{{for|the Western wear retailer|Fort Western Stores}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Fort Western | nrhp_type = nhl | image = Fort Western, Main Building, Bowman Street, Augusta (Kennebec County, Maine).jpg | caption = Fort Western in 1936 | location = Bowman Street, Augusta, Maine | nearest_city = | coordinates = {{coord|44|18|59|N|69|46|16|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = Maine#USA | area = less than one acre | built = 1754 | architect = Gershom Flagg | architecture = | designated_nrhp_type = November 7, 1973<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=811&ResourceType=Building|title=Fort Western|access-date=2008-05-14|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923160739/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=811&ResourceType=Building|archive-date=2010-09-23|url-status=dead}}</ref> | added = December 2, 1969<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref> | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | refnum = 69000009 | mpsub = }} '''Fort Western''' is a former British colonial outpost at the head of navigation on the Kennebec River at modern Augusta, Maine, United States. It was built in 1754 during the French and Indian War, and is now a National Historic Landmark and local historic site owned by the city. It is the oldest surviving wooden fort in America, which still stands today.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Old Fort Western |url=https://theclio.com/entry/17980 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Clio |language=en}}</ref> Its main building, the only original element of the fort to survive, was restored in 1920 by William H Gannett and Guy P Gannett and now depicts its original use as a trading post. The Gannett's then gifted the building back to the City of Augusta, and it opened as a museum on July 4th, 1922.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Augusta, ME |url=https://www.augustamaine.gov/oldfortwestern |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=www.augustamaine.gov}}</ref>
== French and Indian War == thumb|left|Fort Western, Maine Fort Western was built by a Boston land company (the Kennebec Proprietors) in 1754 as a fortified trading post, and to promote settlement in the area and help Britain gain power in North America.<ref name=":0" /> The fort was a log palisade with blockhouses which protected a store and warehouse. It was never directly attacked. From a high elevation a large rectangular enclosure commanded the river for more than a mile. Blockhouses 24 feet square and watch-boxes 12 feet square guarded opposite corners, and within stood a two-story main house {{convert|100|x|32|ft|m}}. After the war ended, James Howard, its only commander, purchased the fort and operated the trading post.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/>
==American Revolution== [[File:Benedict Arnold marker at Fort Western, ME IMG_2045.JPG|150px|left|thumb|Historical marker noting that Benedict Arnold left Fort Western in 1775 for Quebec.]]
After 1769, Fort Western fell into decay. In 1775, Benedict Arnold's expedition to Quebec stopped at Fort Western long enough to repair bateaux. Arnold, Daniel Morgan, Roger Enos, and Aaron Burr stayed as guests in the garrison while their force camped outside. Fort Western played a crucial role for Arnold's troops, allowing them to gather supplies, rest, and repair their bateaux, the flat bottom boats used on the Kennebec River. The supplies they gathered did not last long, and after two weeks, they were on half rations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Benedict Arnold and the Perilous March to Quebec |url=https://www.americanacorner.com/blog/arnold-march#:~:text=In%20less%20than%20two%20weeks,in%20an%20eight-part%20series. |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Americana Corner |language=en-US}}</ref> Fort Western was the starting point for the march through the wilderness to Quebec.
==Old Fort Western== [[Image:Restoration of Fort Western, Augusta, ME IMG_2046.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Fort Western in Augusta, Maine]]
The main building of the fort eventually passed out of the Howard family, and was converted into a tenement house. It was repurchased by Howard family descendants in 1919, and restored the following year, which included the construction of two new blockhouses and a stockade. The stockade was again rebuilt in 1960.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/> Today its main building is a little-altered example of an 18th-century trading post. The fort and store are maintained as a museum and are open to the public during the summer months. It is currently America's oldest wooden Garrison from the French and Indian War Era.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Old Fort Western |url=https://www.mainetourism.com/listing/old-fort-western/1577/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=www.mainetourism.com |language=en-us}}</ref>
The fort was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969, and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite journal|url={{NHLS url|id=69000009}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Fort Western|year=1972 |format=PDF |author=Charles Snell |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=2009-06-22}} and {{NHLS url|id=69000009|title=''Accompanying two photos, exterior, from 1971''|photos=y}} {{small|(484 KB)}}</ref> Today, it is open to the public from Memorial Day weekend until Columbus day. The museum offers guided tours, 4th of July celebrations, and various educational programs for all to enjoy. These lessons and tours are guided by people in clothing from that time period, giving a glimpse of what life was like during 18th century colonial times.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Untitled |url=https://visitmaine.com/organization/fort-western-living-history-museum/4192/#:~:text=Experience%20the%20past%20through%20public,by%20engaging%20all%20the%20senses. |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Visit Maine |language=en-US}}</ref>
==See also== *Cushnoc Archeological Site, adjacent to the fort *List of National Historic Landmarks in Maine *National Register of Historic Places listings in Kennebec County, Maine
==References== {{reflist}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Snell |first=Charles |date=1972 |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Fort Western |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NHLS/69000009_text |access-date=2009-06-22 |website=Nation Park Service}}</ref>
==External links== *[http://www.oldfortwestern.org The Old Fort Western web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120112135/http://www.oldfortwestern.org/ |date=November 20, 2017 }}
{{NHLs in ME}} {{NRHP in Kennebec County, Maine}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Augusta, Maine Western Category:National Historic Landmarks in Maine Category:Military installations established in the 1750s Western Category:Museums in Kennebec County, Maine Category:Military and war museums in Maine Category:History museums in Maine Category:Living museums in Maine Category:Tourist attractions in Augusta, Maine Western Category:1754 establishments in the Province of Massachusetts Bay Category:National Register of Historic Places in Augusta, Maine Category:Log buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Maine Category:History of Augusta, Maine