Cultural Landscape Report for the Historic Motor Road System, Acadia National Park

Killion, Jeffrey; Foulds, H Eliot

This cultural landscape report expands on the research, analysis, and recommendations of the 1993 report, “Historic Motor Road System, Acadia National Park, Compliance Documentation and Rehabilitation Guidelines for FHWA Project #PRA-ACAD-4A10.” The 1993 report was prepared in advance of the Federal Highway Administration’s rehabilitation project for thirteen miles of the historic motor road system, which included Paradise Hill Road and much of the park loop road from Kebo Mountain Road to the grade separation at Otter Cliffs Road. Work was completed in 1993-1994, but due to budget limitations was scaled back considerably and was confined to the portion of the park loop road from the Kebo Mountain Road Extension to the grade separation. The 1993 report focused on specific segments of the historic motor road system affected by the Federal Highways project. It also provided a historical overview of the entire historic motor road system except for the motor road segments on the Schoodic Peninsula. This cultural landscape report is organized into four chapters. Chapter 1, History of the Historic Motor Road System, traces the physical development of Acadia’s motor roads from 1922-1958. The chapter also includes information about the circulation features predating the motor roads on Mount Desert Island and Schoodic Peninsula and management of the motor roads after the historic period. Woven into this chronology of events are the stories that ultimately shaped the historic motor road system. They include the powerful economic and conservation interests that pitted the year round residents against the wealthy summer residents, motor road planning in the National Park Service and the collaboration with the Bureau of Public Roads, and above all the strong wills and opinions of George Dorr, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Chapter 2, Existing Conditions, describes the historic motor road system as it exists today and presents in detail the characteristics and features of all eighteen historic motor road segments in terms of curvature and grades, topography, vegetation, views, circulation, buildings and structures, and small-scale features. Chapter 3, Analysis of Landscape Significance and Integrity, reviews the current status on the National Register of Historic Places, provides a statement of significance, and evaluates the integrity of the extant landscape characteristics and features and their contribution to the historical significance of the historic motor road system. Chapter 4, Landscape Treatment, summarizes the Rustic Design principles prevalent in park road planning and the rustic character of the historic motor road system, discusses current treatment issues as they relate to the park’s General Management Plan and the National Park Service’s Organic Act, presents a mission statement and a rehabilitation treatment approach for the historic motor road system, and recommends both general and specific treatment strategies that aim to preserve the historic integrity of this important historic resource. The report concludes with three appendices. Appendix A includes a detailed description of the inventory methodology and the computer database associated with the extensive field work undertaken for this cultural landscape report. Appendix B features fold-out color Existing Conditions maps that document characteristics and features for the entire motor road system. Appendix C consists of summary evaluation tables of all contributing and non-contributing characteristics and features.

Cultural Landscape Report for the Historic Motor Road System, Acadia National Park

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