Woodlawn Museum in Ellsworth
On 180 acres overlooking the Union River, Woodlawn offers visitors a rare glimpse of Ellsworth’s history through the lens of the Black family, once among the most influential in Hancock County. The estate’s centerpiece, the 1827 Black House, is filled with original furnishings, carriages, and archives that tell the story of John Black, an English immigrant who rose to prominence in Maine’s booming lumber trade.
His descendants preserved not only the family’s wealth but also their sense of civic duty. Nixon Black, the last of the family to own Woodlawn, left the house and grounds to the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations with the directive that they be maintained as a museum and public park. Today, guests tour the house, explore two miles of carriage trails, stroll through a Colonial Revival garden, and visit the family tomb along the woodland paths. While the house is open seasonally, the grounds are open, free of charge, from dawn to dusk every day of the year.
Roz Rea, Woodlawn Trustee, notes that while the estate has deep roots, it is also adapting for the future. In 2024, the museum opened a new event and education center, giving the property a sustainable path forward. “Historic houses can’t survive on tours alone,” she explains. “The Trustees wanted to create a space for community gatherings, celebrations, and learning that would produce additional income thus ensuring that Woodlawn remains a part of people’s lives long into the future.”
The estate has become a beloved backdrop for Ellsworth’s milestones, from high school prom photos on the grand front porch to weddings, graduations, and nonprofit retreats in the new center. Visitors in every season will also find simple joys: Sledding on the hill, ice skating on the pond, or quiet moments on the lawns and trails.
For travelers heading to or from Acadia, Woodlawn offers a chance to pause, breathe, and connect with both nature and history. “This place is more than a house,” Roz reflects. “It’s a living story of Ellsworth itself, preserved so future generations can experience it as their own.”
FAMOUS FOR:
Being one of the few historic estates in Maine where the story of an early mercantile family is preserved alongside extensive archives, original furnishings, and outbuildings.
ADDRESS:
19 Black House Dr, Ellsworth, ME
WEBSITE:
woodlawnellsworth.org
photos by Peter Logue
