Maine's second largest city is situated on the banks of the Androscoggin River, midway between the state's spectacular coastline and lush mountains, and alongside the Maine Turnpike. There is a legend that says Lewiston got its town name from Lewiston Falls which in turn was named after a drunken Indian named Lewis who fell in the water and drowned.
Lewiston was first settled in 1770 by Paul Hildreth - twenty five years later it was incorporated as a town. Even from its earliest days, Lewiston offered a thriving industrial economy that was driven by the energy supplied by the Androscoggin River. Each year, Lewiston hosts several festivals, including the Liberty Festival, the Great Falls Balloon Festival and Festival FrancoFun.
Lewiston houses four different colleges and universities, including Bates, Andover College and the University of Southern Maine. This Maine city is also home to the Lewiston Maineiacs, the only American team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Famous residents and natives of Lewiston have included; Tom Caron, former Red Sox manager; Patrick Dempsey, star of television show 'Grey's Anatomy'; Thomas A. Desjardin, Civil War historian; Clarence White, member of rock band 'The Byrds'; and Bernard Lown, Nobel Peace Prize winner and inventor of the defibrillator.
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