Great Fire of 1911 Historic District

The Great Fire of 1911 Historic District is a downtown area in Bangor with 48 buildings and three parks all constructed between 1911 and 1915. The buildings include office structures, a library, a high school, a bank, and other civic facilities built during the post-fire reconstruction.

A devastating fire on April 30, 1911, destroyed hundreds of buildings across the city and triggered a complete rebuilding effort. The new construction that followed transformed how the downtown area looked and functioned.

The architecture here reflects the design choices architects made during the post-fire rebuild, blending several styles from that era. Walking through the district shows how builders experimented with different approaches to shaping the city's new appearance.

The district is located downtown and is walkable, with multiple buildings and parks accessible to the public at no charge. Visitors should plan to spend time exploring both the structures and the open spaces on foot.

Three parks within the district - Norumbega Mall, Kenduskeag Mall, and Pierce Park - were created specifically as part of urban renewal following the fire. These green spaces were designed to restructure the city and provide residents with outdoor gathering areas.

Location: Bangor

GPS coordinates: 44.80361,-68.77111

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:03