These 5 Maine Statues Have Fascinating Backstories

Maine has many statues and monuments, some with more history than a glance will reveal.

The Reason Behind Some Maine Statues is Unclear

We pass them every day, statues that add character to the landscape and are meant to represent... something. When did you last look at the statues in your town, or research what they mean?

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Take, for instance, the metal tree on Wilson Street in Brewer. It sits at an intersection where most drivers probably never even look at it. Although if they're stopped at the light by Tradewinds, they might glance over.

The meaning behind the tree is all about the city's economic rebirth, and it has a fascinating story of its own.

Still, Other Maine Statues Have a Whimsical Backstory

There's a beautiful mermaid statue in Eastport named Nerida. Did you know the artist originally planned to create statues of invertebrate sea creatures? But when he finally got someone to finance his project, his backers insisted it had to be a mermaid.

Many of Maine's Statues are Historic in Nature

Of course, Maine is filled with historical statues of Joshua Chamberlain, Hannibal Hamlin, and others. When I was growing up, vandals stole the cane from a Hannibal Hamlin statue in Downtown Bangor, which was then replaced. We'd watch that statue whenever we went downtown to see if he had his cane.

I love history, so I had to check out the background of some of Maine's more prominent statues. Some are whimsical while others are sad. Knowing the history or the meaning behind the statues makes them almost come to life, and gives us a reason to remember to notice them as we walk or drive by.