Kittery in York County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

Resisting Naval Firepower

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 3, 2019

1. Resisting Naval Firepower Marker

Inscription. Large coastal forts like this one were built to defend against the increasingly powerful cannons that could be mounted on naval vessels in the mid-1800s. Among them were guns designed by Admiral John Dahlgren who became known as the "father of American naval ordnance."

These "Dahlgren Guns” could fire shells weighing from 32 to 440 pounds, some of them reaching targets more than a half mile away. Large granite coastal forts were designed to withstand the impact of these shells.

The larger warships of that period could carry a dozen or more of these heavy guns. (captions)
(left) Admiral Dablgren stands beside a 50-pounder cannon on board the USS Pawnee in 1865.

(right) A crew works a nine-inch (90 pounder) Dahlgren gun on a Union warship during the Civil War.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, Spanish-American • War, US Civil • War, US Revolutionary.

Location. 43° 4.883′ N, 70° 42.533′ W. Marker is in Kittery, Maine, in York County. It can be reached from Pepperrell Road (Maine Route 103) 0

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miles west of Crockett Neck Road, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kittery Point ME 03905, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fort McClary (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome To Fort McClary (within shouting distance of this marker); Mines Building (approx. 0.7 miles away in New Hampshire); Portcullis (approx. 0.7 miles away in New Hampshire); Fort William and Mary Commemoration Marker (approx. 0.7 miles away in New Hampshire); Walbach Tower (approx. ¾ mile away in New Hampshire); a different marker also named Walbach Tower (approx. ¾ mile away in New Hampshire); Frost Cemetery (approx. 0.8 miles away in New Hampshire). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kittery.

Also see . . . Fort McClary State Historic Site. Department of Agriculture, Conservation

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 3, 2019

2. Resisting Naval Firepower Marker

Full view

and Forestry (Submitted on December 6, 2020.)

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 3, 2019

3. Resisting Naval Firepower Marker

Photographed by Craig Doda, June 3, 2019

4. Resisting Naval Firepower Marker

Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Rear Adm. John A. Dahlgren standing by a Dahlgren gun on deck of image. Click for full size.

June 17, 1865

5. Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Rear Adm. John A. Dahlgren standing by a Dahlgren gun on deck of

Library of Congress [LC-DIG-cwpb-02990]

Gun crew on deck of U.S.S. Miami, [i.e. Mendota] James River, Va. image. Click for full size.

circa 1865

6. Gun crew on deck of U.S.S. Miami, [i.e. Mendota] James River, Va.

Library of Congress [LC-DIG-ppmsca-33963]

Credits. This page was last revised on September 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 340 times since then and 17 times this year. Last updated on September 20, 2025, by Michael Cleary of Salem, Massachusetts. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 5, 2020, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 5, 6. submitted on December 6, 2020. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.