The Council of Independent Colleges: Historic Campus Architecture Project

George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History

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Institution Name: College of the Atlantic
Original/Historic Place Name: George B. Dorr Museum of Natural History
Location on Campus: 105 Eden St.
Date(s) of Construction and Designer(s):

1914	original construction Unknown
1996	relocation Unknown

Type of Place: Individual building
Style(s): (Glossary)
Materials:

Foundation: granite

Walls: tar paper painted; battens

Roof: asphalt shingle

Function:

1914-1966	other (Acadia National Park Headquarters)
ca. 2000-present (2007)	museum (Museum of Natural History)

Significance: architecture, education
Landmark designation:

none

Narrative: see below
References: see below

Narrative:
The original Acadia National Park Headquarters, commissioned by George B. Door, the first superintendent of Acadia National Park, in 1914, is a rustic one-and-a-half-story building qualifying for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was scheduled to be razed to make way for the new Bar Harbor YMCA when, in 1996, the College of the Atlantic requested that the building be saved and moved to its campus, where it was to be used as the entryway to the new Natural History Museum.

Now the George Dorr Museum of Natural History, the building houses exhibits prepared by students at the College of the Atlantic. It serves as an educational center for students involved with the College's Educational Studies program, and for students interested in museum preparation/education and alternative education. The Museum connects the institution to the area by hosting various school programs from the local and regional community, and it is frequented by individual visitors as well.

References:

I. Bibliographic sources:

II. Location of other data: