Search Menu

PPA

National Park Story

Welcome to Acadia National Park!

Park History

Acadia National Park's history spans centuries, evolving from a region inhabited by Wabanaki people to a national park. It began as Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916, later renamed Lafayette National Park in 1919, and finally became Acadia National Park in 1929. The park's name honors the former French colony of Acadia, which included Maine.

Early Settlement:
The area was inhabited by Wabanaki people for thousands of years.

French Exploration:
Explorer Samuel de Champlain mapped and named Mount Desert Island in 1604.

Early Park Creation:
Sieur de Monts National Monument was established in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson.

Lafayette National Park:
In 1919, the monument was re-designated and renamed Lafayette National Park.

John D. Rockefeller, Jr.'s Role:
Rockefeller played a significant role in preserving the park's natural beauty, donating land and funding the carriage paths.



Bennet Cove
Arcadia National Park Maine Aug 2021
Date Taken: 2021-09-05 Map
Although it looked like it may rain, we decided to hike Wonderland Trail. We had a great view, although foggy, of Bennet Cove


Bass Harbor Lighthouse
Bass Harbor Lighthouse Aug 2021
Date Taken: 2021-09-05 Map
Bass Harbor Lighthouse is one of many lighthouses in the area. The lighthouse is part of Acadia National Park. To see this angle of the lighthouse is quite difficult because you have to climb on rocks that have fallen from the cliffs.


Bass Harbor Lighthouse
Bass Harbor Lighhouse 2024
Date Taken: 2024-06-10 Map
We returned to Bass Harbor Lighthouse in June 2026 and took this shot on a sunny day.


Otter`s Point Overlook
Arcadia NP June 2024
Date Taken: 2024-06-09 Map
Otter`s Point Overlook is a great location to stop and enjoy the view and sounds of the ocean.


Newport Cove
Arcadia NP June 2024
Date Taken: 2024-06-09 Map
Newport Cove is just one of many coves and channels you can visit while touring the park.


Sand Beach Overlook
Arcadia NP June 2024
Date Taken: 2024-06-09 Map
This photo was taken in Newport Cove not far from Sand Beach.


Jordan Pond
Jordan Pond Arcadia NP Aug 2021
Date Taken: 2021-08-17 Map
Jordan pond is a favorite of many visitors. It can be extremely busy in the summertime.


Jordan Pond
Arcadia NP June 2024
Date Taken: 2024-06-10 Map
When we returned to Acadia in June of 2024, we hiked a different part of the Jordan Pond trail.


School Point
Arcadia NP June 2024
Date Taken: 2024-06-09 Map
I wanted to get some photos of the waves crashing against the seashore. Unfortunately, the waves were not very high during my visits.


Chokecherry Blossoms
Chokecherry Flowers 2024
Date Taken: 2024-06-09 Map
Summertime is a great time of year to visit Maine if you want to see a lot of wildflowers.


Indian Pipes
Indian Pipes Aug 2021
Date Taken: 2021-08-20 Map
ranges in height from 10 to 30 centimeters. The entire plant is a translucent, “ghostly” white, sometimes pale pinkish-white and commonly has black flecks. The leaves are scale-like and flecked with black on the flower stalk (peduncle). As the Latin epithet uniflora implies, the stem bears a single flower. Upon emerging from the ground, the flower is pendant (downwardly pointed). As the anthers and stigma mature, the flower is spreading to all most perpendicular to the stem. The fruit is a capsule. As the capsule matures, the flower becomes erect (in line with the stem). Once ripened, seed is released through slits that open from the tip to the base of the capsule. The plant is persistent after seed dispersal.


Wild Garden of Acadia
Fireweed Arcadia NP August 2021
Date Taken: 2021-09-05 Map
Acadia National Park has a beautiful garden you can visit. There are many different flowers like this Fireweed.


Harbor Seal
Seal Arcadia NP 2024
Date Taken: 2024-06-09 Map
West Acadia across the Frenchman Bay is a less visited part of the park. We got lucky and spotted the seal at Frazer Point


Asticou Azalea Garden
Asticou Azalea Garden Maine June 2024
Date Taken: 2024-06-09 Map
Asticou Azalea Garden is located just outside of the Acadia National Park near the small-town Northeast Harbor. Asticou Azalea Garden is based on a Japan style garden is an amazing garden to visit.