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Log inProspect: Observatory's second season officially starts
Prospect: Observatory's second season officially starts
by Outspoken on Fri May 02, 2008 5:52 am
Prospect: Observatory's second season officially starts
By Eric Russell
Staff Writer Bangor Daily News
PROSPECT, Maine - Last year, more than 72,000 people took the 50-second elevator ride to the observatory atop the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, which offers unmatched panoramic views of eastern Maine.
Those involved with managing one of the state’s newest tourist attractions think that’s just the beginning.
The observatory, which sits 420 feet above the Penobscot River, officially re-opened Thursday morning for its second year. Representatives of the Maine Department of Conservation, the Bureau of Parks and Lands, the Department of Transportation, the Friends of Fort Knox and others gathered early Thursday afternoon for a small ceremony that they hoped would help expand on a successful inaugural season.
"People have been asking me ‘Why are we doing this? Didn’t we already do this?" DOC Commissioner Patrick McGowan told a small crowd at the base of the observatory tower. "Well, the fact is, we’re going to do this every year because the more we bring attention to this attraction, the better it’s going to be for everyone."
The observation deck was incorporated into the $85 million Penobscot Narrows Bridge project, which was built to replace the 77-year-old Waldo-Hancock Bridge. The bridge opened in December 2006, but the observatory didn’t open until last May.
DOT Commissioner David Cole said the project represents a tremendous collaboration among many different groups who share the same vision.
"When we embarked on this, it looked good on paper, but the question was ‘Would people come?’ I think we’ve answered that," he said.
Aside from the link between the transportation and conservation departments, Cole also lauded the Fort Knox historical site for its partnership. For $5, patrons get to visit both the Penobscot Narrows Observatory and Fort Knox.
http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=163789&zoneid=500
(Bangor Daily News/Eric Russell)
By Eric Russell
Staff Writer Bangor Daily News
PROSPECT, Maine - Last year, more than 72,000 people took the 50-second elevator ride to the observatory atop the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, which offers unmatched panoramic views of eastern Maine.
Those involved with managing one of the state’s newest tourist attractions think that’s just the beginning.
The observatory, which sits 420 feet above the Penobscot River, officially re-opened Thursday morning for its second year. Representatives of the Maine Department of Conservation, the Bureau of Parks and Lands, the Department of Transportation, the Friends of Fort Knox and others gathered early Thursday afternoon for a small ceremony that they hoped would help expand on a successful inaugural season.
"People have been asking me ‘Why are we doing this? Didn’t we already do this?" DOC Commissioner Patrick McGowan told a small crowd at the base of the observatory tower. "Well, the fact is, we’re going to do this every year because the more we bring attention to this attraction, the better it’s going to be for everyone."
The observation deck was incorporated into the $85 million Penobscot Narrows Bridge project, which was built to replace the 77-year-old Waldo-Hancock Bridge. The bridge opened in December 2006, but the observatory didn’t open until last May.
DOT Commissioner David Cole said the project represents a tremendous collaboration among many different groups who share the same vision.
"When we embarked on this, it looked good on paper, but the question was ‘Would people come?’ I think we’ve answered that," he said.
Aside from the link between the transportation and conservation departments, Cole also lauded the Fort Knox historical site for its partnership. For $5, patrons get to visit both the Penobscot Narrows Observatory and Fort Knox.
http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=163789&zoneid=500
(Bangor Daily News/Eric Russell)
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Plato (427-347 BC)
Plato (427-347 BC)
