Birdsacre Sanctuary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stanwood Homestead
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 289 High Street (Maine State Route 3), Ellsworth, Maine |
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| Area | 40 acres (16 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000110 |
| Added to NRHP | January 19, 1973 |
Birdsacre Sanctuary, also known as Stanwood Wildlife Sanctuary, is a special place in Ellsworth, Maine, United States. It's both a historic house museum and a home for wildlife. You can find it at 289 High Street.
The main part of the sanctuary is a 40-acre property. This land once belonged to Cordelia Stanwood, a famous Maine ornithologist. An ornithologist is someone who studies birds! Her home became a museum in 1960. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Sadly, a fire badly damaged Stanwood's home in 2014. Today, the sanctuary is much larger, covering 200 acres. It has walking trails, an apple orchard, and a nature center. The nature center shows off beautiful art and nature items. It also displays Cordelia J. Stanwood's notes about birds and her many photographs.
Contents
Exploring Birdsacre Sanctuary
The Birdsacre Sanctuary is located just south of downtown Ellsworth. It sits on the west side of Maine State Route 3. This road connects Ellsworth to Bar Harbor.
The Stanwood Homestead: A Glimpse into History
The Stanwood homestead is a simple wooden house built around 1850. It's a "Cape style" home. Before the 2014 fire, it held many original items. These included things that belonged to Cordelia Stanwood.
Cordelia Stanwood was a self-taught expert in birds and nature. She spent 50 years studying the birds and wildlife around her home. She learned all about them by watching and taking notes.
How the Sanctuary Began
After Cordelia Stanwood passed away in 1958, people in the community wanted to save her property. They worked together to buy it. In 1960, it opened as a museum and sanctuary. Chandler S. Richmond led these efforts. He became the first person to manage the sanctuary and museum.
Discovering Nature on the Trails
The wildlife sanctuary has grown to about 200 acres. It has many trails for visitors to explore. Cordelia Stanwood herself laid out some of these paths. The trails go through different landscapes and habitats. This means you can see many kinds of birds here.
The Nature Center: A Hub for Learning
A nature center was built in 1990. It houses a collection of mounted birds and mammals. It also has a collection of eggs and nests. Some of these items are more than 100 years old! They help us learn about the animals that live here.
A Look Back at the 2014 Fire
On March 6, 2014, a fire caused a lot of damage to the Stanwood homestead. Much of the old building was destroyed. Many important items from Cordelia Stanwood's life were also lost. These included her camera and typewriter. Luckily, some items, like many of her bird notes, were saved from the flames.
See also
