Much of Acadia National Parkland was donated by John D. Rockefeller Jr. Rockefeller also had a vision for the park, and part of it was a carriage road system that's seen throughout the park today. Participating in the design process, Rockefeller's gifted eye aligned the roads to follow contours of the land, using retaining walls to preserve the hillsides and save trees. Road crews used Mount Desert Island granite for both the road surfaces and bridge facings. Affectionately called Rockefeller's teeth, large coping stones serve as roadside guardrails. Cedar sign posts that once directed carriage drivers, still guide hikers, bicyclists and equestrians today.
   Maintaining Acadia's carriage roads is no easy task. Besides the extensive amounts of labor from hundreds of volunteers, the Friends of Acadia also contribute more than 200,000 dollars annually to maintain the park's carriage roads. Continuing the tradition of Rockefeller's philanthropy, Friends of Acadia support many aspects of Acadia National Park.

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