structure’s actual size. When a massive fire swept through the town, destroying nearly half of it in 1947, the Gilded Age of Bar Harbor gave way to a more relaxed and eclectic vibe.
Notable and Quirky Historic Landmarks
La Rochelle Mansion and Museum
Constructed in 1902, this is a long-standing residence of one of Bar Harbor’s more eccentric citizens. Today, it houses the local historical society and features a museum inside with multiple exhibits. By day, visitors can be impressed by the architecture plucked right from the Gilded Age and see unusual items like diaries from long lost sea captains and slightly creepy manequins in period dress. By night, you can book a tour for after-hours access to areas closed to the general public and hear stories of ghosts, witches, and spirits.
Abbe Museum
Unlike most dusty history museums, the Abbe is a vibrant center that is dedicated to Wabanaki culture. It began in 1928 as an archaeological curiosity within Sieur de Monts Spring, with porcupine-quill boxes and ancient tools, and is now a modern, downtown museum that collaborates directly with Indigenous historians and artists. The Abbe was also the first Smithsonian Affliate in the state of Maine.
Natural Wonders and Curiosities
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor is unique due to its relationship with Acadia National Park. The park is one of the few in the United States that was mainly created through donations of land, including those from John D. Rockefeller Jr. He also designed the park's famous carriage roads. These dirt roads are closed to automobiles and wind through wilderness and granite bridges that have a quaint, nostalgic feel.
Cadillac Mountain
It stands 1,530 feet high and is the highest peak within 25 miles of the East Coast. It is also the first place in America to see dawn during part of the year. It's a popular place for locals to welcome the first sunrise of the New Year, wearing warm clothes, savoring locally roasted coffee, and greeting the year with quiet respect in the cold.
Bar Island Sandbar
Most people refer to this as the town's weirdest way of transportation. At low tide, residents and visitors walk across the sandbar to Bar Island. If you miss your chance, you might have to wait a few hours to get back. If you go, mind the tides and pack a snack!
Commercial Landmarks with Character
Bar Harbor's business center is a sugar-pink maze of bayfront shops, retro diners, and boutiques that rely on charm rather than a brand name. At this epicenter of town is where Bar Harbor's personality really shines.
Cool as a Moose
This loud, pun-filled gift shop is a moose-themed everything emporium - from bottle openers to baby bibs. As the moose is one of the most iconic animals in Maine, it is fitting that this coastal community would become the home of a flagship store devoted exclusively to the beloved creature.
Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shops
Maine's oldest bookstore, established in 1886, appears to be a classic New England store until you notice the shelves upon shelves of books about cryptozoology, New England folklore, and UFOs. The staff writes handwritten reviews, and some of them tell ghost stories of local authors. They host readings and events year-round.
Bar Harbor Ghost Tours
This is one of the creepier attractions of the town, but easily one of its most popular. Take a Haunted Mansion tour of La Rochelle or test your nerves on a ghost walk through the Criterion Theatre. They also offer programs such as Monsters by Moonlight or the Phantom Feast in September and October. No matter how you explore Bar Harbor, there is always something ghastly to discover after dark.
Rock and Art Shop
This local business has a little bit of everything. As the name suggests, it is best known for its selection of rocks, minerals, and fossils. The original shop in Ellsworth was full of curiosities from the natural world, and even had a replica skull from a T-Rex! Visitors to Bar Harbor can find a wide selection of crystals for all purposes, tshirts, and countless natural wonders.
Cultural Quirks and Events
Bar Harbor Music Festival
Music festivals are popular attractions across the country, but what sets Bar Harbor apart is that their music festival has dozens of events spanning more than three months. In addition, the music itself includes a range of genres. The Bar Harbor Music Festival features opera, jazz, and classical music. It prides itself on showcasing local and upcoming composers to a New England audience.
Bar Harbor is a mix of old-fashioned and offbeat. You can walk on a well-groomed mountain trail in the morning, eat lobster ice cream in the afternoon, and listen to ghost stories in front of an ancient mansion at sunset. It is not just the sandbar tides that shift here. Bar Harbor is forever ebbing and flowing between its year-round residents and its summer surge. This is one of the most eccentric, peculiar, and quirky places to visit in Maine for those interested in history, coastal living, or fun and memorable times.
