Fort Western
Encyclopedia
Fort Western was a colonial outpost at the head of navigation on the Kennebec River
at modern Augusta, Maine
, United States
.
It was built in 1754 by a Boston
land company (the Kennebec Proprietors) to promote settlement in the area. The fort was a log palisade
with blockhouse
s which protected a store and warehouse. It was never directly attacked. From a high elevation a large rectangular enclosure commanded the river for more than a mile. Blockhouses 24 feet square and watch-boxes 12 feet square guarded opposite corners, and within stood a two-story main house 100 feet by 32
feet.
's expedition to Quebec stopped here long enough to build bateaux. Arnold, Daniel Morgan
, Roger Enos, and Aaron Burr
stayed as guests in the garrison, while their force camped outside. Fort Western was the starting point for their march through the wilderness.
and is owned by the city of Augusta. The fort and store are maintained as a museum, and are open to the public during the summer months.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1973.
Kennebec River
The Kennebec River is a river that is entirely within the U.S. state of Maine. It rises in Moosehead Lake in west-central Maine. The East and West Outlets join at Indian Pond and the river then flows southward...
at modern Augusta, Maine
Augusta, Maine
Augusta is the capital of the US state of Maine, county seat of Kennebec County, and center of population for Maine. The city's population was 19,136 at the 2010 census, making it the third-smallest state capital after Montpelier, Vermont and Pierre, South Dakota...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
It was built in 1754 by a Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
land company (the Kennebec Proprietors) to promote settlement in the area. The fort was a log palisade
Palisade
A palisade is a steel or wooden fence or wall of variable height, usually used as a defensive structure.- Typical construction :Typical construction consisted of small or mid sized tree trunks aligned vertically, with no spacing in between. The trunks were sharpened or pointed at the top, and were...
with blockhouse
Blockhouse
In military science, a blockhouse is a small, isolated fort in the form of a single building. It serves as a defensive strong point against any enemy that does not possess siege equipment or, in modern times, artillery...
s which protected a store and warehouse. It was never directly attacked. From a high elevation a large rectangular enclosure commanded the river for more than a mile. Blockhouses 24 feet square and watch-boxes 12 feet square guarded opposite corners, and within stood a two-story main house 100 feet by 32
feet.
American Revolution
After 1769 Fort Western fell into decay. In 1775, Benedict ArnoldBenedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
's expedition to Quebec stopped here long enough to build bateaux. Arnold, Daniel Morgan
Daniel Morgan
Daniel Morgan was an American pioneer, soldier, and United States Representative from Virginia. One of the most gifted battlefield tacticians of the American Revolutionary War, he later commanded troops during the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion.-Early years:Most authorities believe that...
, Roger Enos, and Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
stayed as guests in the garrison, while their force camped outside. Fort Western was the starting point for their march through the wilderness.
Old Fort Western
In 1919 the buildings were restored and opened to the public. Today it is the oldest log fort in the United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
and is owned by the city of Augusta. The fort and store are maintained as a museum, and are open to the public during the summer months.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1973.