THE GREAT STEEL PIER
An Illustrated History of
the Old Orchard Ocean Pier
The Old Orchard Ocean Pier was an engineering marvel in its day. The remarkable wood and steel structure was once the longest of its kind in the world. It went up in 1898, and survived nearly 80 years against the often unkind whims of Maine weather. The words and pictures within the pages of this book reveal a fascinating tale. Find out how and why an oceangoing pier, built in the midst of an affluent, Victorian-era resort community, became an endearing landmard. Follow its emergence as a mecca of fun and entertainment that thrilled and delighted millions. Witness its ongoing struggle against--and ultimate demise at the expense of--destructive fires, howling, winds, and battering seas. Written by Peter Dow Bachelder. 1998 paperback, 136 pages.