Fort Knox

On Saturday we spent a glorious early summer day touring Fort Knox.

The fort, located on the Penobscot River in Bucksport, was finished in 1869.  When started 25 years before, the threat of British maritime raids on nearby Castine and Bangor was real, and Fort Knox was constructed to protect the area.

The weapon of choice at the Fort was cannon, and space was made for 175 of these monstrous metal beasts.  When work began on the Fort most naval ships were still crafted from wood, and two "hot shot" furnaces are located on site to heat cannonballs so hot that they would set ships on fire when they hit.

The Fort is made almost primarily from brick and granite that was quarried five miles upriver and shipped to the building site.  Conditions in the Fort would have been damp and cold.  Barracks had one window at the end of each room.  A natural stone cistern was built to hold water, and hot bread baked on-site was a staple.

The Fort was very interesting, and we had a great time exploring.