Inside the massive granite walls of Fort Knox is a great place to spend a hot summer afternoon!
When you drive "downeast" from Boston, there are two ways to go. One you can take 95 directly to Bangor and take a right on Rt 1A to Ellsworth, or you can take the more scenic route coastal route by getting off 95 in Augusta and taking RT3 to RT1.
Most people take 95 to Bangor even though its more miles out of fear of getting behind a big, slow RV on RT1. The coastal route is more direct but the speed limits on RT3 and RT1 stay around 50 miles an hours. BUT...if you take the Bangor route you miss one of the coolest man-made attractions in the whole state of Maine!
History of the Fort
During the American Revolution and again during the War of 1812, British naval forces controlled the lower stretch of the Penobscot River. Fort Knox was built during the mid-19th century to thwart a third British invasion that never came. However, the story of how and why the Fort was built is a compelling tale of Maine’s Golden Age as the Lumber Capital of the World.
At one point Bangor, just up the Penobscot River, was the lumber capital of the world and lumber of course was an extremely important commodity. A commodity worthy of protection. Constructed between 1844 and 1869, the fort was strategically located on the narrows of the Penobscot River. The fort also includes two Rodman cannons.
Even though the site was used by the state for all kinds of none historically preserving things over the years - a school, a department of transportation - the current condition of the fort is extremely good due to a lot of hard work by the Friends of Fort Knox.
What's left is an extremely well preserved historic fort, features stunning military architecture and master granite craftsmanship including some stunning spiral staircases made out of granite block.
A Visit To the Fort
A visit to the park starts off with a visit to the bathroom facilities (you don't want to avoid making the hike back once inside the fort) and a visit to the small museum and tiny gift shop maintained by the Friends of Fort Knox. After learning about the history of the fort and grabbing a map of the area, its time to explore!
Bring some bottled water, a hat and a good pair of shoes. Prepare to walk and explore! Unlike most historic site you are used to with all of the roped off areas and museum guards telling you not to touch anything, Fort Knox is extremely accessible. Bring a flashlight because you can even explore dark passageways and imagine being the soldier in charge of bring forth the powder kegs.
You can see the parade grounds, the food storage areas, the cannon mounts, the sleeping quarters, the powder rooms - everything all on the banks of the Penobscot River and its pretty view of Bucksport.
Its a great place for a picnic and a picnic area is available.
Although Fort Knox is Maine's largest historic fort and Maine’s most-visited state historic site, but you rarely find a crowd there and its such a big park you have a lot of space to yourself.
Admission Fees: $3.00 for Adults, $1.00 for Children ages 5 - 11, Children under 5 and Seniors over 65 are free!
Fort Knox is open to the public daily from May 1 - November 1. Guided tours are available on weekends. Group tours can be arranged by calling (207)469-6553
or writing to:
Fort Knox State Historic Site
711 Fort Knox Road
Prospect, Maine 04981
Other events at the Fort include an annual Easter Egg hunt, Go Fly a Kite Day, Blacksmith Demonstrations, Paranormal/Psychic Faire (complete with ghost hunting), Scottish Tattoo, Revolutionary War encampments, Civil War Cannon Firing, Medieval Tournaments, and the famous Fright Nite at the Fort at Halloween time.
Other Sites In The Area
Fort Knox state historic park is situated in the shadows of the new cable stay bridge which is replacing the aging Waldo-Hancock Bridge, Maine's first long-span suspension bridge. When the new bridge is completed it will include an elevator to the top and a viewing platform. It will be quite a view!
Also after visiting the Fort, head over the bridge to Bucksport, Maine as you continue your journey to Acadia National Park(I'll assume that is your final destination).
Right in the middle of town is a graveyard commemorating the town's seventeenth-century founder Colonel Jonathan Buck. Now here is the mystery to be witnessed - directly under the name "BUCK" is a stain on the stone in the shape of a leg and foot. The stain can not be removed according to local lore. It is part of a curse put there by an innocent women that Colonel Buck sentenced to death. According to the legend, the women's last words were "I'm innocent and you know it and I'll dance on your grave".
The stain appeared across the stone after Buck's death and no one has ever been able to remove it. whoooooooooo!
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