Bates Memorial

A commemorative plaque for Waldron Bates is located at the junction of Gorham Mountain and Cadillac Cliffs Trails.

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Bates Memorial Details

Each day, hikers pass a commemorative plaque for Waldron Bates affixed to a boulder at the junction of the Gorham Mountain and Cadillac Cliffs Trails. Born in 1856 in Boston, Bates first visited Mount Desert Island around 1880 and was Chairman of the Bar Harbor Village Improvement Association (VIA) from 1900 to 1909. The Harvard graduate was a lawyer, sportsman, and writer and he devoted much of his life to creating the hiking trails that Acadia hikers enjoy today. Bates become known as a pathmaker and map maker with the publication of his books, "Map of Mount Desert Island" and the "Path Map of the Eastern Part of Mount Desert Island," with co-cartographers Edward Rand and Herbert Jaques, in 1896. Under Bates' leadership of the VIA, 25 miles of trails were marked with rock cairns. These trails include the Giant Slide, Canon Brook, Gorham Mountain, and Cadillac Cliff. He died at age 52 while traveling via train from Boston to South Carolina when he slipped while trying to get onboard, fell under the wheels, and was killed as the train pulled away from the station.

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