People have lived more or less continuously on Mount Desert Island since the end of the Seven Years War (It was in something of a DMZ between French Acadia and

People have lived more or less continuously on Mount Desert Island since the end of the Seven Years War (It was in something of a DMZ between French Acadia and British Massachusetts, and everyone that tried to settle there soon got burned out by one side or the other). The only reason that the park exists is that it became a resort town for the Gilded Age tycoons, and they bought up all the land that makes up the park, because they didn't want anyone industrying up their summering place. Most of the palatial mansions burned in a wildfire in the 40s, and the tourism has a more middle-class flavor these days, but there's still a huge distinction between the natives and the summer people. I always enjoyed Baxter State Park more. Up there, if you get off the AT, you might not see a person for days, unless you come out on a road and a log truck happens by.