Fort Baldwin, Maine — History & Visitor Guide

Fort Baldwin (Phippsburg, Maine)

Phippsburg · Maine · World War I, World War II

Quick BriefFort Baldwin is a former coastal defense fortification near the mouth of the Kennebec River in Phippsburg, Maine, preserved as the Fort Baldwin State Historic Site. The fort was constructed between 1905 and 1912 and originally consisted of three batteries. During World War I, Fort Baldwin and Fort Popham had a garrison of 200 soldiers from the 13th and 29th Coast Artillery companies of the Coast Defenses of Portland. From 1941 to 1943, Battery D, 8th Coast Artillery protected Fort Baldwin and its Fire Control Tower (Built 1943) that could radio the precise position of enemy vessels to batteries in Casco Bay, notably Battery Steele with its 16-inch guns.

Endicott SystemCoastal defenseOpen to visitors

History & Significance

Fort Baldwin was named after Jeduthan Baldwin, an engineer for the Continental Army during the American Revolution. Built between 1905 and 1912 during the Taft Program period, it was one of the smallest forts of the era, with three 6-inch guns and two 3-inch guns.

The fort embodied the hide-and-conceal approach to coastal defense: built to be as hidden as possible from the enemy, three separate low-profile batteries were constructed with mounted six-inch guns. All three 6-inch guns were withdrawn in 1917 as part of a program to put these weapons on field carriages and use them on the Western Front, Battery Hawley's guns were not sent overseas and were remounted in 1919, and Battery Hardman's gun was sent to France.

In 1924, Fort Baldwin was disarmed as part of a general drawdown of less-threatened coast defenses and sold to the State of Maine. Early in World War II, four circular concrete "Panama mounts" were constructed at Fort Baldwin to provide improved firing platforms for towed 155 mm M1918 guns.

Fort Baldwin was rearmed with a battery of four towed 155 mm guns on "Panama mounts" in World War II, operated by Battery D of the 8th Coast Artillery. After the war, the property was returned to the State of Maine in 1949. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Key Facts

StateMaine

LocationPhippsburg

Established1905

Decommissioned1949

War / eraWorld War I, World War II

Current statusMuseum / Historic Site

Coordinates43.75, -69.785

NRHP reference79000166

Map

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🧳 Visiting

What you’ll see when you visit:

Reinforced concrete gun batteries and fire control tower from early 1900s coastal defense
Kennebec River estuary setting with strategic coastal views
World War I and II–era military infrastructure preserved on-site
Historic fortification showcasing early 20th-century American coastal artillery systems

Best time to visitLate spring through early fall (May–September) offers mild weather and accessible grounds; winter and early spring bring snow and muddy terrain to coastal Maine.

Getting thereBrunswick Executive Airport (NHZ) is the nearest commercial gateway, approximately 20 km from Phippsburg; car travel is required to reach the fort.

From the nearest major airportPortland International Jetport (PWM)🚗 53 mi by road⏱️ ≈ 1 hr 24 min drive

Fort Baldwin (Phippsburg, Maine)

History & Significance

Key Facts

Map

🧳 Visiting

Sources

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