For centuries in pre-historic times, the dramatic falls of the Saco River near where it now crosses Main Street attracted summer visits from the Native people for seasonal fishing and hunting. By the early 17th century, the safe harbor and abundant natural resources attracted European visitors. Civic life took on new ceremony with the building of a handsome Town Hall in 1855. The pressures of growth and increasing needs for services led the citizens of Saco to incorporate as a city in 1867. In the second half of the 19th century, an influx of immigrants from Europe and Quebec added cultural diversity to the city's other assets. The rich history of Saco has left a priceless legacy in the beauty and variety of the city's buildings.