History of the Property
The land that is now home to Hulls Cove Sculpture Garden has a long and fascinating history dating back to the early 1800s. In 1817, Edward Brewer, a shipbuilder from southern New England, settled on this site. That same year, he constructed both his residence and his first schooner, the Huldah and Judah (95 tons), at nearby Hadley Point.
Over the next several decades, Brewer built many ships in Hulls Cove, including the Mary Jane (1825), Exchange (1829), and Cabinet (1831). His last known ship, the E.T. Hamor, was completed in 1889. Most of the vessels were used for fishing, coasting, or trade with the West Indies.
To support his shipbuilding work, Brewer also built a sawmill along the Breakneck Stream, just above the head of tide near the present sculpture garden. This area is known as the Breakneck Hollow.
In 1835, he and business partner John de Gilmore purchased 6,144 acres from the trustees of the William Bingham estate, including the land that would later become Cadillac Mountain and parts of Acadia National Park.
The Brewer family owned the property for over a century before selling it in 1947, following the devastating Bar Harbor fire that same year. The property changed hands multiple times until Skip Brack purchased it in 1983, later transforming it into the Hulls Cove Tool Barn and the Hulls Cove Sculpture Garden.
Wish to donate to the Sculpture Garden? We are accepting contributions!