What was the original name of Acadia National Park?
First established by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916, Sieur de Monts National Monument became Lafeyette National Park in February 1919. It was named after the Marquis de Lafeyette, the French soldier critical to the United States’ victory for independence. It wasn’t until 1929 that the name was changed to Acadia, to honor the Acadian people (mostly of French descent) who had lived in the region for centuries. The word “Acadia” comes from the Wabanaki word “akadie” which roughly translates as “piece of land.”
The Wabanaki have lived, and continue to live, in Maine and in Quebec and New Brunswick, Canada for over 12,000 years. For an in-depth look at Wabanaki culture and history, pay a visit to the Abbe Museum in downtown Bar Harbor.
What is the most visited National Park in the United States?
Great Smokey Mountains National Park, on the Tennessee – North Carolina border, is far and away the most popular park in the National Park System. In 2023, more than 13 million people visited the park, almost as much as the next three most popular parks (Grand Canyon, Zion, and Yosemite) combined. Acadia consistently ranks in the top 10 most visited parks.
The least visited parks?
Gates of the Arctic in Alaska, followed by North Cascades in Washington State with fewer than 20,000 visitors each.
Since the NPS began keeping records in 1904, the parks have registered more than 16 BILLION visits!
