Interpretive Signage – Local Heritage Series

As part of a larger local wayfinding project, BETA was brought on board by the City of Gardiner, Maine and the Savings Bank of Maine Charitable Foundation to develop a series of 13 interpretive signage panels sited in key locations throughout the City. The BETA team worked with the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, as well as City historians and librarians, on this project. The signs touched on the following themes:

Historical

Several panels featured on downtown Water Street include information about localities on the National Register of Historic Places, along with facts about architecture, the unique local industry, and changes in the City over time. Another panel located in the Waterfront Park informs visitors about the unique bridges in the area spanning the Kennebec River.

Cultural

Panels were created to describe the influential Americans who lived and worked in the historic buildings. Notable people included founders of the City, poets, musicians, authors, and civic leaders. Historians provided photos, facts, and even excerpts of old newspaper articles to use on the panels.

Environmental

Along the river, visitors can learn about the ecosystem of connected water bodies in the area, as well as the native fish, bird, and plant species that inhabit them. These panels use a combination of maps, photos, and other graphics to explain the information.

BETA also met with members of a local signage committee composed of Gardiner locals and incorporated their feedback throughout this project’s development.