Mount Desert Island's Acadia, one of Ken Burns' National Parks

Ken Burns recently toured Mount Desert Island for his PBS documentary, 'The National Parks: America's Best Idea'. Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are Mount Desert Island's most valuable assets.

Mount Desert Island, Maine - which includes the village of Bar Harbor - has been in the news the past few months. Most recently noted in Ken Burns' PBS documentary, 'The National Parks: America's Best Idea', Acadia National Park has also been the scene of a natural tragedy and exciting space age news.

On August 23rd, a young girl was swept to her death during Hurricane Bill's destructive trek up the East coast. Hurricane Bill's huge waves and strong undertow, caused injury to several others who were among thousands standing on the rocky shore to witness Bill's fury. A tragic accident proved the ocean's power must be respected, and Mother Nature has a mind of her own.

In more Mount Desert news, "an astronaut who spent part of his youth on Maine's Mount Desert Island will command the space shuttle that will blast off to the international space station Nov. 12. Marine Col. Charlie Owen Hobaugh was born in Bar Harbor 47 years ago and spent his first four years on the Maine island before his Coast Guardsman father was reassigned," says Boston.com.

The Bangor Daily News reported that Ken Burns has spent the past year traveling throughout the country promoting it on visits to parks similar to his stop on Mount Desert Island. They were on Mount Desert Island to promote their documentary on the national park system. The 12-hour, six episode series, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea," began on September 27th on public television, including the Maine Public Broadcasting Network.

The village of Bar Harbor is most often associated with Mount Desert Island, no doubt because it is where 'The Cat' - the Nova Scotia to Bar Harbor Ferry - and all the cruise liners land. These huge liners dump hundreds of tourists at the landings who eventually make their way into town, hungry for excellent restaurants and looking for quaint seaside shops to spend their money.

The small island off the coast of Maine is a bustling tourist area in the summer, and a quiet, but working island the rest of the year. Dominated by lobster fishing, this idyllic Downeast island is a thriving and close knit community.

I have strong ties to Mount Desert Island in Maine myself. My ancestors were born and raised in Bar Harbor and adjacent Thompson Island, which still bears my maiden name.

For more information, read the article, Yosemite Ken Burns' The National Parks: America's Best Idea.

Burns' story begins in 1872 with the formation of Yellowstone National Park. The National Park system now includes 58 parks and 333 national monuments and historic sites. The 12 hour, six-part series will be aired on PBS from now until Friday, October 2nd.

Source: bangordailynews.com

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