Maine’s Coastal Route 1 meanders past quaint towns, sleepy seaside fishing villages and more antique shops and lobster shacks than you ever imagined. As we left the postcard perfect town of Camden for the rugged beauty of Acadia National Park our innkeepers gave us advice on some interesting sites along the way. With typical New England modesty and reserve we were directed to go to “that cute little blanket shop”; this happened to be Swan Island Blankets, whose handmade items are given to visiting dignitaries by none other the The White House. No big deal.
“Oh, there’s also a nice bridge along the way. There are some good views from the top.”
That “nice bridge” turned out to be the Penobscot Narrows Bridge which at 420 feet high is the tallest public bridge-observatory in the world. Built in 2007 the bridge features plenty of granite in a nod to the local quarries throughout Maine. The bridge’s towers may look a bit familiar to you as well. The Washington Monument was built from Maine granite and served as a inspiration in the design of the bridge. Even with the dreary overcast weather the 360 degree views from the observation deck were spectacular. To the east you’ll see the Penobscot River as it meets the Penobscot Bay as well as a few(of the many) islands that dot Maine’s mid-coast region. To the north you’ll spot the crown of Acadia National Park, Cadillac Mountain.
As my gaze shifted west I spotted something I didn’t expect to see- a fort.
A military fort. A historic one at that.
I was intrigued so I descended the 42 stories on the fastest elevator in all of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont (as the elevator operator will proudly tell you) to go have a look.
Fort Knox ( No, not the one with all of the gold. That’s in Kentucky) is one of the best preserved fortifications on the East Coast. Looking more like something I’d expect to see in Ireland or Scotland, this was the first and largest granite fort to be built in Maine. This timber and granite rich area of Maine (which at the time was still part of Massachusetts) was a prime target for British invasions during the American Revolution and the War of 1812. By 1825 the northern border between Maine and British Canada was still hotly contested and plans for a military installation to protect the Penobscot River were made. While the fort was manned both during The Civil War and Spanish-American War it never saw any military action.
Guided educational tours of the fort are available but we opted to explore the fort on our own. Visitors are able to access many of the interior areas as well as the ramparts. Function was definitely valued over comfort here, the thick granite walls did little to make Maine’s cold, damp winters more comfortable. In fact, most of the soldiers stationed at Fort Knox chose to live in tents behind the granite structure near what today is the visitor’s center. Wandering around the forts stone enclosures brought me back to my travels through Europe. Whether it was the walled city of Rhodes, Salzburg’s monolithic fortress or the relative newcomer here at Fort Knox it was evident that the technology used to keep people out changed very little for over 1000 years.
The cannons at Fort Knox were just as impressive as the rest of the site. The 15 inch Rodman canons weighed over 50,000 pounds each and required 12 men to maneuver around. The cannonballs for this behemoth were monsters themselves weighing in at 450 pounds each and used over 100 pounds of gunpowder to shoot. This was enough firepower to propel one of these giants over 5500 yards!
I have to admit that I had heard of neither of these attractions prior to my visit. The ability to be completely surprised, especially somewhere you think you know, is one of my favorite aspects of travel. I’m sure you all have a story of something surprising and unexpected you have encountered during your travels. I’d love it if you shared your stories with me in the comments!
Good to Know
Website
http://fortknox.maineguide.com/index.html
Visitors
Both Fort Knox and The Observatory Tower are open to visitors for May 1- October 31. Be sure to check the website for hours and rates.
Nate says
Good job on the photos, it looks as though you took a helicopter ride to get this amazing view
Brianna says
Thanks Nate! No helicopter ride this time, just a quick elevator ride 40 stories up.
Natasha Amar says
Great photos! I have to agree when you say that the ability to be surprised is one of the best aspects of travel. I think that’s what makes it such a humbling experience; we don’t know everything and we have not seen it all. 🙂
Brianna says
That is something that is reinforced every single time I travel.
Axelle says
Fascinating story and amazing pictures! Keep up the good work 🙂
Brianna says
Thanks Axelle, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Heather Cole says
Great ideas in what I think it a rather overlooked ‘corner’ of the states! My cousin has just moved there so I’ve been reading a lot about it, think I’d feel right at home when I (hopefully) visit one day.
Brianna says
I definitely recommend a stop in Maine, there is so much more than lobster there.
Allison @ A Foodie in Europe says
Great photos! That bridge seems a little too high for me, but the views are amazing. I lived in Monmouth, Maine for a summer when I worked at the theater there. I wish I knew about that fort. It would have been a nice place to spend the day I think. Definitely makes me think back to some of the places I visited in Ireland! Hard to believe from your pictures that it is in the US.
Brianna says
I was certainly surprised to find this in an otherwise unassuming part of Maine.
Els says
What an impressive bridge! And great views!!
Brianna says
I was really surprised to find it!
Elena says
Thanks for the info Brianna! I am a civil engineer myself and the only thing I still like about Civil engineering is bridges so it was very interesting for me to read your post 🙂
Brianna says
I never would have guessed that Elena! I have a bit of an engineering background myself and I think it gives me a different perspective on architecture
Robert says
Maine continues to surprise me with its wonders.
Anne Klien says
What a great view from the bridge., most of the times a random spot or view always adds to a cool experience 🙂
Brianna says
This was just a totally unexpected site during my road trip
christine says
I’ve never been to Maine and it’s not far from me. I gotta go!
Brianna says
Yes you do!
Jess says
Ha, I love New England understatement!
I never knew about either of those places either – but I’m looking forward to visiting Maine again in a few weeks, so I’ll definitely check them out.
Brianna says
I bet the leaves will be beautiful, have fun!
Lyn - A Hole in my Shoe says
Great story, I love to the surprise element in travel. I have never been to Maines, thanks for the insight.
Brianna says
It’s really a hidden gem in the US, I hope you get a chance to visit.
Samantha says
Holy crap those cannons are huge! I’ve toured one military base before but it was years ago, it was interesting but at the same time because I was young when I went, I didn’t quite understand the need for all these massive weapons. I knew there had to be more to Maine than good lobster so I’m glad to be proving correct with your Maine articles 😀
Brianna says
Maine really surprised me, though their lobster alone is worth going for.
Dave Cole says
Beautiful shots, Brianna! I really like how they used granite – makes it feel much more attached to the local economy and heritage. I’ve not visited this on my travels in Maine, but your blog has provided me with quite a bit for my next trip (especially that food tour!).
Brianna says
Thanks Dave, I was was quite surprised to find these sites myself. I’m sure its obvious how much I enjoyed Maine’s character.
Cory Lee says
Maine looks beautiful! I’ve never really considered visiting it until now, so thanks for that! 🙂
Brianna says
I hope you do visit, it really has a character all its own
Michele {Malaysian Meanders} says
Our stop at Fort Knox and Penobscot Narrows Bridge was planned as a way to break up the drive from Portland to Acadia National Park. I never thought about the fort being so similar to European forts and castles, but now that you mention it, I can definitely see the resemblance. Going up to the observatory was fun in that usually I’m in an urban area if we’re in a building that high up, but with Penobscot, we were surrounded by nature instead of skyscrapers.
Brianna says
It was definitely a surprise for us and I the view from the top of the observatory was spectacular.
Tam Gamble says
Great photos. Will definitely have to add this to our list of places to visit for when we finally plan a trip to the States. 😀
Brianna says
It’s a great addition if you plan to visit Boston
Adrian of Adrian's Travel Tales says
What a fun find, I just LOVE it when I get surprised by new or unknown adventures. The bridge is just beautiful, I love the cables and the shot that you have from the ground looking up is absolutely beautiful. I thoroughly enjoy going to only military installations, we have a few on the coast of Washington that look similar to Ft. Knox. All in all, I love your post. I usually don’t do a lot of research when I’m visiting a place, I just see what the locals recommend so I’m continually surprised by what I find.
Brianna says
I on the other hand love researching travel almost as much as the trip itself so it really is a bonus for me when I stumble upon something new.
Hannah says
Gorgeous views from the bridge and Fort Knox looks like an awesome place to explore!
Brianna says
It was a fun little pit stop.
Carmen (CarmensTravelTips) says
The views are spectacular from the top of the bridge. I’ve never been to Fort Knox but will have to make a point of going since I read your post.
Brianna says
It was a fun and unexpected stop for me, I highly recommend it!
Lunaguava says
Love the dramatic shots of the bridge! And yes, the world is full of surprises – even in our own backyard 🙂 The fort looks really cool, but so young! As a native of Southern Europe, I’m used to bumping into historical buildings from the 14th century or even from Roman times… Sometimes History gives us a funny perspective of things. Lovely post, kudos!
Brianna says
History does give us a funny perspective. It blows my mind that I can go to Prague and stay in a hotel that was originally built in the 15th century.
Harvey (H-Bomb's Worldwide Karaoke) says
I’m a big fan of bridges and of views from high places, so I really enjoyed the bridge part of the post. Great photos! As for the Fort Knox part, I never knew there was more than one fort by that name, that’s really cool! I hate those spiral staircases though; they scare me, due to my fear of heights. 🙂 (I like high places with views, but I often don’t like ascending up to them)
Brianna says
That’s a lot like my love of climbing things which is in contrast to my severe dislike of going down.
Karen Warren says
I agree that finding the unexpected is one of the great pleasures of travelling. And that castle looks well worth exploring.
Brianna says
Its like the old adage “The more I learn, the more I don’t know”.
Veronika says
Are there walking lanes on the bridge..? Btw it looks like if you took the photos from a drone;)
Beautiful images, I love both the bridge and the fort..!
Brianna says
You know, I’m not sure if there are walking lanes. I had a lot of fun taking pictures from the observation deck 🙂
Tracie Howe says
How cool that you can go to the top! What a great vantage point to spot new places to visit.
Brianna says
I think the views were my favorite part 🙂
Christa says
Hi it’s Christa, host of the Sunday Traveler, I just wanted to pop in and say thanks for joining in on the fun! Whenever I travel it is always fun to expect the unexpected. What a perfect hidden gem on your journey, Ft Knox looks like a fun location to visit full of history.
Brianna says
Who knows, maybe its haunted ? 😉
Revati Victor says
That “nice” bridge is gorgeous. And OMG, so is Fort Knox. I’ve heard about it since I was a kid, we use it in the phrase “security like Fort Knox” here in India, but I’d never seen it till now! Thanks for the pics!
jen says
Beautiful bridge! I feel queasy just looking at it.
Brianna says
It’s not so bad since you’re inside.
Lily Lau says
I know what you mean with the fact of being surprised! When we’re warned of how beautiful a place will be before we visit it, our expectations are too high and then we get disappointed.
Brianna says
As much as I like to think I know I love finding out that’s not the case
Andi says
I lived in the “other” Fort Know and it was quite beautiful. This fort looks like a fun place to spend the day exploring.
Brianna says
It was a fun place for an afternoon pit stop, I love finding little gems like this.
Elaine says
Fort Knox gave me a giggle as we have a saying about it but it looks fab!
Brianna says
Dare I ask what that saying is?
Stacey Veikalas says
Very cool place – this is one that I really need to take my kids too they would really love it! Your photos are great and lots of info – I will save it for when I take the kids they would love to explore this old fort!! Thank you for sharing!
Brianna says
Glad you like it, this would be a great place for kids to explore!
SJ @ Chasing the Donkey says
Such a fascinating history, and your photos really make it POP!
Brianna says
Thanks SJ, it was a fun little place to explore for a few hours
Steven Moore says
Great photos and scary high.
Nice site…I’ll be back.
Cheers.
Brianna says
Thanks Steven, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Katie @ Domestiphobia says
Okay those pictures from the top of the bridge with the perspective lines heading down make my stomach do flips — I don’t know if I could climb it! And I’m ashamed to admit, but I had NO idea we (as in the U.S.) had a fort that looked so old-school European. How cool!
Brianna says
I had no idea that it existed either. It was such a cool site, why aren’t people flocking here?
Tamara @ We3Travel says
I did know about Fort Knox but not that you could go to the top of the bridge so I will have to check that out next time we are up in that area. Of course, my husband, who is scared of heights, will probably stay happily on the ground.
Brianna says
It’s all enclosed so its not that bad. Who would pass up an opportunity to ride the fastest elevator in Maine?
Local Adventurer says
you got some really cool shots of the bridge! i’d love to see it one day. 🙂
Brianna says
Coastal Maine was so much fun to explore!
Christina @ Christina's Cucina says
Two wonderful discoveries! I don’t know if I could actually come out to look from the top of that bridge! Goodness it looks high, but I guess it’s worth it for the fab photos you got from the vantage point!
Brianna says
The viewing platform is enclosed so its not too bad, I loved the views!
Lara Dunning says
It is great to be surprised with a really interesting attraction when you get to an area. Sometimes, I even know ahead, but when I get there I’m blown away by the history of it. I always like touring forts as I’m not a whiz at military history and I always learn so much from the docents. What a great trip!
Brianna says
is one really surprised me, I had no idea it was there before hand and the views from the top were amazing.