Fort Western facts for kids
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Fort Western
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Fort Western in 1936
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bowman Street, Augusta, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1754 |
| Architect | Gershom Flagg |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000009 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | November 7, 1973 |
Fort Western is a very old fort in Augusta, Maine, USA. It was once a British outpost during colonial times. The fort was built in 1754 during the French and Indian War. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark and a local historic site. The city of Augusta owns and cares for it.
Fort Western is special because it is the oldest wooden fort still standing in America. Its main building is the only original part left. This building was fixed up in 1920 by William H. and Guy P. Gannett. They made it look like it did when it was a trading post. The Gannetts then gave the building back to Augusta. It opened as a museum on July 4, 1922.
Contents
Fort Western: A Look Back in Time
Building the Fort: French and Indian War
A land company from Boston built Fort Western in 1754. They wanted it to be a strong trading post. The fort also helped Britain gain power in North America. It encouraged people to settle in the area.
The fort had a log fence called a palisade. It also had strong blockhouses. These protected a store and a warehouse. The fort was never directly attacked by enemies. It stood on a high spot, watching over the Kennebec River for more than a mile.
The fort had two blockhouses, each 24 feet square. There were also watch-boxes, 12 feet square, at opposite corners. Inside, there was a main house that was 100 feet long and 32 feet wide. After the war, James Howard, the last commander, bought the fort. He continued to run it as a trading post.
Fort Western During the American Revolution
After 1769, Fort Western started to fall apart. But it became important again in 1775. This was during the American Revolution. Benedict Arnold and his troops stopped at Fort Western. They were on their way to Quebec to fight.
Arnold, Daniel Morgan, Roger Enos, and Aaron Burr stayed in the fort's garrison. Their soldiers camped outside. Fort Western was very important for Arnold's group. They gathered supplies, rested, and fixed their boats. These flat-bottom boats were called bateaux. They used them on the Kennebec River.
The supplies did not last long, and after two weeks, they had to eat half rations. Fort Western was the starting point for their difficult march through the wilderness to Quebec.
Fort Western Today: A Living Museum
The main building of Fort Western eventually left the Howard family's hands. It was turned into a house with many apartments. But in 1919, descendants of the Howard family bought it back. They restored it the next year. This restoration included building two new blockhouses and a stockade. The stockade was rebuilt again in 1960.
Today, the main building is a great example of an 18th-century trading post. It has not changed much over time. The fort and store are now a museum. They are open to visitors during the summer months. It is America's oldest wooden garrison from the French and Indian War era.
Fort Western was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. It was named a National Historic Landmark in 1973. The museum is open from Memorial Day weekend until Columbus Day. You can take guided tours and enjoy special events like 4th of July celebrations. The museum also offers many educational programs. Guides dressed in old-fashioned clothes lead these tours and lessons. They help you imagine what life was like in colonial times.
See also
