Mount Desert Island
| Located on the rugged coast of Maine, Mount Desert Island (MDI) lies just off the rock bound coast of downeast Maine and is the third largest island on the east coast of the United States. The term "Downeast" or "Down East" has been around for quite a while. Sailors hauling cargo to the northeast, observed that the prevailing winds came from the southwest, pushing their schooners "downwind" in an easterly direction. MDI is unique for many reasons, but it is especially because of it's dramatic, glacially carved landscape that includes many mountains and fresh water lakes, all surrounded by a bold granite coastline and the cold ocean waters of the Gulf of Maine. |
| Approximately two-fifths of Mount Desert Island is protected by and comprises the major portion of Acadia National Park. The Park encompasses over 47,000 acres of granite-domed mountains, woodlands, lakes and ponds, and ocean shoreline including part of the Schoodic Peninsula, and Isle au Haut. Acadia became the first national park established east of the Mississippi and is the fifth most visited park in the United States. Acadia is one of the most accessible national parks with 120 miles of hiking trails, 50 miles of groomed carriage roads, and the 27 mile Park Loop road featuring many of its now famous attractions such as Thunder Hole, Sand Beach, and the Bubbles at Jordan Pond. You can even drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain to be the first in the U.S. to see the sunrise that day. |
| Just about every village on the island is no more than 20 miles apart, so we aren't very big - 10 miles wide and 12 miles long. You access MDI by a bridge and a causeway, south on Route 3 from the city of Ellsworth. |
| The eastern half of the island is the most populated and is home to Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor. Bar Harbor is the largest community on the island (population 4500) and was New England’s premier summer resort in the 19th century. It was home to the largest hotel in North America and to Millionaires’ Row, a line of spectacular summer estates built for America’s most powerful families — Rockefeller, Ford, Vanderbilt, Carnegie, Astor and Morgan, to name a few. It is also home to College of the Atlantic and the leading genetics research center, Jackson Laboratory. Originally known as Eden, the town of Bar Harbor was incorporated in 1796. |
| The western half of the island is home to Southwest Harbor. It is the second largest community on the island and is ranked as one of the top 10 commercial fishing harbors in Maine. Southwest Harbor is a center of boat building and home to the world renown boat building company - The Hinckley Boatyards. Creating some of the nation's largest and most meticulously constructed sailboats, power boats and fishing boats. The U.S. Coast Guard base is also located in Southwest Harbor and has become an integral part of the community. |