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Coordinates: 43°39′55″N 70°14′26″W / 43.66536°N 70.24057°W / 43.66536; -70.24057
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{{short description|Public park in Portland, Maine}}
#REDIRECT[[Munjoy Hill#Fort Allen Park]]
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox park
| name = Fort Allen Park
| photo =
| photo_width =
| photo_caption =
| type = [[Urban park]]
| location = [[Portland, Maine|Portland]], [[Maine]], United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|43.66536|-70.24057|region:US-ME|display=inline,title}}
| area = <!--{{convert|843|acre|km2 mi2}}-->
| map_image =
| map_width =
| map_caption =
| coords =
| created =
| owner = City of Portland
| operator =
| visitation_num =
| open = 24 hours
| publictransit =
| embedded =
}}

'''Fort Allen Park''' is an [[urban park]] in the [[Munjoy Hill]] neighborhood of [[Portland, Maine|Portland]], [[Maine]], United States. It covers {{convert|9|acre}} and abuts the [[Eastern Promenade]] to the south. It was built in the 1890s, designed by the city's chief engineer William Goodwin and backed by mayor [[James Phinney Baxter|James P. Baxter]], according to a plaque in the park. Fort Allen was probably originally built in 1775, may have served as part of [[Fort Sumner (Maine)|Fort Sumner]], and was rebuilt by the city and used to guard Portland during the [[War of 1812]] due to its high vantage point overlooking [[Casco Bay]].<ref name="Murphy">{{cite news |last=Murphy |first=Edward |date=July 6, 2011 |title=Fort Allen Park:Reclaiming the high ground |work=[[Portland Press Herald]] |url=http://www.pressherald.com/news/reclaiming-the-high-ground_2011-07-06.html |access-date=19 April 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/me3.html Casco Bay forts at NorthAmericanforts.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Allen_(2) Fort Allen at FortWiki.com]</ref> The park is home to a [[6"/30 caliber gun|6-inch gun]] from the {{USS|Maine|ACR-1|6}} (the ship whose explosion in [[Havana, Cuba]] started the [[Spanish–American War]]), the foremast and bridge structure of the [[World War II]] [[cruiser]] {{USS|Portland|CA-33}}, two Civil War-era [[Siege artillery in the American Civil War#4.5-inch siege rifle|4.5-inch siege rifles]], an [[American Civil War]] [[memorial bench]] erected in 1929,<ref name="maine.gov/civilwar">{{cite web |title=Maine's Civil War Monuments |url=http://www.maine.gov/civilwar/monuments/portlandfortallen.html |access-date=19 April 2013}}</ref> and an historic bandstand which was built in the 1890s. In 2012, a local non-profit group, Friends of the Eastern Promenade, sought to restore Fort Allen Park to its original look.<ref name="Koenig">{{cite news |last=Koenig |first=Seth |date=February 14, 2012 |title=Fort Allen Park rehabilitation project reaches key stretch |work=[[Bangor Daily News]] |url=http://bangordailynews.com/2012/02/14/news/portland/fort-allen-park-rehabilitation-project-reaches-key-stretch/ |access-date=19 April 2013}}</ref> As of 2016 this has resulted in additional interpretive plaques throughout the park, along with other improvements.

Some sources state that Fort Allen dates from 1775 and was originally named for Revolutionary War hero [[Ethan Allen]]. It was initially a half-moon battery mounting five guns.<ref>Roberts, pp. 357, 373</ref><ref>[http://www.fortwiki.com/Fort_Allen_(2) Fort Allen at FortWiki.com]</ref> After 1794 it may have served as the "detached battery" of nearby [[Fort Sumner (Maine)|Fort Sumner]], as described in the [[Secretary of War]]'s report for 1811.<ref>Wade, p. 241</ref> Fort Allen was rebuilt in 1814 with city resources, adding a magazine and barracks due to the British capture of [[Fort Sullivan (Maine)|Eastport]] and [[Castine, Maine|Castine]] in the War of 1812.<ref name="NASum1">[http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/me3.html#port1 Portland forts at NorthAmericanForts.com]</ref> A plaque at the park states that at this time it was named for Master Commandant [[William Henry Allen]], a naval officer mortally wounded in the War of 1812.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:FortAllenUSS Maine01.jpg|[[6"/30 caliber gun]] salvaged from {{USS|Maine|ACR-1|6}} in Fort Allen Park
File:USSPortlandFortAllenPk01.jpg|Mainmast and bridge shield of {{USS|Portland|CA-33}}
File:Fort Allen Park mural.jpg|A [[mural]] of Fort Allen Park on a building on Portland's [[Middle Street]]
</gallery>

== See also ==

* [[Portland Railroad Company]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Parks in Portland, Maine]]
[[Category:Urban public parks]]
[[Category:Munjoy Hill]]
[[Category:Military in Portland, Maine]]

Latest revision as of 11:57, 19 November 2024

Fort Allen Park
Map
TypeUrban park
LocationPortland, Maine, United States
Coordinates43°39′55″N 70°14′26″W / 43.66536°N 70.24057°W / 43.66536; -70.24057
Owned byCity of Portland
Open24 hours

Fort Allen Park is an urban park in the Munjoy Hill neighborhood of Portland, Maine, United States. It covers 9 acres (3.6 ha) and abuts the Eastern Promenade to the south. It was built in the 1890s, designed by the city's chief engineer William Goodwin and backed by mayor James P. Baxter, according to a plaque in the park. Fort Allen was probably originally built in 1775, may have served as part of Fort Sumner, and was rebuilt by the city and used to guard Portland during the War of 1812 due to its high vantage point overlooking Casco Bay.[1][2][3] The park is home to a 6-inch gun from the USS Maine (the ship whose explosion in Havana, Cuba started the Spanish–American War), the foremast and bridge structure of the World War II cruiser USS Portland (CA-33), two Civil War-era 4.5-inch siege rifles, an American Civil War memorial bench erected in 1929,[4] and an historic bandstand which was built in the 1890s. In 2012, a local non-profit group, Friends of the Eastern Promenade, sought to restore Fort Allen Park to its original look.[5] As of 2016 this has resulted in additional interpretive plaques throughout the park, along with other improvements.

Some sources state that Fort Allen dates from 1775 and was originally named for Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen. It was initially a half-moon battery mounting five guns.[6][7] After 1794 it may have served as the "detached battery" of nearby Fort Sumner, as described in the Secretary of War's report for 1811.[8] Fort Allen was rebuilt in 1814 with city resources, adding a magazine and barracks due to the British capture of Eastport and Castine in the War of 1812.[9] A plaque at the park states that at this time it was named for Master Commandant William Henry Allen, a naval officer mortally wounded in the War of 1812.

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Murphy, Edward (July 6, 2011). "Fort Allen Park:Reclaiming the high ground". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  2. ^ Casco Bay forts at NorthAmericanforts.com
  3. ^ Fort Allen at FortWiki.com
  4. ^ "Maine's Civil War Monuments". Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  5. ^ Koenig, Seth (February 14, 2012). "Fort Allen Park rehabilitation project reaches key stretch". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  6. ^ Roberts, pp. 357, 373
  7. ^ Fort Allen at FortWiki.com
  8. ^ Wade, p. 241
  9. ^ Portland forts at NorthAmericanForts.com