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Bucksport in Hancock County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)
 

River of Life

 
 
River of Life Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, October 10, 2021
1. River of Life Marker
Inscription.
"Panawap'skewtekw,” meaning "River of rocks spreading out” is the original, indigenous name for the Penobscot River. According to an ancient Penobscot legend, the river was created when Guards-Water, a giant frog monster who had been hoarding all the water, was confronted and crushed by the Penobscots' cultural hero, Gluskape Gluskape uprooted a giant birch tree, slammed it down with all his force on the enormous frog, crushing it and releasing all the hoarded water. The tree left an indent in the landscape that filled with the water that flowed from Guards-Water and the Penobscot River was created. Since its creation, Panawap'skewtekw has been the home of the Penobscot Nation.

Visit penobscotnation.org to learn more
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & ArchaeologyIndigenous Peoples and CommunitiesWaterways & Vessels.
 
Location. 44° 34.408′ N, 68° 47.963′ W. Marker is in Bucksport, Maine, in Hancock County. It can be reached from Bucksport Waterfront Walkway 0.1 miles east of Steamboat Wharf Lane, on the right when
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traveling east. The marker stands at the northern end of the Bucksport Waterfront Walkway Near the intersection of Main and First Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 124 Main St, Bucksport ME 04416, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Downeast Maine and on Penobscot Bay. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Great North Woods, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France and also Acadia.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Looking to the Future (here, next to this marker); Of Ships and Men (here, next to this marker); Times of War (here, next to this marker); Rich in Heritage (here, next to this marker); 75 Years of Quality Paper Making (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mill (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bucksport Ferry Landing (about 500 feet away); Bucksport’s
River of Life Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Steve Stoessel, October 10, 2021
2. River of Life Marker
Tanneries (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bucksport.
 
More about this marker. The marker is the fourth of set of five
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2021, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. This page has been viewed 266 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on October 15, 2021, by Steve Stoessel of Niskayuna, New York. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
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Aug. 27, 2026