Touring the forts of Maine
Fort William Henry - Pemaquid Beach
Forts of various vintages dot the coast of Maine. Not quite as ubiquitous as the lighthouses, there are still enough to make you realize Maine was on the front lines of possible water-based attack from Europe and Canada.
Ranging in age from Colonial times to WWII, the forts were built, used, abandoned, refitted, and abandoned again. Some are now privately owned, while others are part of a variety of state parks. You can see many of them via car, but some do require either kayak or boating excursion to reach.
Here are just a few that we have been to. Ask about them when you’re here and we can give you a map to find 10 of them within an easy drive! Many are open to walk through, others are in too rough shape for constant traffic. Some have faded so far into the earth, all that remains are the markers and a cannon.
Fort Popham, Popham Beach, Maine.
Fort Baldwin, Popham Beach, Maine.
Fort Edgecomb, Edgecomb, Maine.
Fort Gorges, Casco Bay, Maine.
Fort Knox, Prospect, Maine.
The forts of Maine are amazing works of engineering. Although many of them never saw ‘action’, they stood ready to guard the coast, the state of Maine, and the country from invasion. Check out the tower at Fort Baldwin that was used to scout the coast during WWII.
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