The Password Was Worth It.

The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Window Panes Home and Garden.

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SEAL COVE—At first, it’s the cars that catch your eye: antique, polished, and impossibly elegant. But at Seal Cove Auto Museum, the story never stops at the chrome. It expands into celebration, learning, and the kind of community gathering that feels as timeless as the vehicles themselves.

This year’s returning speakeasy proved exactly how the museum—along with its staff and an army of volunteers—turns history into a living, breathing experience.

For years, the museum has rolled out its annual speakeasy, pairing red-carpet glamour with a night of dancing, laughter, and drinks that are far less secretive than they were a century ago. The festivities unfold against what the museum proudly calls a “world-class collection of early Brass Era cars.”

A 1916 Abbott Detroit? On display.

A 1904 Cadillac? Waiting under the lights.

A 1912 Maxwell with a three-speed transmission—once among the most popular cars in America? Right there, too.

But the museum and the event, which it hosted last Saturday, is a whole lot more.

A reporter from the Mount Desert Islander tapping era-appropriate dance moves? Isabella Wellman‑Webster razzle-dazzled ‘em.

A former College of the Atlantic professor dealing black jack? Davis Taylor dealt the cards like a pro.

An author, GIS consultant and business owner selling raffle tickets. Hope Rowan had it covered.

“The speakeasy was originally developed as a way to thank the community for their hard work and to give them an opportunity to get out of the winter blues and celebrate before the craziness of summer begins again,” said Marcia McFarland, museum manager. “Summers can be trying for our local folks, and then the long, dark winter can take its toll. The speakeasy is a way for the adults to step out in early 1900’s garb, throw their cares aside and dance the night away listening to jazz music, sip on a cocktail, and play some cards in a place that will transport you back in time.”

This year’s theme was the Silver Screen Speakeasy.

According to a press release, “Attendees were greeted at the iconic slide‑through window, where only those armed with the secret password were granted entry. Once inside, guests were handed a coupe of champagne and made their way down the red carpet, stepping straight onto the Silver Screen of old Hollywood.”

The Shane Ellis Band provided the music. Cas Ole Catering served the morsels that were sponsored by Edwards Brothers Supermarket.

“Wallace Events elevated the entire atmosphere by sponsoring sleek linens and glassware, giving the Museum a polished, upscale speakeasy look,” the press release read.

A cocktail of the night provided by the Liquor Locker was The Peter Brown, which was a tribute to the Seal Cove Auto Museum’s senior mechanic.

The homage is part of the story of the museum and of the community and guests posed in front of that 1927 Ford Model T Roadster, which was a donation by Gary Frashier. Stanley Subaru sponsored the photo booth.

For one night, the lights glowed a little brighter in Seal Cove, the music carried a little farther, and the past felt close enough to dance with exactly the kind of magic the museum hopes to keep rolling for years to come.

If the gleam of polished brass and the swing of jazz proved anything, it’s that the Seal Cove Auto Museum continues to be as much about people as it is about cars. It created a space where neighbors gather, everyone pitches in, winter loosens its grip, and history becomes something you can step into for an evening.

Mark your calendars now: the next Seal Cove Auto Museum Speakeasy returns to Seal Cove, Maine on Saturday, March 20, 2027.

For more information about upcoming events and programs, visit https://www.sealcoveautomuseum.org/events/.

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