Kennebec Arsenal

Kennebec Arsenal is a military complex in Augusta featuring eight granite structures built in Greek Revival and Gothic Revival styles. The buildings line Arsenal Street and display the typical architectural approach of early 1800s military design.

Congress approved this arsenal in 1827 to defend the Canadian border and guard against British attack. It quickly became a center for military manufacturing in the region.

The layout shows how military life was organized in the 1800s, with distinct areas for officers, enlisted men, and weapons storage. You can still read this structure today in how the buildings are arranged around the grounds.

You can walk the grounds year-round, but the buildings themselves are usually closed to visitors. Plan time to study the exterior architecture and overall layout of the complex.

After closing as a military facility, the arsenal was converted into a mental health hospital before it finally shut down in 2004. This shift shows how historic structures can be repurposed for very different uses over time.