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Southwest Harbor, Maine

Southwest Harbor, Maine, is located at the southwestern entrance to Somes Sound on Mount Desert Island. It is often referred to as the “quiet side” of the island because of its more mellow pace and easy distance from the more tourist oriented and busy Bar Harbor, located on the Northeast side of the island. Southwest Harbor has some great shops, galleries and eateries worth checking out. Many people choose to stay here during their visit to Acadia National Park. Access to the offshore islands by boat can be found here as well. The approximate population is 1,966 (per year 2000 census) and it encompasses 8,884 acres. (View Southwest Harbor Photos)

Southwest Harbor, Maine The first known visitors to Mount Desert Island were the Abnaki Indians who would cross over to the island from the mainland (there was no bridge then as there is today) to fish and collect berries and shellfish. The first settlement on the island was created by Abraham Somes, a sailor/fisherman from Massachusetts, at the northern shore of Somes Sound in 1761. The first steamboat wharves and hotels on Mount Desert Island were built in Southwest Harbor to be near the entrance to Somes Sound. When you look out into the harbor you will see the Bear Island Lighthouse. This marks the southern entrance to Somes Sound.

Sunset showing yachts in Southwest Harbor, Maine Southwest Harbor, Maine, is also home to some great yacht builders. The Hinckley Company, located just south of the town center on the Manset Shore Road, is world renown for its quality of workmanship. Another, Morris Yachts, Inc., is located on the Clark Point Road. No doubt, many of the beautiful yachts you will enjoy in the harbor and other areas offshore from Mount Desert Island were made by them. While in the area, consider going on a guided boat tour utilizing Captain Services that are available or, if you are experienced, rent a boat from one of the boat rental services.

Yachts moored off Manset, part of Southwest Harbor, Maine Another place of note is the Wendell Gilley Museum of Bird Carving. Featured are the exceptional works of the world famous Wendell Gilley - widely recognized as one of the early pioneers of this American art form. The museum (207) 244-7555 is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Another unique place is the Seal Cove Auto Museum with an extraordinary collection of "Brass Era" (1886 - 1917) automobiles.