Old Fort Western in beautiful Augusta, Maine has occupied the eastern bank of the Kennebec River since 1754 and proved to be a crucial outpost in the American wilderness for decades. From ancient trade with Native peoples to serving as a critical military location and rendezvous point, Old Fort Western has survived over 250 years and continues to amaze visitors and locals alike!
History
What we now know as Old Fort Western was built in 1754 by the Kennebec Proprietors, a land company based out of Boston, Massachusetts. The fort was built upon the original location of a Pilgrim trading house that originated in 1628. The establishment of a fort along the banks of the Kennebec River was meant to expand British control and influence in the region (especially in the face of Canadian French influence amongst the Abenaki people). Another important role of Fort Western was to act as a supply depot/storehouse for Fort Halifax, positioned 17 miles north up the Kennebec River.
Fort Western was garrisoned by approximately 15 men from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, under the command of Captain James Howard. Because the fort was located at the end of navigational waters along the Kennebec River (meaning most ships could only traverse the river up to that point), the fort was crucial in receiving supplies from Boston and transferring them up river (on flat-bottomed boats) to Fort Halifax. Other daily duties included ship and boat repair, the gathering of firewood, and generally, working together to survive in the harsh wilderness. Fort Western did not play a direct role in the French and Indian War and would remain intact throughout the late 1750s and 1760s. After 1767, soldiers were no longer stationed at Fort Western; however, it continued as a civilian trading post and private residence managed by the Howard family.
In the spring of 1775 (following the fighting at Lexington and Concord), Connecticut Colonel Benedict Arnold worked to convince General George Washington and the Continental Congress that the invasion of British Canada was crucial to the American war effort. If Canada (specifically the poorly-manned British garrisons at Montreal and Quebec) could be quickly captured, then it would take away a “staging point” for British troops and possibly convince Canada to join the revolutionary movement. Colonel Arnold was authorized for the expedition and he set out with ~1,100 men from Cambridge, Massachusetts on September 11, 1775. After marching to Newburyport, the expedition sailed on September 19th to the mouth of the Kennebec River and began their journey northward towards Fort Western (in modern-day Augusta, Maine).
On September 23, 1775, Colonel Arnold and most of his men reached Fort Western on the eastern bank of the Kennebec River. While here, they would repair their bateaux (flat-bottom river boats), rest, and re-supply before continuing north. Colonel Arnold and his officers stayed in the Fort’s main house, which is the original building that still remains today. Unfortunately, Colonel Arnold’s expedition would ultimately not find the success they had hoped for and after a desperate and deadly march through the wilderness to Quebec, they were unable to capture the city.
Throughout the 1800s, Fort Western served in various capacities, but primarily as a private residence and over time, fell into disrepair. Thankfully, Fort Western avoided destruction and in 1920, the main building was restored and two blockhouses and a stockade were built. On July 4, 1922, the restored fort was presented to the city of Augusta. In 1969, the fort was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and it was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Today, Old Fort Western serves as a public museum and provides an outstanding educational experience.
Interesting Facts
- Old Fort Western is the oldest wooden fortification still standing in the United States
- The original 1628 Pilgrim trading post (where Old Fort Western now stands) was called Cushnoc and they traded with the Abenaki people in the area
- Among Colonel Benedict Arnold’s officers were Daniel Morgan, Aaron Burr (future Vice President and the man who would kill Alexander Hamilton in a duel), and Henry Dearborn
Our Visit & Recommendations
We visited Old Fort Western (16 Cony St, Augusta, ME 04330) on a stunning autumn day during a trip in the area. Located along the eastern bank of the Kennebec River in Augusta, Maine, the historic fort and grounds are situated amidst one of the most picturesque scenes in all of New England. Although the fort was once threatened with demolition, it was thankfully saved, restored, and transformed into a museum.
There is ample free parking on site and tickets can be purchased in the gift shop at Old Fort Western. Admission details and rates can be obtained from the website: https://www.augustamaine.gov/old_fort_western/index.php.
The tour of Old Fort Western is led by a fun and knowledgeable guide who wears period clothing, which adds to the experience. It begins within the stockade of the fort and they discuss the various reconstructed structures and buildings within the fortification. Reconstructed structures at Old Fort Western include the stockade (the fencing around the fort), an underground magazine, and two blockhouses. The only original structure of Fort Western is the main building, which was constructed in 1754 and is the oldest wooden fortification still standing in the United States.
The tour continues into one of the iconic blockhouses, which acted as additional storage (on the bottom floor) and primarily, as a fortified building to protect the soldiers during an attack and from where cannon could be fired at vessels coming up the Kennebec River. Today, the blockhouse is furnished with numerous cannon, muskets, and ammunition to show how it would have looked when it operated as an active military outpost. The guides do an awesome job explaining all of the weaponry, how it worked, and how the blockhouse would have been manned and operated, especially in the case of attack (Old Fort Western was never directly attacked during its existence).
Take a moment to look out the windows of the blockhouse and you will quickly realize that it has a commanding view of the river. It is easy to see how cannon fire could be very effective against any vessel attempting to approach the fort!
Next, the tour proceeds back outside and into the original 1754 fort- a massive and imposing building. Since Fort Western served as a store, private residence, and tenement housing after 1767, numerous interior rooms within the main fort have been converted to reflect those purposes. One of the main rooms is furnished as a trading post, complete with tools (such as shovels, axes, and mallets), pottery, linens, barrels of hand-hammered nails, flour, grains, rice, molasses, and of course, rum. There are even copies of the original store ledger, which you are able to flip through.
Other furnished rooms include an officer’s barracks/room (how it would have looked during the fort’s use as a military outpost in the 1750s and 1760s), bedrooms, and a formal dining room.
Guided tours of Old Fort Western provide an educational and informative experience that is good for all ages. Before leaving, be sure to check out the gift shop, which offers a variety of unique items and books. We also recommend walking the grounds to get a better sense of the size and positioning of Old Fort Western. In fact, there is a walking path near the Kennebec River that will take you to a few monuments that are dedicated to the Pilgrim’s 1628 Cushnoc Trading Post (which was originally built on that site) and to Benedict Arnold’s Quebec Expedition, which utilized Fort Western as a rallying point before continuing north.
If you continue down this path, it will take you past the fort, across a quaint little bridge, and to the Augusta Waterfront Park (perfect if you have children). Once at the park, you can easily access the eastern shore of the Kennebec River, which offers a beautiful view of the historic waterway and downtown Augusta.
Old Fort Western is a well-preserved historic gem and an absolute must-see if you are ever in the area. Augusta is a beautiful city with welcoming and friendly people, so we recommend making a day of it. Other things to do in the area include shopping in the historic district, the Children’s Discovery Museum, and the Main State Museum. If you are looking for a delicious laid-back lunch and some drinks, be sure to hit up the Cushnoc Brewing Company, located in historic downtown Augusta directly across the Kennebec River from Old Fort Western. They offer wood-fired pizza, a variety of beers, and unbeatable views of the river.
Source: https://www.augustamaine.gov/old_fort_western/fort_information/fort_history.php