1956 Map of Bangor

About this map

The Penobscot River and Kennebec River define the industrial and maritime character of this mid-coast region during the mid-1950s. Centered on the hub of Bangor and its neighbor Brewer, the map reveals a landscape still heavily reliant on rail transport, featuring the extensive networks of the Maine Central RR and the Bangor & Aroostook RR. To the south, the intricate coastline of Penobscot Bay and Blue Hill Bay gives way to the prominent peaks of Mount Desert Island, where Acadia National Park preserves the rocky shore near Bar Harbor. The presence of Dow Air Force Base near the regional center highlights the era's strategic military footprint amidst traditional logging and milling towns like Old Town and Skowhegan. This survey captures the transition from river-based industry to a post-war economy shaped by federal installations and coastal tourism.