Forts are deeply rooted in Maine history. From Kittery to Eastport, outposts and fortifications sprouted for nearly two centuries along the coastline, on islands and at strategic points along its rivers. Built to protect and defend, few were ever fired upon. Today, nearly three dozen forts or fort sites continue to stand guard, capturing a bit of Maine's history in their granite walls and gun batteries. Many of them are in their original condition. Some stand as engineering marvels of their day. The state Bureau of Parks and Recreation manages nine forts. Other forts or fort sites are either run by local municipalities or privately owned.
For those who love to tour historic homes, the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities owns six sites in Maine. Most are open between June and October, where guides share the history and culture of past centuries. Right in Portland are several historic homes of note, including the Wadsworth-Longfellow House. Many of these have the added bonus of splendid summer gardens.
Fort McClarey (1846)
Kittery Point
Boasts a restored blockhouse as well as a picnic and recreation area.
The fort has been used for nearly 275 years to protect the approaches to the
Piscataqua River. Fortified during Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War
and Spanish-American War. Used as an observation post during both world wars.
Open Memorial Day through September 30. Fee charged.
439-2845 State web site
First Parish Meeting House (1759)
Owned by the Biddeford Historical Society. Boxed pews, cricket kneelers, late 19th-century organ and lighting.
3 Meeting House Road, Biddeford
283-4706 Web site
Hamilton House (1785)
40 Vaughan's Lane, South Berwick
384-2454
Owned by Historic New England, this grand home also has formal gardens. Web site
Old Berwick Historical Society, Counting House (c. 1830)
Greek Revival commercial structure contains collection of shipbuilders' tools, gundalow models, navigational instruments, and items of local nature.
Route 4, South Berwick
384-8041 or 384-5162 Web site
Old York Historical Society
Guided tours of the following historic buildings:
Elizabeth Perkins House (c. 1730), South Side Road; Emerson-Wilcox House (1742), Lindsay Road & York Street (Route 1A); George A. Marshall Store Building, Lindsay Road; the Hancock Wharf, which serves as a gallery for revolving exhibits; Jefferds Tavern, Lindsay Road, just off Route 1A, mid-18th century saltbox tavern; John Hancock Warehouse, Lindsay Road, 18th-century warehouse with exhibits on life and industry on the York River; Old Gaol Museum, Lindsay Road & York Street (Route 1A), built in 1719 as the King's prison for the Province of Maine; Old Schoolhouse (1745), Lindsay Road, just off Route 1A.
Lindsay Road, York
363-4974 Web site
Sarah Orne Jewett House (1774)
5 Portland Street, South Berwick
384-2454
A Historic New England home, it was once owned by the family of the well-known writer. Web site
Sayward-Wheeler House (1718)
9 Barrell Lane Extension, York Harbor
384-2454
Owned by Historic New England, this home is right on the waterfront. Web site
Tory Hill Meeting House (1822)
Routes 202 and 112, Buxton
929-8573
Fort Scammell on Portland's House Island dates from 1808
and was extensively rebuilt at the time of the Civil War. It is privately
owned but open to the public for fee which includes a boat ride. For more
information, call 799-8188.
The islands of Casco Bay also are home to a number of fortifications. Fort Gorges on Hog Island Ledge began in 1858, but was outdated by the end of the Civil War by the invention of the rifled cannon capable of destroying granite forts. City owned and free, it is accessible by private boat only.
Old Ledge School (1738) A pre-revolutionary war one-room schoolhouse that was reconstructed by the Yarmouth Historical Society in 1973.
West Main Street, Yarmouth
846-6259
Tate House Museum
1270 Westbrook Street, Portland
774-9781
Once the home of a mast agent, it is now open to the public; there are exquisite gardens in the summer months. Web site
Wadsworth-Longfellow House
489 Congress Street, Portland
774-1822
Maintained by the Maine Historical Society, the home was built by the famous
poet's grandfather. Beautiful summer gardens and holiday tours. Web site
Victoria Mansion (The Morse-Libby House) (1858)
109 Danforth Street, Portland
772-4841
Open for tours and special events, the Italian villa-styled home is especially beautiful during the holiday season. Web site
Castle Tucker (1807)
Owned by Historic New England, this house was built on a hill overlooking the Sheepscot River. It presents a vivid record of Wiscasset history. The interior reflects the varied interests of a Victorian family, including ship portraits, natural history specimens, and mementos of foreign travel.
Lee Street at High Street
882-7169
Chapman-Hall House (1754)
One of the oldest in the area, the home contains period furnishings and items.
Damariscotta
563-3176
Colonial Pemaquid (Fort William Henry, 1692). Bristol.
A replica of the 1692 fort that, when built, was the largest and strongest in America. Artifacts found in archeological digs of ancient Pemaquid on display in museum. Memorial Day through Labor Day. Fee.
677-2423 State web site Friends of Colonial Pemaquid web site
Eagle Island
Summer home of Admiral Robert E. Peary, the North Pole explorer. The island is equipped with a pier, which makes visitation possible throughout the summer.
677-2423 Web site
First Parish Church (1846)
Inspiration place for Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Death of Uncle Tom."
Maine & Bath Road, Brunswick
729-7331
Fort Edgecomb (1808). Edgecomb.
Octagon blockhouse and restored fortification built to protect Wiscasset, then the most important shipping center north of Boston. Memorial Day through Labor Day. Fee charged.
882-7777 State web site.
Fort Knox (1844). Prospect.
Constructed of granite from nearby Mt. Waldo, one of first granite forts in Maine. Designed along the Penobscot River to protect Bangor. Boasts two of five granite spiral staircases in country. Officers' quarters and parade grounds still intact. Only Maine fort with some of its original cannon emplaced. Open May 1 through October 30. Fee charged.
459-7719 State web site. Friends of Fort Knox web site
Fort Popham (1861), Phippsburg.
Semi-circular granite fort. Designed to protect Bath shipyards
and state capital further along the Kennebec River. The fort was garrisoned
during the Spanish American War and World War I. Open Memorial Day through
Sept. 30. Free.
389-1335 State web site
Nickels-Sortwell House (1807)
Corner of Main and Federal Streets
Route 1, Wiscasset
882-6218
Built by a wealthy ship owner and trader, the home is now owned by Historic New England. Web site
Old Walpole Meeting House (1772)
South Bristol Road, Route 129, South Bristol
563-5318
Old Alna Meeting House (1789)
18th-century meeting house. Original box pews and hand-hewn pillars supporting balcony. National Register of Historic Places.
Alna Historical Society, Route 218, Alna
586-6928
Old Head Tide Church (1838)
Off Route 194, Alna
586-5643
Skolfield-Whittier House (1858)
Home of a sea captain, the house contains items from his voyages to Europe and Asia. Owned by the Pejepscot Historical Society.
161 Park Row, Brunswick
729-6606 Web site
Thompson Ice House (1826) National Register of Historic Places.
Route 129, 12 miles south of Damariscotta
644-8551; in winter, 729-1956
William A. Farnsworth Homestead (1850's)
Greek Revival home with original Victorian furnishings. National Register of Historic Places.
21 Elm Street, Rockland
596-6457 Web site
Knight House Museum (1796)
1 1/2-story Cape Cod, oldest framehouse in downtown Auburn. Adjacent one-room shoe shop shows tools and methods used prior to 1835.
Great Falls Plaza, Auburn
783-0584
Maine State Building (1893), All Souls Chapel (1912)
Grounds of former Poland Spring Resort
Route 26, Poland Spring
998-4142 Web site
Marrett House (1789)
Route 25, Standish
642-3032
Once owned by the town parson, the home is now run by Historic New England. Web site
The McLaughlin Foundation
Serene 3.5-acre perennial garden and arboretum and 1840s farmstead on Route 26. The garden is maintained by a nonprofit organization and is open free May to October. Gift shop open all year, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday-Tuesday; tea room open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. June-August.
PO Box 16, 101 Main Street, South Paris 04281
743-8820 Web site
Narramissic/Historic Peabody-Fitch Farm
Federal period home of prominent settling family in unspoiled rural setting.
Ingalls Road, South Bridgton
647-2765 Web site
Old Church on the Hill (1830-31)
High Street, Buckfield
336-2191 (Union Church)
Burnham Tavern (1770)
Oldest building in Eastern Maine; connected to first naval battle in Revolutionary War.
Route 192, Machias Web site
Fort O'Brien State Historic Site (1775)
First naval battle of Revolutionary War fought off-shore in 1775.
Route 92, Machiasport
941-4014
Holt House (1815), Blue Hill Historical Society
Artifacts and other memorabilia relating to the history of Blue Hill. Federal period home.
Water Street, Blue Hill Web site
Jonathan Fisher Memorial (1814)
House built by Jonathan Fisher, the town's first settled minister.
Main Street, Route 15, Blue Hill
374-2161
Ruggles House (1818)
Federal style home with a flying staircase.
Columbia Falls.
483-4637 Web site
Colonel Black Mansion (1824-28)
The home sits on 300 acres; there are antiques, walking trails, gardens and events.
Route 172, Ellsworth
667-8671 Web site
Fort Halifax (1754). Winslow.
Oldest blockhouse in the U.S. Part of a fortification used as a way-station
for Col. Benedict Arnold's expedition through Maine to Quebec in 1775. Memorial
Day through Labor Day. Free. 585-2261. State web site
Old Fort Western
National Historic Landmark. Main house is the oldest surviving wooden fort building in New England (1754). Museum offices in the adjacent City Hall.
16 Cony Street, Augusta
626-2385 Web site
Fort Halifax (1754). Winslow.
Oldest blockhouse in the U.S. Part of a fortification used as a way-station
for Col. Benedict Arnold's expedition through Maine to Quebec in 1775. Memorial
Day through Labor Day. Free. 585-2261. State web site
Old Fort Western
National Historic Landmark. Main house is the oldest surviving wooden fort building in New England (1754). Museum offices in the adjacent City Hall.
16 Cony Street, Augusta
626-2385 Web site
Forts are deeply rooted in Maine history. From Kittery to Eastport, outposts and fortifications sprouted for nearly two centuries along the coastline, on islands and at strategic points along its rivers. Built to protect and defend, few were ever fired upon. Today, nearly three dozen forts or fort sites continue to stand guard, capturing a bit of Maine's history in their granite walls and gun batteries. Many of them are in their original condition. Some stand as engineering marvels of their day. The state Bureau of Parks and Recreation manages nine forts. Other forts or fort sites are either run by local municipalities or privately owned.
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