Rockport Historic Kiln Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rockport Historic Kiln Area
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HABS photo of Shepard Kiln, 1960
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | On W side of mouth of Goose River at confluence with Rockport Harbor, Rockport, Maine |
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| Area | 70 acres (28 ha) |
| Built | 1733 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000090 |
| Added to NRHP | January 26, 1970 |
The Rockport Historic Kiln Area is a special place in Rockport, Maine. It's part of the Rockport Marine Park. This area is famous for its history of making lime. It has seven old lime kilns from the early 1800s. These kilns are important to the history of the whole country. Because of their importance, this area was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
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What are the Rockport Lime Kilns?
The old lime kilns in Rockport are found on the west side of Rockport Harbor. They are right near where the Goose River meets the harbor. This area is now part of the Rockport Marine Park. There are seven kilns in the park. Each kiln is made from local stones. Inside, they have bricks that were baked in a fire.
Why are these kilns special?
These kilns were used a lot during the 1800s. This was when the lime industry in the area was at its busiest. They weren't the very first kilns built, and they weren't the last. Older kilns were often torn down. Newer kilns were made of metal, which was later taken apart and reused. That's why these stone kilns are so important today. They show us how lime was made a long time ago.
The History of Lime Making in Rockport
Making lime in this area started a very long time ago. The first lime kiln was built in 1733 in what is now Thomaston.
How lime helped build America
After the American Revolutionary War, a famous general named Henry Knox helped make more lime. He sent barrels of lime from Camden all the way to Washington, D.C.. This lime was used to help build the Capitol Building.
Rockport's role in the lime trade
During the 1800s, lime from Knox County was sent everywhere. It traveled to cities all along the eastern coast of the United States. The lime business was also connected to other countries. People from this area were hired to build kilns in Canada. Also, a lot of wood was needed to fuel the kilns. This wood came from places like Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. This made Rockport one of the busiest ports in the country.
