Bar Harbor Walking Tour #2

This walking tour will highlight some cultural and architectural landmarks of Bar Harbor and is only a little over a mile in length (without side trips). Try and park near The Village Green, this will be our first stop. A nice big parking lot can be found by taking a sharp right on Rodick Street from Cottage Street as you come into town from Rt 3.  Make the right turn just after Rosalie’s Pizza.  The Village Green is where you can catch the free Mount Desert Island Explorer.  My last post was on that wonderful bus service.  Village Green is a great place to take a break, listen to musicians and, if you’re here around the 4th of July, attend the annual Bar Harbor Brass Week free concert at the band pavilion.  The Bar Harbor Town Band plays Monday and Thursday nights in July. Before you leave the Green, take a look at the 1892 clock on the Main Street side.  It was electrified in 1976.Map courtesy of Google Maps

Now cross Mount Desert Street and continue east (away from downtown) and enjoy the following examples of Bar Harbor architecture:

1. Abbe Museum, 26 Mt. Desert, open 10 AM to 4 PM, Thursday to Saturday from late May through early November. The museum features exhibitions and programs on Maine’s Native American heritage. Admission is $6 for adults and $2 for kids 6-12.
2. Across the street see the white Congregational Church (1888-89).
3. St Savior’s Episcopal Church, 41 Mt. Desert, the oldest and tallest public Bar Harbor building, built in 1871-1878. The inside is awesome! Stroll through the adjoining graveyard for a trip back in time.
4. Jesup Memorial Library (1911), 34 Mt. Desert.  At 10 AM on Wednesdays they have a toddler’s story hour, and on Thursdays a pre-school story hour.
5. Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 21 Ledgelawn at Mt Desert. (1907) Take a left down Ledgelawn if you’d like to visit the exhibits at the Bar Harbor Historical Society, formerly the historic St. Edwards Convent, 33 Ledgelawn. Free admission, open Monday through Saturday, 1 PM – 4 PM. June through October.
6. Ledgelawn Inn (1876) 66 Mt. Desert.
7. Mira Monte Inn (1860) 69 Mt. Desert.
8. Primrose Inn (1878) 73 Mt. Desert.
9. Holbrook House (1876) 74 Mt. Desert. All these fine structures survived the Great Fire of 1947 fire without a scorch.  On the rest of the island, 18,560 acres burned and 237 residents lost homes.
10. Turn right on Holland Avenue to see a little of how the locals live. Emerge on Cottage Street and turn right. One block down on the left is The Bar Harbor Municipal Building, 93 Cottage, formerly the Bar Harbor High School.
11. Turn left on Bridge Street if you would like to see the access to Bar Island at the end. This is only possible at low tide, and timing is everything! Continuing on Cottage Street, the Bar Harbor Post Office (1910) is down a few blocks more, also on the left. A new granite sculpture is going in next door at the new Barker Park.
12. Take the quick cut back to your car down past the drug store down Everard Ct. or continue to check out the great art deco Criterion Theater (1932) across the street.

Now you can turn right on Main Street to return to the Village Green. This concludes our second Bar Harbor walking tour, you can find the first one here.

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