These images are part of: Architecture | New England | Fort Popham

Fort Popham

Of all the forts I have photographed, I think Fort Popham was the one I had the most resonance with - constructed with repeating vaulted casements; its visual richness and complexity drew me in immediately. As I only had the one afternoon at the site, I knew that I would be hard pressed to convert my emotive response into a visual portrayal, but I feel I was successful, as many people who have never seen the Fort are awestruck by the images.

Named after George Popham, an early settler of Maine, Fort Popham was designed to defend the Kennebec River, which leads to the Bath Iron Works, and the State Capital of Augusta. Located at the end of a long, beautiful beach, the fort is situated on a hook of land where the Kennebec River meets Atkins Bay. Construction of the fort began in 1862, though it had been authorized to begin in 1857. The fort, like many begun during the Civil War, was never completed, with construction finally being abandoned in 1869.

Built in a crescent shape to defend on all sides facing the water, Fort Popham is over 500 feet across, with the walls rising to 30 feet. The 36 guns were to be arranged in two levels, in vaulted casements, with a third tier of guns on the roof above. Because the fort was never finished, it is easy to see the workmanship and architectural skill required to erect the great walls and circular staircases. Several huge granite blocks, hauled from nearby Dix and Fox islands, still are scattered where the builders left them.