islesford historical museum

To become more than a casual tourist, a visit here is really valuable. The Ashley Bryan art & living history exhibit is a jewel not to be missed!

The museum could be improved. It has few info about Islesford. But the views over the lake are stunning. I highly recommend a trip to Islesford.

Plan your visit to the Cranberry Islands to see the Historical Museum transformed. While the old ship artifacts and ancient letters are being restored, The Ashley Bryan Center introduces itself in 'A Visit With Ashley Bryan'. Islander Ashley Bryan, beloved artists, award winning childrens' book author is celebrated at age 91 with this exhibition. It is not to be missed. Stop by and your life will be changed!“I want people to have an experience of delight that will tap something so at the roots of enjoyment that it will lift their spirit.”The Ashley Bryan Center invites you to experience the breadth of Ashley Bryan’s extraordinary 80-year career in art, literature and music. Ashley’s personal story serves as a model for perseverance in times of adversity, and it teaches us the power of art and education to help achieve harmony and understanding in the world.This exhibition is presented in partnership with Acadia National Park and the Island Institute, with generous support from the Partridge Foundation and Simon & Schuster.Hours: 10 am to noon, 12:30 pm to 4:00 pmDays: Daily, from June 23 to September 28Admission: FreeGetting there:The Islesford Historical Museum, owned by the National Parks Service is located on Little Cranberry Island (also known as “Islesford”), a short boat ride from Mount Desert Island.Ferry Services:Beal & Bunker Mailboat and Ferry Service from Northeast Harbor (see schedule)Cranberry Cove Ferry Service from Southwest Harbor and Manset (see schedule)Water Taxi Services:Cadillac Water Taxi (year-round)Operates from 7:30 am to 6 pm with additional accommodations for trips after 6 pmSix passenger maxReservations encouraged but not required | Private charters also availableOne-way fee: $50 to $65.Office Phone: (207) 244-0575 | Boat Phone: (207) 801-1898Delight Water Taxi (seasonal; June through late September)Operates from 6:00 am to 11 pmSix passenger maxAdvanced reservations required for trips between 6am and 8am, and 6pm and 11pm | Private charters also availableOne-way fees range from $45 to $60 | Round trips range from $80 to $110Phone: (207) 244-5724

Run by the Ntl Park Service, this is one of the best small island museums in Maine. Nice exhibits that are professionally done and usually a ranger or volunteer docent available for more information.

Since there is no separate review option for the whole of Islesford or Little Cranberry Island (this one seems to focus just on the historical museum), I guess I'll have to post my review here. But I hope anyone interested in going out the island will see this posting and will get some insights into what to do there. First of all you have a choice of taking the 2.5 hour Sea Princess boat with a NPS ranger onboard to give you a narrated tour of the area, this includes a stopover on the island for about an hour - just enough to tour the small history museum there. But if you're interested in more of an island experience take the mail boat (Sea Queen) out to the island at 9 am and come back anytime in the afternoon or evening on one of the later mail boats (you'll get a schedule so you won't miss the boat). The great thing about this ticket (less than $30) is that you can go to both Cranberry Islands on one tour and spend as much time at each island as you like before catching the boat to the next island. We only visited Little Cranberry and the town of Isleford but I wish we'd made time to include a stopover at Greater Cranberry too. The history museum is okay - not a lot to see there since there was water damage and most of the exhibits have to be dried out. But walk around town and talk to the lady who sells produce out of her screen house - stop by the library and talk to the woman behind the desk who tells you how they raised money by auctioning off painted buoys - visit the pottery where you can watch a potter spin a new piece - walk down to Island Girl Sea Glass and buy a small bag of sea glass hunted and sold by school children. And one of the best things to do is to get back to the dock early just to watch the lobster boats come in and unload their catches - this is a hard way of life and you can watch how men make their living on the sea at one of the oldest fisherman's coops in Maine. This is a quiet island so take your time and feel the rhythm.