Historic Motor Road System: Compliance Documentation and Rehabilitation Guidelines for Federal Highways Project #PRA-ACAD-4A10, Acadia National Park

Foulds, H.

A portion of Acadia National Park’s Historic Motor Road System is scheduled for a program of rehabilitation in 1994. Over fifty percent of the Motor Road’s 26.2 mile surface will receive much needed attention within the scope of the Federal Highway Administration’s project PRA-ACAD 4A10. Since 1926, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), formerly the Bureau of Public Roads (BPR), and the National Park Service have been cooperating on the design, construction, and rehabilitation of roads within the National Park System. This partnership has provided public access to the scenic wonders of the parks while simultaneously safeguarding the park’s ecological and scenic values. Together, the NPS and BPR/FHWA have been responsible for creating some of the nation’s most beautiful parkways. Increasingly, the fruits of this partnership are being recognized for their historical significance. To date, this recognition has included park roads found in parks such as Glacier, Zion, Yellowstone, Mount Rainier, and Shenandoah National Parks. In 1993, the Motor Road System of Acadia National Park was determined to be eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Having long considered the scenic and ecological implications of their collaborative parkway projects, this documentary report is a result of the growing mutual concern on the part of the National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration for the preservation of our nation’s historic park roads. While many visitors know Acadia National Park as a natural, scenic destination, the history of the park’s development also reflects the designed features and systems constructed to support those visitors. The first section of automobile road was completed in July of 1924, stretching from Eagle Lake Road to a proposed intersection with the future Cadillac Mountain Road. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. felt that creating a separate Motor Road system would preserve the rest of the park for pedestrian and carriage systems. During the period of significance, 1921-1958, the road system expanded across the park. Historic Motor Roads continue to be the primary means through which a majority of visitors enter and experience Acadia National Park, and the encounter with these road systems is closely linked to the perceived quality of the visit. Increasing visitation causes accelerated deterioration of the roadway and surrounding landscape. Periodic rehabilitation work helps ensure that these roads, a critical part of the park’s history and identity, continue to function for visitors and the park. In order to ensure that the historic character of the Motor Road System is retained, this report has been prepared to identify character-defining features and recommend specific rehabilitation guidelines related to FHWA Project PRA-ACAD 4A10. A brief chronological history documents the evolution of the Motor Road System, focusing on the sections of the historic road included in the FHWA project. The report, which was prepared by Northeast Region’s Cultural Landscape Program through the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, builds upon earlier studies by the Olmsted Center determining that the Motor Roads are historic and eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. This document is intended to provide the basis for the Case Report required for compliance with Historic Preservation Act, and to guide Federal Highways as they prepare the final construction documents. Since the report focuses on only a portion of the roadway and construction issues related to the FHWA Project, it does not provide any comprehensive information related to character and integrity of the remaining portion of the road system. Thus, this report is not intended to be a Cultural Landscape Report, nor does it satisfy compliance documentation for the rehabilitation of the entire system. /STUDY LOCATIONS:/ /MOUNT DESERT ISLAND/

Historic Motor Road System: Compliance Documentation and Rehabilitation Guidelines for Federal Highways Project #PRA-ACAD-4A10, Acadia National Park

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