Bangor: the city that inspired Stephen King

Birthplace and residence of Stephen King, Bangor has inspired many of the most celebrated settings in his horror novels.

The centre, birthplace of writer Stephen King, is easily explored on foot.

The Stephen King House, recognizable by its wrought-iron gate decorated with cobwebs and bats, remains a pilgrimage destination for fans of the writer.

Just steps away, the Bangor Historical Society Museum tells the story of the city as an important lumber export center in the nineteenth century, once among the world's most active.

Continuing on one observes Paul Bunyan, a giant statue dedicated to the legendary lumberjack of American folklore, a symbol of the city's industrial past.

Toward evening, the trails along the Kenduskeag River, crossed by several historic bridges, close the day in a peaceful setting, far from the places best known to King fans.

Many places in Bangor, thinly disguised under different names, appear in Stephen King's novels with the fictional name Derry, making the city a hunting ground for the most passionate fans.

The statue of Paul Bunyan, standing over five meters tall, was erected in 1959 to celebrate the city's centennial, when the logging industry had already begun its decline.