L.L. Bean has built its successful business, in part, by capitalizing on the reputation and allure of Maine.

In return, the retailer has been generous in giving back to the state, with its philanthropy and community activism. The state has also benefited from the carefully crafted image that L.L. Bean has helped to create – the Maine mystique that draws tourists to our mountains, beaches, woods and lakes.

Last week during a National Conference on Ecotourism in Bar Harbor, a new gift from the retailer was announced.

L.L. Bean will donate $1.25 million between 2006 and 2010 to fund the operation of the Island Explorer bus system on Mount Desert Island and to fund new research in Acadia National Park. The gift will continue the company’s commitment to the bus system; in 2002, it donated $1 million to expand the bus service.

According to Friends of Acadia, a nonprofit that works to support and protect the park, the propane-powered bus system has carried almost 2 million passengers since it started in 1999, eliminating more than 442,000 car trips and preventing more than 33 tons of pollution.

Acadia National Park draws almost 3 million visitors a year, placing it in the top 10 among national parks, but its relatively small size – 45,000 acres – and a history of declining federal funding support for the parks system means it needs a lot of outside support.

Acadia is a good match for L.L. Bean. The gift fits nicely with the company’s image and supports an environmentally friendly way for people to explore the wonders of the park.