Fort McKinley (Maine)
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Fort McKinley Historic District
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12-inch disappearing gun, similar to those mounted at Fort McKinley
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| Location | Great Diamond Island, Maine |
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| Coordinates | 43°40′45″N 70°11′50″W / 43.67917°N 70.19722°WCoordinates: 43°40′45″N 70°11′50″W / 43.67917°N 70.19722°W |
| Area | 43 acres (17 ha) |
| Built | 1897 |
| NRHP Reference # | 85000611 |
| Added to NRHP | 21 March 1985 |
Fort McKinley is a former United States Army coastal defense fort on Great Diamond Island, Maine in Casco Bay, which operated from 1873 to 1947. It was named for President William McKinley. Fort Lyon on Cow Island, just north of Great Diamond Island and a sub-post of Fort McKinley, is included in this article. It was named for Nathaniel Lyon. Both forts were part of the Coast Defenses of Portland, renamed the Harbor Defenses of Portland in 1925, a command which protected Portland's port and naval anchorage 1895-1950. In 1946 Fort Lyon was closed and turned over to the City of Portland. After Fort McKinley's closure it was transferred to the United States Navy, which sold the site (via the General Services Administration) to private interests in 1961. The Fort McKinley Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
The Board of Fortifications, often called the Endicott Board, recommended a comprehensive program of new fortifications in 1885. Forts McKinley and Lyon were among the results. Construction on Fort McKinley began in 1897 and was complete by 1906. Fort McKinley totaled 111 acres (45 ha) resulting from two land purchases in 1873 and 1901. The fort was divided by Diamond Cove into a North Fork and a South Fork. The entirety of Cow Island was acquired by the government in 1873; Fort Lyon was built on 22 acres (8.9 ha) of it and was complete by 1909.
Fort McKinley was completed by 1906 with nine gun batteries as follows:
North Fork:
South Fork:
Fort Lyon was completed by 1909 with two gun batteries as follows:
At Fort McKinley, facilities supporting an underwater minefield were built on the South Fork and at Fort Lyon; the 3-inch guns at both forts were intended to defend the minefield against minesweepers. Construction of the original barracks and administration buildings at Fort McKinley began in 1902-1903 and lasted through 1906. This construction phase was sized for four companies. Four 109-man barracks were constructed along with four sets of duplex Non-Commissioned Officers' (NCO) quarters, six sets of duplex officers' quarters, three sets of single family officers' quarters and various administration and support buildings to accommodate a post of this size.
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