Exploring ABANDONED Fort Popham & Fort Baldwin (Phippsburg, ME)

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In the coastal town of Phippsburg, Maine, along the mouth of the Kennebec River as it flows into the Gulf of Maine, sits two abandoned military forts: Fort Popham and Fort Baldwin. Despite being so geographically close to each other--less than 2,000 feet across--both forts boast distinct histories and contexts. Fort Popham is a Civil War era fort built in 1861, while Fort Baldwin was built in 1905, at the tail end of the Endicott Board. Fort Popham would see activity throughout a myriad of American conflicts, namely the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and both World Wars, while Fort Baldwin would only be garrisoned during both World Wars. Even structurally, both forts are distinct: Fort Popham, made primarily of granite, is an enclosed fort featuring two tiers of casemates and powder magazines surrounding a parade ground. Fort Baldwin, meanwhile, features three separate batteries--Battery Cogan, Battery Hardman, and Battery Hawley--and is primarily made of concrete. Of course, due to Fort Baldwin being the more "modern" fortification of the two, it would host more powerful and advanced weaponry; that being said, Fort Popham, especially by the late 1800s and early 1900s, held a crucial controlled minefield. By 1924, both forts were sold to the State of Maine; however, they were quickly recalled again during World War II for use during the war. Following the war, the forts were once again returned (Fort Popham in 1945 and Fort Baldwin in 1949). Today, both forts are open to the public, preserved and maintained, but abandoned.

Since both forts are so incredibly close to each other, I knew that I had to cover them in the same video. Thus, upon arriving in Phippsburg on a particularly gorgeous summer day, I decided to start at the oldest of the two, Fort Popham, and then work my way over to Fort Baldwin. Moving between the two forts was like traveling through time, as I was able to witness the changes in American history and warfare through the distinct architectural designs and fortification layouts. These are two crucial pieces of American military history, and while they are no longer in use, I am relieved to hear that they are well taken care of. Furthermore, the locations that each fort sits at is beautiful: Fort Popham sits directly along the mouth of the Kennebec River, offering stunning views of the glistening water and golden beaches. Meanwhile, Fort Baldwin is nestled in the woods, with scenic hiking trails leading to each battery. If you ever find yourself in Phippsburg, I could not recommend these two forts enough! This was a site Tom and I had wanted to explore for quite some time now! If you guys liked this video, make sure to stay tuned for more exploration videos all across New England!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Po...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Ba...

00:00 J-MASS Intro
00:41 Introduction to Fort Popham and Fort Baldwin
03:22 First Level of Fort Popham
14:08 Second Level of Fort Popham
21:19 Moxie
22:00 Final Walkthrough of Fort Popham
24:30 Exterior of Fort Popham
27:03 Fort Popham Drone Shots
27:46 Battery Cogan
34:28 Battery Hardman
40:07 Battery Hawley
46:47 Fire Control Tower
49:45 Fort Baldwin Drone Shots
50:28 Outro