Bangor
Photo credit: American Cruise Lines
URBAN ENERGY, HOMETOWN HOSPITALITY
Nestled near the head tide of the Penobscot River, Bangor is an eclectic city that blends modern urban life and historic charm with outdoor recreation and a vibrant arts scene. Captivated by its blend of city comforts and wilderness, Henry Thoreau described the nineteenth-century lumber capital of the world as “a star on the edge of night.”
A HUB OF ACTIVITY
Today, Bangor serves as a commercial hub for northern, eastern, and central Maine. The state’s third-largest city boasts a diverse economy that includes retail, government, healthcare, education, and entertainment.
ARTS & CULTURE
Bangor’s Downtown, beautifully wrapped in historic brick and granite, is home to shops, boutiques, restaurants, art galleries, historic landmarks, and lively events. Just a short walk away, the restored waterfront draws crowds for riverside prominades, community festivals, world-class concerts.
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SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
With its rich history, vibrant downtown, and natural beauty, Bangor inspires all who visit with its big-city spark and neighborly warmth and hospitality.
PENOBSCOT NATION
Indigenous people lived along the panawahpskek (Penobscot River) for millennia before European settlers arrived in the 1600s. This "the place of the white rocks" or "where the rocks widen," remains culturally and spiritually significant to Penawapskewi (Penobscot Nation.)
SOMETHING SPOOKY
Stephen King's fictional Derry, Maine, is based on Bangor, with many of its landmarks appearing in his stories. The King family's Victorian mansion in the Whitney Park Historic District is a popular photo spot.
LUMBER CAPITAL
In the 19th century, Bangor was the world’s lumber capital, shipping 150 million board feet of lumber annually. On clear days, logs sunk over 150 years ago are still visible in the Penobscot.
RESOURCES
Port Contacts
Tracy Willette
Director of Parks & Recreation, Harbormaster
207-992-4490 x 4497
Anne Krieg
Director Community & Economic Development
207-992-4280
Preferred email
