Uniqueness and evolutionary status of MWC 349A

MWC349A, which had remained an ordinary member of the MWC catalog for a few decades, is now known as: (1) the brightest stellar source of radio continuum; (2) the only known high-gain natural maser in hydrogen recombination lines; and (3) the only strictly proven natural high-gain laser (in IR hydrogen recombination lines). These phenomena seem to occur in the circumstellar disk seen almost edge-on. They help us understand the structure and kinematics of the disk. The evolutionary status of MWC 349A is still debated: a young HAeBe star with a pre-planetary disk or an old B[e] star or even a protoplanetary nebula? We discuss new observational data obtained at the Maria Mitchell Observatory and elsewhere which may cast light on this issue.