In 1910, J. P. Morgan purchased bought Great Head and Sand Beach on Mount Desert Island as a gift for his daughter. His daughter had three bungalows, a barn, and a superintendent's house built above the beach. In 1915, she had a round stone tower tea house constructed.
In 1947, a fire swept over much of the eastern side of Mount Desert Island. Many large summer homes, known locally as cottages, were destroyed. The tea house was damaged and the other buildings on Great Head were destroyed.
Two years later, Great Head and Sand Beach were donated to Acadia National Park. The tea house was later torn down for safety reasons, leaving the foundation.
If you look at the photo above, Great Head has a few small trees, but is otherwise bare rock with some low vegetation. Today, the peninsula is heavily wooded with a few hiking trails.
Most people who hike Great Head are unaware of the history of the tea house or that the foundation is still there. One has to look for it, for it is not obvious to those passing nearby.
Other remnants of the past can be found nearby. Near the elementary school in Bar Harbor is the remains of a stone wall from an estate. At Compass Harbor, south of the town, you will find a set of granite steps and the remains of a foundation from a waterfront home.
For those who want a different experience in Acadia, delving into the past can offer a glimpse at an interesting time in recent history and the lives of Rockefellers, Fords, Morgans, Du Ponts, and many others.
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