If you are staying in one of the downtown Bar Harbor vacation rentals, it will be very convenient for you to explore the popular attractions of the town. Bar Harbor is a charming town that attracts many people who are interested in history and old architecture, and it is home to a number of fine museums and well-known historic sites. Whether you want to learn about the natural history or early settlers of the region, you will find an attraction that is worth visiting. Here are the most popular historical attractions in Bar Harbor.
Abbe Museum
The Abbe Museum is one of the most visited museums in the town of Bar Harbor. This museum was founded in 1928, and it provides an opportunity for people to learn about the Native Americans of Maine, who are collectively known as the Wabanaki, or "The People of the Dawnland." The Wabanaki is made up of 4 different tribes, which include the Micmac, Penobscot, Maliseet and Passamaquody, and you can learn about every one of these tribes as you view the exhibits that are on display. The permanent collection of the museum consists of over 50,000 items representing the culture of Native Americans from thousands of years ago to the present. These items include axes, knives, harpoons, fishing hooks and weights, needles, beads, baskets, combs, ceramics, musical instruments and other archaeological findings.
The Abbe Museum is situated on Mount Desert Street in the downtown area, and you may be able to walk there from your Bar Harbor vacation home. It is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. everyday during summer and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Thursday to Saturday during winter. Admission fees are $6.00 for adults and $2.00 for children aged 6 to 15.
Bar Harbor Whale Museum
If you are interested in learning about whales, the Bar Harbor Whale Museum will definitely satisfy your curiosity. This popular museum features a wide collection of exhibits that provide intriguing information on the fascinating marine mammals, and it offers great fun and education for people of all ages. As you explore the museum, you will learn about whales of different species, their feeding habits, how they evolved over the years and others. One exhibit that you must see is a 25-foot skeleton of a minke whale. After you have viewed all the interesting exhibits in the museum, you should purchase some souvenirs from the Museum Shop before you return to your Bar Harbor vacation home.
Bar Harbor Historical Society
The Bar Harbor Historical Society is housed in a historic building that used to be the St. Edwards Convent. This building was constructed in the year 1916, and it once served as a second home to revered religious figure St. Katherine Drexel. Today, it is a museum that contains a wide array of artifacts, photographs and documents that are related to the history of Bar Harbor, ranging from architectural blueprints to hotel items. It is open from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday between the months of June and October.
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