Take a dog walk at an almost forgotten British stronghold in America. The American Revolution may have ended in 1783, but the British Troops did not surrender Fort George in Castine, Maine until 1784. The fort was later briefly reoccupied by the British during the War of 1812, and today is a state park on the National Register of Historic Places.
Located on a high point of the Bagaduce Peninsula on the Penobscot Bay, Fort George was built by the British during the American Revolution in 1779 to establish a naval base between Halifax and New York, as well as an attempt to form a new colony called “New Ireland.” The fort itself was named in honor of King George III, but was also known as Fort Castine and Fort Penobscot. During the Penobscot Expedition, the Massachusetts militia failed miserably in an attempt to regain control of the area. In fact, the Penobscot Expedition went so poorly that at the time Paul Revere’s reputation was permanently damaged due to his role as commander of the artillery regiment during this failed attack. Following the siege, this British stronghold remained a safe haven for Loyalists who flocked there from the surrounding area. The fort was ceded back to America when the Treaty of Paris was ratified in 1784, at which point the British burned the fort and left. After being rebuilt, the British briefly regained control of Fort George during the War of 1812, but abandoned it in 1815.
Today all that remains are the earthworks, a cannon, and crumbling structures. Other features such as the palisade, ditches and gateway have been lost to time. There are however historical markers describing the history of this fort which is the final resting place of British officers and soldiers killed during the siege of 1779. Although it is a Maine state park, it is primarily used as recreational fields for the Maine Maritime Academy located across the street.
Dogs are welcome at Fort George State Park on leash. The fort is located near the intersection of Battle Avenue and Wadsworth Cove Street in Castine, Maine. There is a small parking lot off Wadsworth Cove Street. If you are exploring in the area, this forgotten British stronghold in Maine is worth a brief visit. For additional forts to explore with your pup, please visit Scenic Dog Walks on our Dog Friendly Places page.
