Bar Harbor Historical Society

The history of Bar Harbor and MDI is beautifully exhibited at La Rochelle, a 1902 waterside mansion that is one of the best-preserved houses remaining from the gilded age in Northern New England. First floor exhibitions include artifacts detailing the area's early history, the Town of Bar Harbor, the wealthy and famous who summered here, the creation of Acadia National Park, the Great Fire of '47, and much more! We are excited to announce that for 2021 we will be opening new exhibits on the second floor where visitors will explore period furnished bedrooms featuring the Bowdoin family and their servants, as well as, famous visitors to Bar Harbor. Other exhibitions will include: Path Maps and Plats - Highlights from our Collection, The Schools of Bar Harbor, Early Photographers and their Cameras, and Bar Harbor Stories including Prohibition, Doctors and Nurses, and local memorabilia.