Seal Cove Auto Museum

The rich history in this place is amazing. The selection of brass era, cars are not seen pretty much anywhere.In the country.. the volunteers do an amazing job, keeping up the collection. And most of all bringing kids and the neighborhood and community into the museum. It's wonderful to see. Definitely a recommended stop.

The museum staff and curator were wonderful! They were very informative, and the curator gave our party of 6 a private tour around the auto museum sharing history, facts, and other information. The whole experience was amazing! I highly recommend coming here. If you are visiting Bar Harbor, it is only a half-hour drive, and it is definitely worth the trip to Seal Cove to check it out.

A truly unique experience. The signs were so informative and we found a lot of machines built in Buffalo, NY which was super cool. The staff was making rounds answering questions and offering fun facts. We took our time to peruse on a beautiful day - but I'm sure this is also a great way to spend a chilly or rainy day! We saw children going around completing a scavenger hunt as well - great idea! I also really enjoyed the various dresses and picnic baskets on display!

$10 admission. Open seasonally so check for hours / days. Such a cool, interesting unique collection of Brass Era cars and other antique collectibles. So many of the guys there stopped to talk to us and share great stories and anecdotes which made the experience even better. Beautiful setting in Maine too. Couldn’t recommend enough if you enjoy history and cars!

Highly recommended. Huge selection of antique cars from the 1886 Benze to about 1910. Nothing was automatic so there are more levers then I know what to do with. Nicely curated, good explanations on signs (short and informative), clean, and truly antique cars, motorcycles, toy pedal cars, and much more. Loved how artifacts from the era of the car were displayed next to the car.

We noticed this museum on our way from a hike and decided to give it a look. We had a blast! The staff was friendly and very knowledgeable about the history of these amazing early century cars. We spent 3 hours looking at all of the unique antique cars and asking the staff all kinds of questions, which they happily answered. Whether you are a car enthusiast or just enjoy looking at cool things, take the time to stop by if you are in the area!

Great, esoteric collection of early 1900's automobiles and motorcycles. Staff was friendly,approachable and informative. A real gem that's off the beaten path.

Stopped by on a rainy day and sure are glad we did. This may be one of the most impressive car collections you will ever see. The curator and museum staff were extremely nice and well informed on the history and mechanical nuances of each car. This is cant miss if you are in the area and appreciate cars and history.

This was a great stop on an excessively hot day. Impressive collection of cars. Interesting to see the different car manufacturers that you never heard of with many from New England.

Very nice surprise. Mechanic who was working on car gave me a tour. Very friendly. Old cars and a very good collection of cars. Very friendly people. In the middle of nowhere too.

Loved everything about it! The history, the stories, the cars, the scavenger hunt, the hot chocolate & staff! It was a great visit for a rainy day!

Very unexpected collection of old Carl's. Dick was Amazing as he showed us around and educated my wife and I on the collection.

Great museum for any car enthusiast! Many cars and motorcycles to look at. Tons of historical facts displayed. They have a children's play area with Legos and coloring. There's also a few sitting areas (in case your husband is like mine and likes to look and read EVERYTHING). One sitting area has a video you can watch while you wait ;-) We used our Yelp check-in and got in for 1/2 price. Regular price is $6pp which is totally worth it. If you're into old cars, I would highly recommend a stop! They have a very unique collection. There are restrooms here as well.

If I could give this place more than five stars I most definitely would. The staff was so friendly and welcoming. So many interesting stories to all the automobiles in the museum. Bill was kind enough to talk with us about a special model A he had sitting outside. He even got it started up and gave us a ride!! If you have an hour or so, definitely give them a visit.

This is a hidden gem of a place and worth checking out. Old historic cars from 1868+. A few motorcycles but for $6 you get a great look at some beauties and a step back in time. Not crowded, plenty of parking and a helpful, informative and courteous staff make it worthwhile to bring your family.

Without doubt, this is one of the best auto museums anywhere in the world. A fantastic collection of vehicles from every era of American motor transport history, presented in a very informative fashion. I love the fact that they actively restore and maintain the vehicles in working order wherever possible, and in the attached garage they had a couple of 'works in progress' on display, one of which had only been finished a couple of weeks ago and was heading off to a July 4 display. There are some great vehicles here - I particularly liked the 1905 Pearce and the 1913 Peugeot 'skiff', which is a marvel of restoration when you compare the immaculate woodwork body shell to the 'before' picture when it was basically a rusty chassis. An ideal rainy day activity (which is why we went), but don't wait for the rain to visit. If you're down that side of the island for any reason, make the detour to Seal Cove for a visit. You won't regret it.

Even though the collection took a big hit years ago (sorry to see so many significant pieces go) what remains is by all accounts still a significant group of gorgeous machines!!!

What a wonderful collection of antique cars and motorcycles! While we were visiting Acadia my wife found this car museum on Yelp and thought it would be a nice surprise for me. She was right! This museum is a hidden gem in Maine and has a huge collection of vehicles. We wandered the museum for what seemed like an hour in utter amazement of the history behind each vehicle. Final thoughts, the museum is a must see if you are a car enthusiasts. Also, it is very inexpensive, the staff here is phenomenal, and their little gift shop has some nice items. We ended up buying some cups for our collection.

Great selection of older cars, loved the packard. Very reasonable admission. Nice piece of history.

One of the coolest places on the island! Truly a hidden gem. My family spent an hour and a half here and it was one of the highlights of our vacation. It's located on the quiet side of the island and it's a great rainy day idea. This museum contains cars from 1899-1930, and some are extremely rare. The museum also highlights the battle to keep cars off Mount Desert Island in the early 1900's. Fun for all ages and informative!

Link to the Lincoln Home National Historic Site: Seal Cove Auto Museum: https://historyview.org/library/seal-cove-auto-museum/ This was a 3D virtual event to the Seal Cove Auto Museum. The intended audience is anyone interested in the history of automobiles, accessories, and clothing fashion in 1895 to the early 1920s. This is a building and it aims to provide a glimpse of the social and economic changes in American history. This site wasn't very organized without the tags and details because there were costumes next to automobiles and it didn't distinguish the different sections, but with the virtual event allowed me to click the tags for every object and give brief information. This site was very easy to navigate and there was a section that provided different views for visitors, which distinguished these virtual tours from other sites that I have visited. Overall, this virtual event had a very high quality and detailed information for every object.

Outstanding collection of early vehicles! Spent over an hour enjoying this vast collection. The staff is knowledgeable and kind and the exhibit is excellent! They also have a Bingo game for kids for them enjoy the museum as much as adults do! A must do for anyone visiting MDI.

This auto museum is one of the finest in the world. The collection has some of the rarest antique autos, several are custom designed, one-off coachworks. Many are completely original, unrestored preservation cars. If You find yourself in this area and love the old ones, you must see this collection!

We finally made it here after decades of planning to. Absolutely marvelous widely varied collection of antique cars, most from the "brass era" -- 1900 to 1915. Knowledgeable and helpful staff. Doing covid right with masks and distance enforcement. Theme exhibit through October 2021 is about the role of women driving in the suffrage movement. Excellent. With amazing collection of period clothing and connections between the specific cars and suffragettes. So glag we had a rainy day . Did you know that Bertha Benz invented the brake pad?

This museum was a little gem on the island! Very impressed with their rare collection of cars and motorcycles from the brass era (1895-1917). We went with a big family group including adults, grandparents, and kids ranging from 2 to 10. There was something to keep everyone interested. The kids get clipboards with a BINGO board of things to find around the museum and when they finish it they get a free prize out of the treasure chest. They also had a LEGO table set up. The car enthusiasts in our group were truly thrilled and even got a chance to talk-cars with the museum experts that walk around. And they have Keurig drinks available for purchase!

Many reviewers mention the Museum being a gem in the rough. It is indeed that. Had a great conversation with the staff. I mentioned what a great idea the arts area was for kids. I was told about the bingo game board and how much the kids love finding and learning. The large collection comes from Mr. Paines estate and has a couple on loan. Entrance price is minimal. Plenty of parking.

This museum was exceptional. Who would think a vintage car museum would be in Seal Cove! Beautiful building, immaculately maintained, GREAT vehicles and history lessons!

Great spot for a short visit! Cool cars and suffragette information to go with the cars!

Planning a visit to Bar Harbor/Acadia NP, we learned about this auto museum. I was as impressed with the collection as I was charmed by its off the beaten path location. Yes, Jay Leno should know of this place, but we could just keep it to ourselves :) Friendly employees gave several of us guests a brief tour/talk upon arrival, and then we were on our own to check out these brass-era beauties, and there are many to feast your eyes and camera lenses upon. We spent a good portion of the afternoon there. A trip highlight for us--a wonderful slice of automobile and American history.

Extremely fine brass car museum. The 1913 wood bodied Peugeot is a must see- a masterpiece of automotive craftsmanship!

Incredible collection mostly pre 1935 cars. Very reasonable admission price. Unassuming outside. Worth the trip if you like old cars or a rainy day activity.

Amazing that no one has Yelped this spectacular museum before. It is a must-see for just about anyone, we believe, and it ranks among the finest car museums to be seen in America. First, it houses a collection with a definite purpose: showcasing automobiles from the "Brass Age," all pre-1917 models (though there are a few post-1917 cars). The cars are beautifully restored; several have won major awards at the prestigious Pebble Beach shows. The 1913 Peugeot is layered with magnificent mahogany, and it is nothing short of breathtaking. The history here goes back to an 1886 Benz (before it became Mercedes Benz) and moves through such familiar cars as Stanley Steamers, Pierce Arrows and Fords and Cadillacs. But you'll also find some gorgeous models you've probably never seen before, including a 1900 Skeen, a 1913 Thomas and on and on. The cars are quite thoroughly documented, and we encountered a guide who provided us with some additional information. You can also stroll into a garage area where, on the day we visited, several men were working on a 1908 Locomobile. There's a small museum store with a book about the museum's collection (well worth the $12.95). Admission is cheap ($6 for adults) and well worth it many times over if you are an automobile enthusiast. Frankly, we were awed by what we saw and can't speak highly enough of Seal Cove. It's only a little over 30 minutes from Bar Harbor, and we know you won't be sorry you came.

The museum houses a stupendous and fascinating collection of antique cars and motorcycles, dating from the earliest days of motorized travel through the early 1930's. Several of the vehicles are one of a kind, and most of the cars have been restored to excellent condition. A sign placed in front of each vehicle provides details about its history and its maker. If you want more information, the knowledgeable staff are more than willing to to help. Visitors are allowed to take photos of everything. It is easy to spend a pleasant hour, or longer, here. People always say to save this kind of place for a rainy day, but, honestly, it is worth seeing, no matter what the weather is like outside. It is one of the hidden gems of MDI. If you are at all interested in cars or the history of the automobile, don't miss this museum.

This is a fascintating, wonderful place to visit. Make sure you pull aside one of the docents to give you a tour. You will be amazed at the treasures in this place.

Excellent collection !!! Has cars going back to the very beginning. Definitely recommend for family or car enthusiasts. A hidden gem in the Bar Harbor area.

We went here mostly for my husband. The collection of cars are impressive and there is something neat about seeing all of these old cars in person rather than just seeing pictures of them. Beng in the museum makes you feel like you are stepping back in time. If you are a history person or a car person than you should definitely not miss it. If you are in the area than it is worth a visit but it is a little off the beaten path being on the other side of the island from Bar Harbor so you have to decide if it is worth the drive.

My family and I have been coming to MDI every year for the past 20 years and have driven by this place many many times without stopping by. Finally, on a rainy day, we went in and had a really good time! I'm not much of a car person but I found the museum pieces very fascinating and historical. The museum was much busier than I expected and the owner is very knowledgeable and happy to talk to you about the cars. Also we talked to a man who was working on one of the cars and he explained he was a volunteer who sometimes got to take the cars out and drive them. Very friendly. If you're looking for something to do on a rainy Acadia afternoon, check out the auto museum!

Strange, but awesome attraction available on the island. When we arrived, there was one other couple in the building, and our party of four. No one else came in the 90+ minutes we were there. It is very quiet and seemingly desolate, but very cool! I am not much of a car person, but the other members of my party truly enjoyed reading all of the provided information on the dozens and dozens of cars on display! Very interesting, very educational, very neat stop! Definitely recommend if you have any car enthusiasts or history enthusiasts in your party.