Ellsworth

The City of Ellsworth was incorporated in 1800 but was first settled by the British in 1763. Situated on the Union River, the thriving industries were boat building and lumbering. Several lumber mills and a few grist mills sprang up and Ellsworth became a center of commerce. Ellsworth became Hancock County's county seat in 1837 and remains so today. The beautiful Congregational Church was built in 1818 by Captain Meletiah Jordan who also built the present City Library which was a home for his son.

Colonel John Black gave the city another one of its historical buildings when he built his home "Woodlawn" in the 1820's. John Black, assistant to and later son-in-law of General Cobb, land agent for William Bingham, was designed as a home and as an office for the Black's land dealings in the area. The furnishings are the accumulation of three generations of the Black Family and comprise an outstanding collection of antiques without peer in Maine. Many of the pieces are one of a kind, including a miniature portrait of George Washington given by him as a momento to General Cobb at the end of the Revolutionary War. The house, its contents and its grounds give a perspective on the history of Maine an a glimpse into early 19th century life. This gracious house is open for tours from June to mid-October and the spacious grounds are open year round for walks through the old-fashioned garden and the woods trails.

In 1933 Ellsworth suffered a major catastrophe when much of the downtown was destroyed by fire. With over 130 buildings destroyed including City Hall, the city was devastated but rapidly rebuilt and has survived to become the area's commercial and service center.

Today many hotels, inns, and a variety of fine restaurants are available to make your visit enjoyable. As the crossroads of the DownEast & Acadia Region, it is but a short drive to many of the interesting and picturesque places along the DownEast coast. Several shopping centers and a lively historic downtown area attract visitors from a wide circuit. Museums, historic buildings, tree-lined streets, and the unique Grand Theater make this city a must to visit on your DownEast & Acadia adventure.