Bar Harbor Historical Society facts for kids
The Bar Harbor Historical Society is a special group that helps keep the history of Bar Harbor, Maine and Mount Desert Island alive. They collect and share old items, stories, and information about the area. Their museum is now located in a beautiful old house called La Rochelle at 127 West Street in Bar Harbor. They moved there in early 2019.
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Discovering Bar Harbor's Past
The Bar Harbor Historical Society started on August 19, 1946. At first, they had a small space to store their collections. This first spot was just a little room under the stairs at the Jesup Library.
A New Home for History
In 1997, the Historical Society bought its very own building. This new home was at 33 Ledgelawn Avenue, which used to be St. Edward’s Convent. Having their own building allowed the society to keep more historical items. It also meant they could open a museum on the first floor. This museum was open during certain seasons of the year.
Moving to the Grand La Rochelle
In 2019, the Bar Harbor Historical Society found an even bigger home. They bought La Rochelle, a huge brick mansion built in 1902. This amazing house has 41 rooms and is about 13,000 square feet! It is located on Bar Harbor's historic West Street. In the same year, the society successfully moved all its old records and collections to this new, larger building.
About the La Rochelle Mansion
The La Rochelle mansion is a very large and impressive house. It was built in 1902 by architects Andrews and Rantoul from Boston. The house was originally built for George Bowdoin. Before the Historical Society moved in, other families and groups lived there. These included Ruth and Tristram Colket, and the Maine Seacoast Mission. Today, it is the perfect place for the Bar Harbor Historical Society to share the history of the area.
Gallery
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The eastern side of La Rochelle
See also
- List of historical societies in Maine
