Starbird Crest is located on Mt. Desert Island, home to Acadia National Park. Formed from a collection of private land grants in 1919, Acadia National Park is one of the ten most visited parks in the National Park System due to the incredible range of natural beauty and awesome views of the rugged Maine coastline.

In 1604, the French explorer Samuel Champlain was struck by the bareness of the island's mountaintops while sailing along the coast. He gave the island the name by which it is known today: l'Isles des Monts-déserts or Mount Desert Island.

During the early 1900's, many of America's most socially prominent families - the Rockefellers, Morgans, Fords, Astors, Vanderbilts, and Pulitzers - began summering in Bar Harbor, NorthEast Harbor and Seal Harbor where they built palatial summer "cottages" and entertained lavishly. Acadia National Park owes much of its current existence to the vision of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., who vacationed here during the summers starting in 1910. He designed, fiananced, and oversaw the creation of 57 miles of carriage trails, 17 granite bridges, several stately gatehouses, and a 22 mile motorized road, now known as the Park Loop Road.

Acadia National Park maintains Rockefeller's vision with carriage rides on the numerous carriage trails that run throughout the park accessible only by foot, bike, or horse.

A less physical means of immersing oneself in the grandeur of the Park's beauty is to sit on the vast lawns of the Jordan Pond Tea House while being served tea and fresh popovers with local strawberry jam.

Jordon Pond Tea House is also home to a display of artwork by the owner of Starbird Crest celebrating the beauty of the island. Acadia Morning Has Broken (left) depicts the views from Starbird Crest.

Additional information can be found at the following web sites:

Artwork is ©MHS 2002