The third largest city in the state of Maine, Bangor has a long history entwined with the revolutionary and civil wars. It is now a major center of commerce for eastern and northern Marine. With its rustic New England feel, Bangor is a tranquil city to visit and offers different attractions for the temperate summer months and snowy winter months.
Bangor is infamous for claiming to be the birthplace of the lumber industry, as well as the birth place of the legendary Paul Bunyan. This is infamous because Akeley in Minnesota also claims to be the birthplace of Paul Bunyan and both cities have large, cheesy Paul Bunyan statues to commemorate this – Bangor’s is 31 feet tall. Either way, it’s fun to learn about and visit the statue of the legendary giant lumberjack. There is also a campground nearby for those so inclined.
With the city’s history steeped in the civil war, revolutionary war and other aspects of American history, Bangor is dotted with numerous statues, memorials and sculptures commemorating these events. Walking in and around Bangor, you will come across these landmarks. Some notable ones are: The River Drivers depicting lumber men and commemorating the lumber industry and its dangers; Battleship Maine Memorial to remember the explosion that killed sailors on the Battleship Maine during the Spanish-American War; Freedom Tunnel Sculpture shows a slave emerging from a tunnel, commemorating the underground railway that is believed to have made a stop in Bangor’s Freedom Park.
Highlights
Cole Land Transportation Museum: is aimed at preserving and displaying Maine’s land transportation equipment, showcasing antique trucks, locomotives and much more.
Maine Discovery Museum: is the largest children’s museum in New England, boasting three floors of fun for all ages.
Mount Hope Cemetery: is the second oldest garden cemetery in the US; with over 250 acres, the cemetery is like a botanical garden or arboretum and is the final resting place of some of the nation’s most famous and infamous people.
Thomas Hill Standpipe: is a 110-foot wooden tower and observatory that was built over 100 years ago; from here, the highest vantage point in Bangor, the views are breathtaking.
Fort Knox: located about 20 miles south of Bangor and not to be confused with the famous Fort Knox in Kentucky, never saw action during the Civil War, but it is battle-ready today and has been declared a National Historic Landmark.
Hose 5 Fire Museum: is a big hit with boys and men alike; housed in a former fire station, the museum features antique fire engines and fire fighting equipment.
Kenduskeag Stream Park: is a favorite among locals, with its 2.5 mile walking trail, meandering along the Kenduskeag stream; it is said that it was the favorite park of Henry David Thoreau when he used to visit his cousins in Bangor.