This Maine city along the Penobscot River has strong ties to author Stephen King, who lives here. The 31-foot Paul Bunyan statue marks its logging industry past.
Bangor, Maine's third-largest city, stretches along the Penobscot River. A 31-foot Paul Bunyan statue marks the city entrance, while downtown streets lead you to unique spots like the Duck of Justice at the police station and Stephen King's Victorian mansion. You'll find local restaurants and shops in brick buildings from the 1800s, and in summer, food trucks and concerts bring life to the waterfront area.
Historical Background
Bangor grew into the world's largest lumber port in the 1860s, with more than 150 sawmills operating along the Penobscot River. The lumber trade brought wealth to the city, funding the construction of Victorian mansions and commercial buildings that line today's downtown streets. You can see this 19th-century architecture at the Thomas A. Hill House and Isaac Farrar Mansion.
Getting to Bangor
You can reach Bangor through Interstate 95 or fly into Bangor International Airport, which serves both civilian and military flights. The drive to Portland takes about two hours, and Routes 15 and 9 connect you to smaller towns in the region.
Downtown and Waterfront Experience
Main Street runs through rows of red brick buildings from the 1800s, now filled with independent shops and local restaurants. Walk the Bangor Waterfront Trail along the Penobscot River to see public sculptures, and catch live music at the Maine Savings Amphitheater in summer. Food trucks line the waterfront from June through September.
Museums and Cultural Spaces
At the Zillman Art Museum, you'll find works by David Hockney and Andy Warhol. The Maine Discovery Museum spans three floors of interactive exhibits for children, while the Cole Land Transportation Museum chronicles Maine's transport history from wooden wagons to modern trucks. The Bangor Symphony Orchestra, America's longest-running orchestra, performs throughout the year.
Stephen King's Bangor
Stephen King wrote many novels in Bangor, using the city as inspiration for his fictional town of Derry. His Victorian home at 47 West Broadway, known for its wrought-iron gate with bat and spider decorations, will become a writer's retreat. Local tour companies take visitors to locations that appear in King's books and their film adaptations.
Parks and Natural Areas
Walk, run, or bike through 9 miles of trails in the 80-acre Bangor City Forest. In winter, these same trails become routes for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Mount Hope Cemetery, the second-largest garden cemetery in the United States, contains detailed stone monuments along tree-lined paths.
