Wayside: Auto Wars

Access Wayside: Auto Wars

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Wildwood Stables Entrance

Significance:

Interpretive Wayside

Amenities

2 listed

Audio Description, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits

Access Acadia: Inclusive Descriptions of Park Destinations

• LINK TO WAYSIDE IMAGE IN NPGALLERY

• LINK TO RECORDED AUDIO DESCRIPTION

• Access Wayside: Auto Wars

  
  

  An audio description is provided for "Auto Wars," an interpretive wayside at Acadia National Park.
  Audio Transcript

  On the deck at Wildwood Stables, two wayside exhibits stand side-by-side along the railing. The exhibits overlook a view of a grassy yard. A steep forested slope rises just beyond the grassy area.

  One exhibit's title, "Auto Wars," appears over a historic photograph of a motorcar following closely behind two horse-drawn carriages along a very crowded park road. A caption: "Island traffic jam about 1887."

  Text reads: "It might be hard to believe today, but some of the island's villages banned automobiles in the early 1900s. The bans sparked local battles between those who favored allowing "horseless carriages" and those — including John D. Rockefeller Jr. — who opposed their use on public roads. The disputes ended in 1915 when the state legislature required all island communities to open their roads to cars. Undaunted, Rockefeller pursued his dream and expanded his carriage road system to provide non-motorized access to the island's interior."

  An inset photograph shows a horse-drawn carriage. "Today carriage road users enjoy Acadia away from crowds and automobiles — Rockefeller's enduring legacy."

  A quote: "[My grandfather] understood well that carriage roads would offer the benefits and beauties of nature to all who would come to explore the island." - Ann Rockefeller Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller's Roads