Vacations Blog

Fort Knox, in Maine

Did you know that Maine has its very own Fort Knox? It does! They don’t keep any money in it, though. More’s the pity.

Maine’s Fort Knox is located in the town of Prospect, on the banks of the Penobscot River. The fort was established in 1844 to combat possible border disputes with British Canada, after the area was invaded and occupied by British forces during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Today it is one of the best preserved and maintained fortification in New England.

The interior of Fort Knox in Maine.

Visitors are welcome to explore the interior and exterior of the fort at their leisure, from May 1st through October 31st. The grounds themselves are open year-round for visitors. The recently constructed Penobscot Narrows Tower Observatory, located on the bridge spanning the Penobscot Narrows section of the river, towers 420 feet above sea level, offering stunning aerial views of the fort and surrounding area.

Admission fees for Fort Knox including the Tower Observatory are $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for Children ages 5-11, and children under five are free. The fort’s address is 711 Fort Knox Road, Prospect, Maine. Take Route 1 to Route 174 from the surrounding areas.

Photo Credits (in order of appearance):
- “Fort Knox ramparts” by Calliope on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Fort Knox hallways” by Calliope on Flickr Creative Commons.