United States of America -- Maine -- Hancock County -- Seal Harbor
Varying Form:
Also known as the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden.
General:
001: "The Eyrie" Summer home of Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Mt. Desert Island, Maine. 5A-N2341
Postcard circa 1915-1930.
002: Postcard circa 1939-1990.
003: "The Eyrie" Summer home of Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Seal Harbor, Maine. Postcard circa 1901-1945.
004: Postcard circa 1901-1915.
A 1921 trip to China and a tour of Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and the Philippines inspired Abby and John D. Rockefeller, Jr., to create the garden at Eyrie on the western hill of Seal Harbor. Beatrix Farrand, a fellow Mount Desert Island resident, was hired to design it. Lavish flower gardens and Western influences coexist with Eastern material objects. The garden is enclosed by a rose-colored serpentine wall capped with yellow tiles salvaged from a demolished section of wall around China's Forbidden City. The Spirit Path is lined with Korean tomb "procession" figures. The use of native shrubs and ground covers soften the stone sculptures. A lawn is the center of the sunken garden.
Persons associated with the garden and property include: Abby Aldrich and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. (former owners, ca. 1928-1948); Beatrix Jones Farrand (landscape architect); and Robert W. Patterson (landscape architect).
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Richard Marchand historical postcard collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid in this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.