Bangor, Maine - ECRVJourney

Our second campground in Maine is just outside of Bangor. We decided to check out some of the sites I found on the lists of places to visit while in Bangor.

Mount Hope Cemetery

Why would a cemetery show up on places to visit in a city? I looked at multiple posts and it kept showing up. Mount Hope Cemetery ranks among the earliest of American garden cemeteries. I like gardens so it sounds like an interesting place 🤔. Here is the history of the cemetery.

On July 21, 1836, at the consecration ceremonies, The Honorable Edward Kent, Mayor of Bangor and later Governor of Maine, well expressed the philosophy which engendered the rural cemetery movement when he proclaimed: “A spot situated like this, with the beauties of nature scattered on every hand, is calculated to give a chastened and holy calm to the mind and to lead the thought to study nature in her works and to God as her great author.”

I thought this grave stone for a baby was so original. The two larger stones on right were the grandparents the next size down was the daughter and son-in-law and in the middle was their baby.

The cemetery was built on a hillside and a lot of graves went up the hills. I thought that was so different especially since I grew up in the flatlands of Ohio.

This picture also put another thought in my mind. Look at all the different sizes, shapes and colors of the stones. Some are tall and thin others are short and stubby they are white, black, brown and multi colored, just like when you look into a crowd of people. I also want to note that most graves were from the 1800’s and I wonder how long it has been since someone went to visit those gravesites.

While walking around Ed and I started to talk about how many generations would it take for the people buried in the graves to be forgotten. Our guess was two generations. Two generations is such a short period of time compared to the amount of time mankind has walked this earth. All that is left on this earth when we die is our memory and a gravestone noting our name and dates we were alive!

Let’s move on from the cemetery. It was nice but if I’m burned in a garden cemetery I want more flowers!!! You can do perennials they are low maintenance!!!🌺🌻🥀

World War II memorial on the grounds of the museum.

Do you thinks this truck would have pulled our home!!

I remember wooden sleds. Did you have one of these when you were a kid??

I had to include this picture because Ed’s first car was a 1966 VW bug. Is was white just like the Herbie bug except it did not have the racing strips. Can you see Ed driving this??🤣

I’m glad they have made a lot of improvements in the RV industry!!

Last but not least on the recommended places to visit in Banger is the Paul Bunyan statue. Legend has it he was from Bangor.

Good bye Bangor, it’s time for us to move on!!