Women

 

A woman rock climbing at Acadia, circa 1937

Courtesy National Park Service/Acadia National Park

Influence Across the Timeline

Many people have and continue to shape Acadia through their efforts in protection and conservation of the park. Although the park’s timeline often highlights influential men, numerous women played significant roles in stewardship, philanthropy, and scientific research at Acadia. They contributed in the fields of botany, geology, preservation, landscape design, teaching, journalism, and more—leaving marks not just in Acadia’s history, but that of Mount Desert Island. And for thousands of years previous, women of the Wabanaki people lived on and took care of this land—passing down knowledge and wisdom through generations.

Women of Acadia does not refer to just women from the past century, but also achievements, progress, and accomplishments made now. Currently, there are women leading and working in the fields of interpretation, natural and cultural history, law enforcement, education, maintenance, and administration.

Those featured below are only a sampling of the countless women who have played a part in the creation, protection, and continued appreciation of Acadia. Learn more about Acadia’s women’s history and be inspired by their stories and impacts felt today.

 

 

Duration:

3 minutes, 40 seconds

Shirley Beccue was the Assistant Chief of Interpretation at Acadia National Park, her career here spanning from 1989 to 2006. She worked on many projects during her tenure, including the Artist-in-Residence program, accessibility trainings and development of the park website. This video interview details her experience and perspective as an NPS employee both at Acadia and Everglades National Parks.