Fort Popham (Phippsburg, Maine)
Phippsburg · Maine · Civil War
History & Significance
Construction commenced in 1861 to guard the entrance to the Kennebec River, protecting shipbuilding interests in Bath and the state capital in Augusta. During the closing months of the American Civil War, from October 1864 to July 1865, the fort was garrisoned by the 7th Unassigned Company of Maine Infantry, commanded by Captain Augustin Thompson, inventor of Moxie soda.
The fort featured a 30-foot-high wall facing the Kennebec River mouth and was built in a crescent shape, measuring approximately 500 feet in circumference. War experience showed that masonry forts were vulnerable to modern rifled guns, leading to construction halting in 1869 before completion.
The fort was garrisoned again during the Spanish–American War and World War I, receiving new minefield facilities in the 1890s as part of the Endicott program, with Congress appropriating $3,200 in 1898 to deploy mines in the Kennebec. Located two miles from Popham Beach State Park, it is open to the public as Fort Popham State Historic Site. The fort was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on October 1, 1969.
Key Facts
Map
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🧳 Visiting
What you’ll see when you visit:
- Massive granite coastal defense fort with exposed gunroom remains
- Sweeping views of Kennebec River mouth and Atlantic Ocean
- Preserved Civil War–era military architecture and cannon emplacements
- Scenic riverside location ideal for walking and photography
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Popham
- https://www.maine.gov/fortpopham
- https://apps.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/details.pl?park_id=40
- https://www.battlefields.org/visit/heritage-sites/fort-popham
- https://maineanencyclopedia.com/fort-popham/
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=52096
- https://www.mainememory.net/record/66463
- https://www.pressherald.com/2019/07/17/history-buff-fort-popham-state-historic-site/