Fort George, Maine — History & Visitor Guide

Fort George (Castine, Maine)

Castine · Maine · American Revolutionary War, War of 1812

Quick BriefBuilt by Great Britain in 1779 at a high point on the Bagaduce Peninsula, Fort George was erected as part of an initiative to establish a new colony called New Ireland in Maine. The fort served as the principal British defense during the Massachusetts-organized Penobscot Expedition, a disastrous American attempt in July–August 1779 to retake Castine. The British re-occupied it during the War of 1812 from September 1814 to April 1815.

Coastal defenseOpen to visitors

History & Significance

General Francis McLean led a British force that seized Castine in June 1779 and established Fort George and other fortifications in the area. Positioned at a high point on the Bagaduce Peninsula, the fort featured earthwork ramparts, bastions, a palisade topped with fraising, and a defensive canal dug across the peninsula neck.

The Massachusetts-organized Penobscot Expedition proved a disastrous military offensive for the Revolutionary forces and stood as the United States' worst naval defeat until Pearl Harbor in 1941. The fort was commanded by General Campbell, and Loyalists from surrounding areas flocked to the village.

Fort George was the last British fortification to be evacuated in the aftermath of the American Revolution, with the British not abandoning it until 1784. When a large British fleet arrived at Penobscot Bay on September 1, 1814, they re-occupied and completely transformed Fort George's defenses.

After British withdrawal in 1815 and brief American use, the fort was abandoned and demolished in 1819. Maine acquired the fort in 1940 and provided restoration funds two decades later; the site is now a 7-acre park owned by the state and maintained by the town. The fort was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

Key Facts

StateMaine

LocationCastine

Established1779

Decommissioned1819

War / eraAmerican Revolutionary War, War of 1812

Current statusState or National Park

Coordinates44.39083333, -68.80555556

NRHP reference69000007

Map

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🧳 Visiting

What you’ll see when you visit:

Earthwork fortifications with corner bastions built by the British in 1779
Key site of the failed Penobscot Expedition during the Revolutionary War
Reoccupied by British forces during the War of 1812
Waterfront location on the Bagaduce Peninsula with scenic views
Preserved state park maintained by the town of Castine

Best time to visitLate spring through early fall (May-September) offers the most pleasant weather for exploring outdoor fortifications in coastal Maine.

Getting thereNearest airport is Bar Harbor Airport (BHB), approximately 36 kilometers away; the fort is located in Castine, Maine.

From the nearest major airportBangor International Airport (BGR)🚗 39 mi by road⏱️ ≈ 1 hr 7 min drive

Fort George (Castine, Maine)

History & Significance

Key Facts

Map

🧳 Visiting

Sources

Other Forts in Maine

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