Museums
The Mount Desert Island Historical Society, Somesville Museum sits in the heart of the island's history. The Museum, built in 1981, overlooks an ancient mill pond and tranquil Somes Harbor. New exhibits featuring Mount Desert Island community history topics are installed each summer. All exhibits offer a children's activity.
Somesville Museum Hours:
June 15th - September 29th, Tuesday - Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Admission: $1.00 for adults, children are free.
Current exhibit at the Somesville Museum: "I came to this place" ... The settling of Somesville, MDI's first village.
Directions to Somesville Site: From Ellsworth, follow Route 3 to Mount Desert Island. After the bridge and Thompson Island bear right at the fork, following Route 102 and Route 198 for 4 miles. At the traffic light proceed ahead for .5 mile to the museum parking lot on the corner of Route 102 and Oak Hill Road adjacent to the Museum building.
The Sound School House Museum: The School House was built in 1892 for the children of the quarrying and farming village of Sound. The building was only used as a school for 34 years, closing in 1926. For most of its life it has been a community center-a place for dances, suppers, and tag sales. In 1999, the MDI Historical Society restored the building and added a curatorial wing. During the winter, he Society recreates the experience of a 19th century school for local students and hosts other educational programs. In the summer, rotating exhibits focus on a variety of Mount Desert Island cultural history themes. The curatorial wing houses the Society's collections and is open year-round.
Sound School House Museum Hours: May 28th - October 12th, Monday
- Saturday, 10 a.m. -4 p.m.
Call for winter hours.
Current exhibit at the Sound School House Museum:
"From Pasture to Pantry: Mount Desert Island's Dairy History"
Directions to the Sound School House Site: From Ellsworth follow directions
to Somesville site. At the traffic light in Somesville, turn left on route
198 and proceed approximately 1.5 to 2 miles. The yellow School House
is on the left.
The Somesville Site:From Bar Harbor, take Route 233 and from Northeast
Harbor take Route 198 to the traffic light, turn left and go .5 mile to
the museum parking lot.
Tour Groups: Special groups and bus tours are welcome and may arrange
for guided tours of the museum or the historic district by contacting
the museum director.
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Mount Desert Island Historical Society P.O. Box 653 Mount Desert, Me 04660 phone: 207-276-9323 Email: mdihistory@gwi.net |
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