Welcome To Fort McClary

Welcome To Fort McClary. . Forts at this site have protected Portsmouth Harbor since 1689 when some earthworks and a small blockhouse were built here at what was then called Pepperrell's Garrison after the area's most prominent settler, William Pepperrell. In 1715, the Massachusetts Bay Colony decided to build a permanent fort to protect the river and harbor. In 1720 a blockhouse named Fort William (also for Pepperrell) was built and there a Naval Officer was stationed to collect duties from all the ships entering the harbor., The Pepperrell's were "Tories” or loyalists to the Crown, and when the Revolution came local "rebels” took over their property, including the fort, which was occupied by the New Hampshire Militia until 1779. In 1808 Massachusetts gave land to the Federal government to build a new fort named Fort McClary in honor of Major Andrew McClary, a New Hampshire native who was served at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775., That fort consisted of two batteries of cannons; a semi circular wall protected a "Lower Battery” below the present blockhouse site, while an "Upper Battery” with accompanying, barracks, quarters, a cookhouse, and powder magazine, all of brick, were built where the blockhouse now stands., In 1844 the hexagonal blockhouse replaced the Upper Battery. The upper floors were used as Officer's quarters, and two brick rifleman's houses were built on either side. In 1846 the Federal government deactivated the fort., In the midst of the Civil War, Confederate raiders captured and destroyed a ship in Portland Harbor raising the fear of attacks on the Maine coast. A granite bastion and powder magazine and a guardhouse and hospital were added to the fort at that time. Five years after the Civil War ended, work was suspended and the outer wall was never completed. Soon afterward, this style of fort was considered obsolete so Fort McClary was remained unfinished., The buildings here today represent several different periods of construction as the fort was upgraded and modified to meet the area's defensive needs. The site was manned during five wars - The Revolutionary War, War of 18 12, Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War I. Like most other Maine forts, it saw little conflict. Be sure to enjoy the hiking area to your left and the picnic area across Pepperrell Road (Route 103). Fort McClary is open to visitors from Memorial Day through the end of September., (sidebar) , Private Hannibal Hamlin , Shortly before the 1864 election, the Coast Guard unit in which Maine's Hannibal Hamlin served was called to active duty at Fort McClary. Hamlin reported for duty and served at the fort even though he was at that time Vice President of the United States.