Fort Western, built in 1754, is the oldest surviving wooden fort in the US. In truth Fort Western was more a fortified storehouse than an actual fort. Supplies were shipped up the Kennebec River from Boston to the fort four times a year. The river past the fort was not navigable by large ships so supplies were unloaded, stored at the fort and taken by flat bottom boats seventeen miles upriver to Fort Halifax, an outpost built during the French and Indian War. By 1775 James Howard had purchased the fort and built a store and living quarters for his family in the soldiers barracks. The Howards operated the store and lived in the fort for at least 50 years.
The barracks have been restored to look as they did at the time of the Howard’s store with furnishings in the family’s rooms and articles on the store shelves. One of the blockhouses is a gift shop, the other holds examples of articles that would have been stored at the fort ready to resupply Fort Halifax. Fort visits are by guided tour only.
The paths to the fort are covered with large gravel and the grounds are rough grass. A makeshift ramp leads to the store and first floor living area. The second floor of the store and the storage blockhouse are not accessible. About 2/3 of the tour takes place on the second floors. For this reason and also because the admission price is on the high side ($10.00) I don’t recommend visiting if you can’t climb stairs.
RVs will fit in the lot parked lengthwise across the spaces. Fort
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