Recently, we came upon this letter, written by Senator James G. Blaine, at auction. The subject is unremarkable, a brief note of thanks to one Theo F Reed for an unspecified favor. The significance of this particular item is that it was penned while Blaine was living at Ash Cottage during his presidential run. It … Read More
Mt Desert Island’s popular shuttle bus, the Island Explorer, is back for the season! After running on a limited schedule last year, operations are now back in full swing. Most routes begin at the Village Green, just a short walk from the Mira Monte. The Explorer offers visitors the opportunity to stop at the most … Read More
These little guys look innocent enough, maybe even cute in a caterpillar kind of way. You might even be tempted to pick one up and let it crawl around a bit. Be forewarned that if you do it will likely mean the beginning of weeks of misery. This is the caterpillar of the brown tail … Read More
Thank you to all our guests for helping make Mira Monte a Trip Advisor “Traveler’s Choice” for the third year in a row! Only the top 10% of all hotels are accorded this distinction, and we are grateful to all who have joined us through the years.
We’ve noticed an alarming trend among Bar Harbor’s Bed and Breakfasts over the past year. Many independent inns have been bought out by large hotel companies and have closed their kitchens and eliminated breakfast service completely. We understand why they’ve done this; it’s a whole lot less expensive for them and it makes their businesses … Read More
One of Bar Harbor’s more colorful summer denizens was New York philantropist and socialite Peter Marie. His family, having made it’s fortune in banking, enabled Marie pursue a life of leisure relatively early in life. The consummate bon vivant, Marie was host to a variety of social activities throughout the summer colony. One of these, … Read More
Mira Monte History: In 1890, eminent Philadelphia physician and naturalist Henry C. Chapman bought the Ash Cottage from Orlando Ash to use as a permanent summer residence. Among his many distinctions, Dr. Chapman had been Professor of Medicine and Medical Jurisprudence at Jefferson Medical College and served as curator of Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences … Read More
Each year we continue to discover new details that add to the rich history of the Mira Monte. New research by Bar Harbor Historian Brian Armstrong has revealed that the inn was the summer home of one of the preeminent politicians of the gilded age, James G Blaine, during the presidential campaign of 1884 . … Read More
The Governor’s office has released new, less-restrictive guidance for out-of-state visitors with regard to COVID-19 restrictions: “As of May 1, 2021, Maine no longer requires proof of a negative test or quarantine for travelers to the state. If one or more states see a spike in cases of highly contagious COVID-19 variants, Maine will apply … Read More
Visitors to Acadia National Park will need a vehicle reservation to drive up the Cadillac Summit Road during sunrise and daylight hours for the 2021 summer season. Details about reservation dates, costs, and sales procedures have not been finalized. Vehicle reservations will NOT be required for the Sand Beach Entrance corridor in 2021, however. While … Read More