Maine's Acadia National Park was the first national park established in the east. Visitors can explore the rugged beauty of Mount Desert Island from two distinct road systems. The older of these is a 60-mile network of carriage roads constructed by summer resident John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and subsequently donated to the park. Although automobiles are not allowed on the carriage roads, motorists can enjoy much of the same scenery from a splendid motor road system, also funded largely by Mr. Rockefeller.

Carriage Roads

Sixty miles of carriage roads providing access to many of Acadia's scenic charms are the legacy of industrialist, philanthropist and Mount Desert Island summer resident John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Starting in 1911 with a series of carriage drives on his Seal Harbor estate, over the next four decades Mr. Rockefeller constructed a network of broken stone roads winding between and across the island's mountains. Seventeen striking stone bridges are among the most interesting features on the system.

Motor Roads

Considered the most scenic seaside roads in the eastern states, the Acadia motor road system was also funded in part by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to provide motorists with an alternative use to his carriage road system. The system includes a 20-mile loop road largely skirting the rocky coast of Maine's Mount Desert Island; a summit road to the top of 1,530' Cadillac Mountain, the highest mountain on the east coast, and other scenic drives.

Postcards

"Great Head, Highest Headland on the Atlantic Coast,
Acadia National Park, Mt. Desert Island Region, Maine."

"Mountain Road [Motor] and Jordan Pond,
Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Mt. Desert Island, Me."

"Bridge [Carriage] over Duck Brook, Bar Harbor, Maine."

"Acadia National Park: Bubble Pond Bridge [Carriage],
Bar Harbor, Maine."

"Double Deck Road [Motor] on Ocean Drive,
Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, Maine."

"Viaduct [Motor] over Otter Creek,
Showing Champlain Mountain,
Acadia National Park, Mt. Desert Island, Me."

"Horse Cut on Mountain Road [Motor],
Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine."

"Summit of Cadillac Mt., Acadia National Park,
Bar Harbor, Maine."

"Acadia National Park:
Horseshoe Curve on Cadillac Mountain Road [Motor]
Mt. Desert Island, Maine."

"Sargent's Drive [Motor], Northeast Harbor, Maine."

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