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Don’t Blow Out The Candles On Acadia National Park’s Birthday Celebrations

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By NPT Staff - September 11th, 2016

Fall colors in Acadia National Park/NPS

While the leaf-peeping crowds flock to Shenendoah, Blue Ridge Parkway, and Great Smoky Mountains every autumn, a trip farther north to Acadia National Park in Maine will yield a bevy of centennial events in addition to colorful trees.

Like the National Park Service, Acadia was founded 100 years ago. To mark the occasion, more than 40 events – including the Night Sky Festival, numerous lectures and presentations about the area’s history, two contests for kids, art displays throughout the region, outdoors activities, and volunteer opportunities – are planned for September, with more scheduled through the end of the year.

Visit the Acadia Centennial website to find dates, times, and locations for the events, browse the centennial product listings, or apply to become a partner and add your contribution to the Acadia Centennial.

Labor Day Weekend marked the close of Acadia’s busiest season, and that is particularly true this year, when some 150 Acadia Centennial events took place in July and August to help celebrate the anniversary of the park’s founding.

Acadia National Park was first established as Sieur de Monts National Monument on July 8, 1916. It then became Lafayette National Park in 1919 and 10 years later was renamed Acadia. The “Gift of Acadia” event on August 27 at the Jordan Pond House drew more than 400 people together to mark the co-centennials of Acadia and the National Park Service with music, speeches, presentations, and an earnest crew of Junior Rangers representing the second century of stewardship for the park.

Lynne Dominy, the chief of interpretation at Acadia, said afterward that “there were wet eyes at more than one moment that morning,” according to a release from Friends of Acadia, a group that works to preserve, protect, and promote stewardship at the park.

“I think most of us there were inspired to look deeply within and think how we each can help ensure the best possible future for this place we care so much about,” Dominy added.

If making the trip this fall, keep in mind that infrastructure projects have closed a couple of areas in the park for the rest of the season.

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