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Fort Knox State Historic Site, Prospect, ME

Photo: Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingHistory BuffFamily FavoriteOutdoor Adventure

Fort Knox State Historic Site

740 Fort Knox Rd · Prospect, ME

Why you should go…

Fort Knox was built between 1844 and 1869 to guard the Penobscot River, and it was Maine's first fort made entirely of granite. It never saw combat, and on a self-guided visit you can walk its granite passageways and powder magazines and see Rodman guns in the water batteries. A combined ticket adds the Penobscot Narrows Observatory, where an elevator rises 420 feet to a 360-degree view of the river and bay.

  • #historic fort
  • #state historic site
  • #observation deck
  • #civil war history

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Fort Knox State Historic Site, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory

    Under $25

    Ride an elevator up a bridge tower to a glass-walled observatory 447 feet above the Penobscot River.

    0.4 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Outdoor Adventure

    Camden Hills State Park

    Under $25

    Drive or hike up Mount Battie for a view over Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay, then roam miles of wooded trails.

    26 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Acadia National Park

    $25–$50

    Drive Park Loop Road, hike to mountain summits and bike historic carriage roads on Maine's Mount Desert Island.

    30 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Outdoor Adventure

    Downeast Acadia

    Free

    Maine's Downeast and Acadia region, from Acadia National Park to the tidal bays of Washington and Hancock Counties.

    32 mi awayMore like this

  • Sport & Outdoor
    Iconic

    Cadillac Mountain

    $25–$50

    Drive or hike to Cadillac's summit for sweeping views of the coast and islands, a popular sunrise spot in Acadia.

    32 mi awaySwitch it up: Sport & Outdoor

  • Sightseeing
    Iconic

    Bass Harbor Head Light Station

    $25–$50

    See an 1858 lighthouse perched on the rocky southwest tip of Mount Desert Island from overlooks and a cliffside stairway.

    33 mi awayMore like this