THE CARRIAGE ROADS STORY OF THE ROADS The carriage roads of Acadia From their completion until his National Park were conceived, death in 1960 he provided 100-man planned, and funded by John D. work crews to maintain the roads. Rockefeller, Jr., between 1913 Over the past 30 years, dwindling and 1940. He wanted to provide park funds led to minimal carriage access to and enjoyment of Mount road maintenance. In 1989 an Desert Island's natural beauty Historic Resource Study on the without the intrusion of carriage roads was completed for motorized vehicles. When the the National Park Service. That roads were finished he had given study documented the sequence of 17 bridges, 2 gate lodges and 50 the roads' development and miles of road to Acadia National construction, as well as Park. This gift represents a recommendations for their unique cultural resource, restoration and maintenance. unmatched anywhere in the United States. THE CHALLENGE In May 1990 a pilot restoration program on 1.4 miles was begun to test the feasibility of the recommendations made by the Historic Resource Study and to determine the cost of such endeavors. The Amphitheater area was chosen because it contained typical bridge, culvert, stone ditch and retaining wall features which exhibited a range of restoration needs from minor grading to major drainage system repair. The private donors funding this pilot project hope to set a standard that will be followed until all the carriage roads are ultimately restored. When restoration is complete, an endowment will be established for continuing maintenance. A PRESCRIPTION FOR RESTORATION The original Acadia carriage roads were hard surfaced, well crowned "broken stone" roads. 4" of Smaller Stones 2" to 3" of Gravel and Binder 4" to 8" Foundation Stones Subgrade Cambered BROKEN-STONE ROAD, AMERICA, EARLY 20TH CENTURY The Acadia roads have lost their crown shape which promotes good drainage. Once-bare ditches and roadsides have filled with plants and tree seedlings which cause washouts. Thousands of cubic feet of surface binder soil has washed away, and many of the vistas which once greeted horseback riders, carriage drivers and walkers are obscured by 30 years' growth. Sixty years ago a combination of man and machine created the roads. This modern day project will also employ heavy equipment and hand labor. We hope the project will be of interest to you and that any inconvenience or disruption of your enjoyment of Acadia's carriage roads will be off set by the expected benefit of the project. -REVERSIBLE HORSE ROAD ROLLER. Please use caution in the demonstration project area and observe all safety warning signs.