The Old Maps of Mount Desert Island
If you’re a visual person or a history buff or someone who is just occasionally into maps, there is a plethora of opportunity to see Mount Desert Island mapped in ways you might never imagine.
Yes, there was once a school on School Street in Bar Harbor, and a blacksmith, grocer, and carriage builder, too.
Yes, there was once a community on the west side called Salem Towne.
Yes, the mountains have had many different names.
Most of the historical societies and museums, which are detailed here, have great resources that you can see in person or online.
“Historical maps don’t just show mountains, rivers, and cities. They also reflect the worldview of the mapmaker — their political messages, mythological stories, and artistic tastes. One of the richest parts of these maps is the cartouche, a decorative frame that often holds secret symbols of maps and stories. Sometimes, these cartouches tell us more than the map itself!” Agora Old Prints and Maps writes.
Many of the maps can be zoomed in and out and navigated, which makes it even cooler.
You can go on the Bar Harbor Historical Society’s archive and search its collection and even check out The Champlain Map Model of Mount Desert Island by Robert Abbe or Waldron Bates’s Path Map from 1903 of the paths on the eastern side of Mount Desert Island. The Mount Desert Historical Society has a page devoted to maps and links.
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