Probably unknown to many Americans outside of New England, Maine’s small capital is Augusta. Located near the center of the state, the city has fewer than 20,000 residents, making it one of the smallest state capitals in the country. Above is the Maine State Capitol, followed by another government building located directly behind it. Augusta definitely doesn’t feel like a major city, but I enjoyed seeing how much history and government infrastructure was packed into such a small place.
Around Augusta
There isn’t too much about Augusta that immediately stands out, but I was surprised by some of the large historic homes around the city. Above is one of the more impressive houses I came across near downtown, followed by a church that looked enormous compared with many of the surrounding buildings.
As someone who hates long winters, I always wonder what makes people decide to settle permanently in some of America’s coldest places. Apparently plenty of people in Augusta disagree with me, because there are some beautiful homes scattered throughout the city.
The Kennebec River
Augusta is divided by the Kennebec River, with much of the city’s historic development centered around the water. I didn’t expect a city this small to have much of a downtown waterfront, so this was one of the more pleasant surprises of my visit. The Kennebec was historically important for transportation, trade, and industry, and today it gives downtown Augusta a lot more character than I expected.
Downtown itself was pretty quiet when I visited, but there were still some locally owned stores and small businesses mixed among the older buildings. These were two random shops that caught my attention while I was walking around. Augusta definitely isn’t a place I would visit for nightlife or endless attractions, but its small-town atmosphere is part of what makes the capital unusual.
Old Fort Western
The most interesting historic site in Augusta is Old Fort Western, located along the Kennebec River. Built in 1754 during the colonial period, it survives as one of the oldest wooden military structures in the United States. The fort originally served as a fortified supply depot supporting British activity farther up the Kennebec River.
I was looking forward to seeing the inside, but their operating schedule managed to defeat me. Even though I visited on a Saturday in May, the main building was closed, so I could only explore the grounds and photograph the fort from outside. It’s definitely one of those places I’d revisit if I ever happen to pass through Augusta again when it’s actually open.
