Be it queenly or not, Mainers have long regarded Bangor as the capital of the "other" Maine, the state's northern three-quarters. The city's grand Italianate, Second Empire, Queen Anne, and Greek Revival homes recall the glory days of the mid-19th century, when Bangor was the "lumber capital of the world," Lippitt says.
Some say it also was the culture capital of Maine. The Bangor Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1896, claims to be the oldest continually performing community orchestra in the country.
Bangor's Victorian-era fortunes were built on the millions of trees felled in the North Woods and driven down the Penobscot River, then milled and shipped from its busy port. One local tale paints super-logger Bunyan as a native son, which might explain the 31-foot-tall statue of him in Bass Park downtown.
While Bunyan's status as a local might be questionable, the tool his replica holds is genuine Maine made. After observing the difficulties river drivers were having shepherding logs down the Penobscot, local blacksmith Joseph Peavey invented the tool now known as a peavey.
A crafty local of a different type is perhaps better known. In summer the Greater Bangor Convention & Visitors Bureau (www.bangorcvb.org) offers monthly bus tours of Stephen King-related sites. The next tour is July 4. Anytime, visitors can satisfy their cravings for the horror maven at two bookstores specializing in his works. Betts (584 Hammond St., 207-947-7052; www.bettsbooks.com) and Bookmarcs (78 Harlow St., 207-942-3206, 866-942-3206; www.bookmarcs.com) sell signed editions and King collectibles; Betts especially is a source of information on all things King.
