Fort McClary State Historic Site
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4.5(22)yelp
HistoryMilitaryHistoric BuildingCoastGuided TourPhoto Spot
Overview
Fort McClary is a former defensive fortification of the United States military located along the southern coast at Kittery Point, Maine at the mouth of the Piscataqua River. It was used throughout the 19th century to protect approaches to the harbor of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery. The property and its surviving structures are now owned and operated by the State of Maine as Fort McClary State Historic Site, including a blockhouse dating from 1844.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeOpen seasonally from late May through mid-October. The definitive golden window is early summer evening from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The warm setting sun gorgeously strikes the rare, surviving hexagonal wooden-and-granite blockhouse structure; climbing the upper historical tiers awards panoramic sunset views over the rushing Piscataqua River mouth and the offshore lighthouses.
Getting TherePerched along the scenic waterfront of Kittery Point. To drive, leave downtown Kittery and head east along the winding ME-103 East (Kittery Point Road) for approximately 2.5 miles; the fort entrance appears clearly on the right at 81 ME-103, complete with a paved lower parking lot. There are no local bus routes on this coastal state road, so a taxi from nearby Portsmouth is best for transit.
Travel Tips
- The iconic multi-story wooden Blockhouse features an incredibly narrow, unshielded historical spiral staircase; site safety ordinances forbid toddlers under 42 inches or visitors wearing open-toe flip-flops from ascending.
- Operating via an unmanned self-service Iron Ranger vault station, drivers are required to carry exact USD paper bills to clear vehicle tariffs; failing to display the physical voucher transparently on the dash invokes steep state ranger fines.
- The coastal masonry embankments face active military and container shipping lanes; heavy displacement hulls generate severe secondary wake surges that crash over the rocky ledges without warning, making ledge-walking illegal.
Reviews
Positive
- This beautifully preserved blockhouse with a unique timber-on-granite structure is rare and visually striking, offering authentic historic depth.
- A few dollars for cheap admission grants freedom to explore the fort ramparts and underground brick magazines. High-value historical signs.
- Perched on the Piscataqua River, the upper fort offers views of the sparkling harbor and distant lighthouses. Peaceful and free of commercial traps.
- The grounds are kept spotless, with picnic lawns featuring clean benches and bins. Smooth driving route with a large free dedicated parking lot.
Heads up
- The wooden stairs inside the historic blockhouse are narrow and steep, lacking accessible lifts. Wheelchair users and frail seniors can only view the exterior.