A Tichnor Brothers postcard of The Penobscot River, near Bangor.

The Penobscot River is 109 miles long. It was navigated by European explorers as early as 1524. Significant battles were fought there during the American Revolution, the War of 1812 and the Aroostook War. During the 19th century it became a hub of the lumber trade. By the 20th century it had transitioned from logging to a center for mills manufacturing paper making and textiles. With the arrival of the 21st century the Penobscot had again reinvented itself, as a tourist and recreation destination for angling, rafting and other outdoor pursuits.

The Tichnor Brothers printing company published this type of postcard circa 1938 as part of their Maine series. These, and other postcards, by the Tichnor Brothers Company are officially known as the Tichnor Gloss Series because the photographs were notoriously retouched on such a level that does not allow the postcards to be classified as photographs or paintings. The caption reads, "Beautiful Penobscot River -- The Narrows, Bangor, Maine."