1904 Map of Swan Island

About this map

Steamboat routes crisscross Blue Hill Bay and the Atlantic Ocean in this early twentieth-century coastal study, illustrating the maritime dependence of Hancock County's outer islands. The village of Swan Island serves as a central hub, with the nearby settlements of Minturn and Atlantic supporting the local fishing and seafaring economy. The intricate shoreline is defined by deep natural harbors such as Burntcoat Harbor and Lunts Harbor on Long Island, where the settlement of Frenchboro remains a remote outpost. To the north, the tip of Mount Desert Island includes the established communities of Tremont, Mc Kinley, and Southwest Harbor. Navigational landmarks like Bass Harbor Head and the hazardous Channel Rock are clearly charted, alongside numerous smaller landmasses like Placentia I. and the Cranberry Isles, providing a detailed look at the granite-edged geography before modern bridge connections and tourism transformed the region's character.