Petit Manan Land Company Near Bar Harbor, Maine: The Making of a National Wildlife Refuge

A visitor today to the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge in Steuben, Maine, would find it hard to believe that the over 2,100-acre refuge was once destined be the next Bar Harbor. Plans were filed and numerous individuals and companies tried to sell the near 1,300 cottage lots and build the casino, clubhouse, steamboat dock, swimming beach, and two hotels.

In 1896, the Petit Manan Land Company started with a grand idea and invested money to build roads and public buildings, but by 1910, only a few private cottages were built, along with a church. The big money and thriving development eluded company after company for sixty years.

The area continued with only a few changes, and in 1975, a large portion of the land was transferred by Mr. and Mrs. William Mague to become the Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge. Today, Petit Manan Point is part of the Maine Coastal Island National Wildlife Refuge and remains an important unspoiled stop for migrating birds as well as home to deer, bears, coyotes, porcupines, and other small animals.

SEAN BILLINGS combines a love of history with professional experience engineering. Sean is the current president of the Steuben Historical Society and was a co-founder of the Lehigh Township Historical Society. He is also the author or co-author of several books on local Pennsylvania history.

JOHANNA BILLINGS is an award-winning writer and photographer who has spent most of her career in journalism. Her work has appeared in newspapers as well as in magazines including Down East, Redbook and AntiqueWeek. Husband and wife, Sean and Johanna enjoy collecting antiques and have extensively studied the history of decorative glass leading to the publication of two books, Collectible Glass Rose Bowls and Peachblow Glass.