Talk:Bar Harbor, Maine

This article is rated Start-class on Wikipedia's content assessment scale. It is of interest to the following WikiProjects:

Cities This article is within the scope of WikiProject Cities, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of cities, towns and various other settlements on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.CitiesWikipedia:WikiProject CitiesTemplate:WikiProject CitiesWikiProject Cities articles Maine Mid‑importance This article is within the scope of WikiProject Maine, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of the U.S. state of Maine on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.MaineWikipedia:WikiProject MaineTemplate:WikiProject MaineMaine articles Mid This article has been rated as Mid-importance on the project's importance scale.

Hey all, I'm the WikiProject Cities assessor of this article. If you would like some advice on how to work this article, go on my talk page and give me a holler! --Starstriker7(^{Say hi}_{or see my works}) 01:47, 23 September 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Can anyone explain the difference between the town and the CDP? If I still lived in Bangor, I might remember this, but... :-) --SarekOfVulcan 05:53, 10 November 2005 (UTC)[reply]

This is now explained in the Demographics section. -- Beland 00:17, 29 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Hi! The external links look like they might need tidying up a bit, to me at least, per links to be avoided. There's one to the local Boy Scout's troop, a high school, and a university, yet none of these are mentioned in the article itself and seem only indirectly related (based on geographical location). Maybe a section on 'educational institutions' could be added and then the links would be directly related? Coldmachine^Talk 16:34, 8 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I don't believe that Bar Harbor was named after Bar Island in 1918, because at that time the island was called Rodick's Island. Perhaps for the sand bar that goes across to the island —Preceding unsigned comment added by SpyWeb (talk • contribs) 23:27, August 25, 2007 (UTC)

Anyone see a problem with moving this to Bar Harbor, Maine, and let the disambig link at the top take care of routing people to the CDP?--SarekOfVulcan (talk) 23:04, 25 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

It's been a couple of days with no objection, so I'll go ahead and do it.--SarekOfVulcan (talk) 04:54, 29 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I just refactored the comments here to the template-created section below.--SarekOfVulcan (talk) 13:15, 30 June 2008 (UTC)[reply]

I found some sources for this page, I wanted to put them here before I put them on the page so someone could check them.

• http://www.discover-acadia.com/bar-harbor-fire.html
• http://www.acadianationalpark.com/area_info/history.php

Also I found some cool info to add.

• Accommodations & Camping: 106
• Restaurants: 21
• Outdoor Recreation, Sports & Adventure: 18
• Sightseeing: 18
• Nature: 13
• Shopping: 12
• Culture, History and Museums: 10
• Visitor Information centers: 8
• Arts & Culture: 3
• Agricultural Attractions: 3
• State & National Parks: 2
• Amusement Parks: 1

Source: http://www.visitmaine.com/region/downeast/bar_harbor/

Information I think should be incorporated.

• http://www.barharborhistorical.org/bhhistory.html
• http://www.discover-acadia.com/bar-harbor-history.html

If an admin or higher up could let me know if these changes would be good and not braking any rules that would be grate. J Bluefire (talk) 13:41, 4 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Those sites look alright to add, I think. The Bar Harbor Historical Society is definitely ok. VisitMaine and Discover-Acadia are a bit iffy, since they're commercial sites, but if there's information you can source to them that isn't easily accessible elsewhere, it shouldn't be a problem. AcadiaNationalPark.com, I would object to because the URL makes it sound like that's the official site. --SarekOfVulcan (talk) 16:48, 4 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The guidance at

WP:NOTTRAVEL, para. 2, would apply. I believe this nixes much of your "cool info" list. Hertz1888 (talk) 17:05, 4 December 2009 (UTC)[reply

]

I have just modified 3 external links on Bar Harbor, Maine. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:

• Added archive http://www.webcitation.org/6HQu4Spqa to http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html
• Added archive http://web.archive.org/web/20080829162402/http://www.nps.gov:80/acad/historyculture/ethnography.htm to http://www.nps.gov/acad/historyculture/ethnography.htm
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20130911234518/http://factfinder2.census.gov to http://factfinder2.census.gov

When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the checked parameter below to true or failed to let others know (documentation at {{

This message was posted before February 2018.

• If you have discovered URLs which were erroneously considered dead by the bot, you can report them with this tool.
• If you found an error with any archives or the URLs themselves, you can fix them with this tool.

Cheers.—InternetArchiveBot (Report bug) 10:23, 21 July 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 3 external links on Bar Harbor, Maine. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:

• Corrected formatting/usage for http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20071211143808/http://www.nps.gov/acad/rm/cmsub.htm to http://www.nps.gov/acad/rm/cmsub.htm
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20110929141141/http://www.library.umaine.edu/census/townsearch.asp?county=Hancock&town=Bar+Harbor&from=1790&to=2000&optype=ex to http://www.library.umaine.edu/census/townsearch.asp?county=Hancock&town=Bar+Harbor&from=1790&to=2000&optype=ex
• Added {{dead link}} tag to http://www.barharbormaine.gov/document/0002/2033.pdf

When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the checked parameter below to true or failed to let others know (documentation at {{

This message was posted before February 2018.

• If you have discovered URLs which were erroneously considered dead by the bot, you can report them with this tool.
• If you found an error with any archives or the URLs themselves, you can fix them with this tool.

Cheers.—InternetArchiveBot (Report bug) 12:55, 25 October 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 2 external links on Bar Harbor, Maine. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:

• Corrected formatting/usage for http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2012/SUB-EST2012.html
• Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20130717112825/http://www.downeastmaineonline.com/MaineCelebritiesFamousPeople.htm to http://www.downeastmaineonline.com/MaineCelebritiesFamousPeople.htm

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

This message was posted before February 2018.

• If you have discovered URLs which were erroneously considered dead by the bot, you can report them with this tool.
• If you found an error with any archives or the URLs themselves, you can fix them with this tool.

Cheers.—InternetArchiveBot (Report bug) 10:20, 14 September 2017 (UTC)[reply]

I'm trying to remove "resort" from the opening line describing the town of Bar Harbor, Maine. I think this label does a disservice to the town in multiple ways. Both economically & culturally, Bar Harbor is defined more by its significant research institutions (one of which employs 1,400 locals), its college, fishing community, hospital and schools, than it is by tourism. But, it's also, like many desirable destinations, struggling with a severe housing crisis and overwhelming seasonable tourism. These threaten its year-round community, who can no longer find housing or afford to live here. What I'm trying to say is Bar Harbor is and is struggling to remain More Than a Resort/Tourist Town. Wikipedia choosing to label it a "resort town" when many equally inundated, over-"loved" towns/cities are not so designated seems arbitrary & unfortunate. Eulenspiegel23 (talk) 19:18, 29 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@Eulenspiegel23: The Chamber of Commerce also mentions the tech industry. Unless there is something in the article that is sourced and supports that this is indeed a "resort town", I'd delete it. Magnolia677 (talk) 20:10, 29 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Delete the word "resort"? If so, thank you! I think it's worth noting too that looking up a number of so-called American resort towns listed on various websites, most are not so designated in the opening line of their Wiki page. Eulenspiegel23 (talk) 21:04, 29 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@Eulenspiegel23: I've deleted the word "resort". If others object we can go from there. Thanks for your input. Magnolia677 (talk) 22:15, 29 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

@Eulenspiegel23: I jumped the gun, because after I removed the word "resort", I noticed User:SarekOfVulcan and User:Seasider53 had already reverted this. I looked through the town website for a financial report showing revenue from tourist, or top employers, but no luck. Is there something that supports this being (or not being) a resort town? Thanks for your input! Magnolia677 (talk) 22:22, 29 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Hi, & yes! Please see the pie chart on p. 51 of this 2022 "existing conditions" study gotten up for the town's Comprehensive Plan work: https://www.barharbormaine.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6373/100422-Bar-Harbor-Existing-Conditions-Analysis-Report

There's quite a bit of information in this report to substantiate that hospitality is but one of several "industries" driving Bar Harbor's economy. And as a very seasonal one (essentially May-October), it contributes & employs significantly fewer locals than the 2 science labs, the college, and the hospital.

Thank you for your support. Can you explain how these decisions are made? How do Sarek & Seasider have veto power over other contributors? I'm new to Wikipedia editing. Thanks again. Eulenspiegel23 (talk) 02:02, 30 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

What's the reason/justification for naming several hotels in Bar Harbor? There are others and this just seems like free advertising. At least the ice cream/candy shop mentioned in the preceding paragraph has the "iconic" lobster ice cream & lobster statue out front. Eulenspiegel23 (talk) 02:30, 30 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Looking up, one by one, all of the roughly 25 different "resort towns" listed here https://www.moving.com/tips/15-beautiful-resort-towns-to-call-home/ and here https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/articles/the-11-best-resort-towns-in-america/ and here https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/best-resort-towns-america (on none of these lists, by the way, does Bar Harbor appear), the only towns whose opening line mentions "resort are: Edgartown MA as a "tourist destination," Gatlinburg TN as a "resort city, Palm Springs as a "desert resort city," and Hilton Head Island as a "low country resort town and barrier island." The majority, despite repeatedly making published lists as America's best or most famous "resort towns" are not described in the opening Wikipedia lines as resorts. I would further point out that none of these 4, according to their Wiki pages, has anything comparable to Bar Harbor's science institutions (Jackson Lab, Mount Desert Biological Lab) or college (College of the Atlantic). Eulenspiegel23 (talk) 03:05, 30 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Sources commonly describe Bar Harbor as a resort town, here are just a few: Maine Encyclopedia, New England.com, Disaster at the Bar Harbor Ferry.

Looking at the discussion above, please remember that we go by what reliable secondary sources say, not the town Chamber of Commerce or our own analysis of the town's economy. Additionally, a town can still be a "resort town" even if it doesn't commonly appear on top-10 lists. –dlthewave ☎ 12:56, 30 July 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Hi & thanks. I looked at the 3 sources you cite, and found (to my surprise) they actually support my argument! The Maine Encyclopedia entry begins "Town in Hancock County," then date, etc. Only in paragraph 3 does it say: "After Newport, Rhode Island, Bar Harbor was the resort of choice for wealthy eastern Americans until the great fire of 1947 destroyed many homes and forested areas.[my emphasis]" It's describing Bar Harbor's history, not naming the Bar Harbor of today a resort. The 2nd source, NewEngland.com, is a website whose primary function is tourist/travel information & advertising. That's a "reliable secondary source" for defining a town? Finally, you cite a historical novel that describes the "ritz and glamor of turn-of-the-twentieth-century Bar Harbor." Again, historical Bar Harbor. Plenty of room for the town's history--I'm not debating it. I'm only trying to get the opening line of the page right. It deserves to be called simply, neutrally a Town, and n o t pigeonholed into being a resort. Eulenspiegel23 (talk) 02:46, 2 August 2023 (UTC)[reply]