Fort Edgecomb

Infobox_nrhp | name =Fort Edgecomb
nrhp_type =

---

caption = Fort Edgecomb in 1905
location=On Davis Island in the Sheepscot River, Edgecomb, Maine
lat_degrees = 43
lat_minutes = 59
lat_seconds = 37
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 69
long_minutes = 39
long_seconds = 26
long_direction = W
locmapin = Maine
area =
built =1808
architect=
architecture= Octagon Mode
added = October 01, 1969
governing_body = State
refnum=69000020cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service] Infobox_nrhp | name =Fort Edgecomb (Boundary Increase)
nrhp_type = hd


caption =
nearest_city= Edgecomb, Maine
locmapin = Maine
area =
built =1808
architect= Col. Moses Porter
architecture=
added = December 22, 1991
governing_body = State
refnum=91001814cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Fort Edgecomb, built in 1808-1809, is a two-story octagonal wooden blockhouse and restored fortifications located on Davis Island in the town of Edgecomb, Lincoln County, Maine, United States. It is also known as Fort Edgecomb State Historic Site. On October 01, 1969, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places and on December 22, 1991, its boundaries were increased to create an historic district.cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

History

The fort was built as part of the U.S. second system of fortifications, guarding the then-important port of Wiscasset. Thomas Jefferson's Embargo was not popular with American merchants, and it is said that the only time Fort Edgecomb's cannon were fired was in salute at James Madison's inauguration (or, less tactfully, to celebrate his lifting of the Embargo).

During the War of 1812, this post saw considerable activity holding British prisoners of war, many of them brought to Wiscasset harbor by American privateersmen. In 1814, Fort Edgecomb became the center of American preparations to invade mid-coast Maine. It remained manned until 1818, and was reactivated during the Civil War.

Fort Edgecomb will celebrate its bicentennial in 2008.

References

External links

* [http://www.edgecomb.org/web2/EdgeHist/FOFE/FOFE.htm FOFE. Friends of Fort Edgecomb official site]
* [http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_name.pl Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands page]