The Abbe offers innovative exhibitions and programs on Maine’s Native American heritage. In recent years, the Abbe has grown from a small but lovely trailside museum, privately operated within Acadia National Park, to an exciting contemporary museum in the heart of downtown Bar Harbor.
At the Abbe's downtown museum, visitors find dynamic and stimulating exhibitions and activities interspersed with spaces for quiet reflection. The history and cultures of Maine’s Native people, the Wabanaki, are showcased through changing exhibitions, special events, teacher workshops, archaeology field schools and craft workshops for children and adults.
From spring through fall, the Abbe’s historic trailside museum at Sieur de Monts Spring continues to offer visitors a step back in time to early 20th century presentations of the Native American archaeology of Maine.
The Abbe serves as an essential resource for helping teachers and students comply with new state legislation, known as "the Wabanaki Initiative," that requires the teaching of Wabanaki cultures and history in Maine schools. As Donna Loring, former Penobscot Nation Representative to the Maine Legislature and sponsor of the Wabanaki Initiative, has written, "With education will come understanding and with understanding will come respect...." Abbe staff members serve as facilitators and advisors for statewide programs to implement the legislation.
Past Newsletters
Abbe Museum Annual Reports
During our June 15, 2011, Annual Meeting, Bonnie Newsom, Penobscot, shared her perspective on the Abbe Museum. Read her remarks here.
Check out our commercial on The Acadia Channel!
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Abbe eNews
...................................................ABBE IN THE NEWS...............................................
November 28, 2011 - Mount Desert Islander
Exhibit features traditional themes >
November 27, 2011- Boston Globe
Weaving history and heritage into an art form >
November 6, 2011- Boston Globe
Acadia’s sweet season >
September 22, 2011 - Bangor Daily News
For seniors, fall is a fine time to explore the beauty of MDI >
September 9, 2011 - Mount Desert Islander
Museum Marks Decade Downtown >
August 17, 2011 - Mount Desert Islander
Exhibit Evokes Gilded Age Dichotomy >
August 2011 - Downeast Magazine
July 8, 2011 - Indian Country Today
Indians and Rusticators opens at the Abbe Museum >
July 7, 2011 - Bar Harbor Times
Abbe Museum to open "Indians and Rusticators" exhibit >
July 4, 2011 - Bangor Daily News
Abbe Museum transports visitors to the 1800s Wabanaki encampments >
January 11, 2011 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Abbe CEO to Participate in Leadership Institute >
December 15, 2010 - Mount Desert Islander
December 12, 2010 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Abbe Museum To Host 4th Annual Holiday Open House >
July 27, 2010 - WABI TV NEWS
Penobscot Elder's Work Now Displayed At Abbe Museum >
July 20, 2010 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Penobscot Artists to Present Drum to the Abbe Museum >
June 29, 2010 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Abbe Receives Award from the National Endowment for the Humanities >
March 5, 2010 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Abbe Museum to Host Free Teachers Workshop >
January 29, 2010 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Ancient Wabanaki Game to be Shared and Preserved >
August 14, 2009 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
N.E.A Funds Free Children's Workshop at Abbe Museum >
August 11, 2009 - WLBZ 2 NEWS VIDEO On FIELD SCHOOL
August 7, 2009 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Unearthing Ancient Artifacts on Maine's Coast >
July 21, 2009 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Abbe Museum's "Gathering Gala" is a Success >
July 2, 2009 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2009 Native American Festival in Bar Harbor Renews Ancient Trading on Maine's Coast >
June 3, 2009 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Local Artists Give Abbe Museum Much More than Art >
June 1, 2009 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Family Fun is Free this Weekend at the Abbe Museum >
April 29, 2009 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Native American Festival and Basket Makers Market set for Summer 2009 >
April 26, 2009 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Abbe Museum to Host Maine Archeology Society Meeting >
April 23, 2009 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Abbe Museum Hosts the 2009 Waponahki Student Art Show >
April 16, 2009 - The Bar Harbor Times
Ancient Artifacts and Cutting-Edge Ideas at the Abbe >