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Fun Facts About Acadia National Park
Snowshoe Hare, Acadia National Park, Photo by Bob Thayer, NaturePods
Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus)
The snowshoe hare is aptly named due to it hind legs which act as snowshoes helping it maneuver in deep snow. It is also called the varying hare because it changes color with the seasons. Its normal brown coat become a mottled brown-white in the fall and by winter it is all white. This color change is an adaptation to camouflage itself from its predators.
Red Spruce Cones, Acadia National Park. Photo by Bob Thayer, NaturePods
Red Spruce (Picea rubens)
The red spruce is probably the most common evergreen in the park except along the shoreline where white spruce is more prominent. The red spruce has a short dark needle with a sharp pointed end. Twirling a single needle between your finger and thumb you will notice that it is actually square. It is stiff and prickly to the touch. Remember that “spruce is square and sharp.” If the needle is crushed it will give off a sweet aroma. The cones are small compared to the white pine, and have a reddish-brown color. In good years the cones can be quite numerous covering the top of the tree.
John D. Rockafeller Jr., Photo courtesy of Acadia National Park, Used with Permission
John D. Rockafeller Jr.
John D. Rockefeller Jr. became interested in Mount Desert Island in the early 1900’s when he and his wife spent several summers vacationing in Bar Harbor. Their son Nelson, future vice president of the US, was born here. In 1910 John D. Rockefeller Jr. purchased a house in Seal Harbor and over the years converted it into a large 100 room mansion known as the Eyrie. He was very interested in the preservation of land on the island and became the greatest donor of land and money to the formation of what is now Acadia National Park. In 1913 he began building the carriage road system. Initially it was just around his property but in time his interest expanded and construction continued until the early 1940s.
