The Evolution of the Waterfront

    The Bangor waterfront is, uniquely, both the heart and the boundary of the Queen City.  For over 200 years Bangor has grown outward from its waterfront district and has looked back toward the riverfront for its economic, social, and geographic orientation.  The waterfront has been the heart of Bangor from the settlement’s inception to the present day.  However, the waterfront is also Bangor’s boundary.  Pass over the Penobscot River on one of several bridges (or ferry across in the pre-industrial era) and one is no longer in the city.  Standing on the riverfront, one is literally on the edge of Bangor.  This “frontier” has brought to Bangor goods from the northern wilderness, news from other settlements, and exposure to various traditional and modern ways of life for centuries.  Growing from an 18^th century outpost to a 19^th century lumbering capital, contemporary Bangor remains focused on its waterfront as economic and social revitalization projects breathe new life into this important element of Bangor’s geographic identity.

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