Tallest in Maine

Penobscot Narrows Bridge sign

Bridge observatories are not common, there’s only four bridge and observation towers in the world, so having the tallest public bridge observatory located in New England is noteworthy. 

The Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory is the only observatory bridge in the U.S. The other three are in China, Thailand and Slovakia. It’s also the tallest occupied structure in the state of Maine and it's less than a 4-hour drive from Nashua, NH.

Lucky for us that drive was half as long since we were staying in Belfast, ME, on our recent getaway to celebrate Grenville's birthday. What's even better is that we went to the top.

Penobscot Narrows Bridge from walkway

The Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory is located in the 420-foot-high western tower of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, a cable suspension bridge over the Penobscot Narrows River between Verona Island and Prospect, Maine. The cable-stayed bridge is 447 feet tall and 2,120 feet long with the longest span at 1,161 feet. It's a striking sight when viewed along Coastal Highway U.S. Route 1.

Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory

The Observatory Tower (above) has become one of the most popular attractions in Midcoast Maine since its opening in 2007. It provides 360 degree, 100-mile views of the Penobscot River Valley and beyond.  

Just for some height comparisons, this observation tower is taller than the Statue of Liberty in NYC Harbor (305 feet) and the Bunker Hill Monument in Boston, MA (221 feet). It's a bit shorter than the 555-foot tall Washington Monument (DC) which opened to the public in 1888. 

Granite from Maine's Mount Waldo quarry was used in the construction of the DC monument, which was the design inspiration for the observatory’s obelisk shaped support towers that are modeled after it.

Observation Deck & Compass Rose

Ascent to the observatory tower is by elevator (42 stories up). When you get off, there's a floor to ceiling window directly in front. Just turn right and climb two short flights of stairs (there's a lift for those with mobility issues) to enter the observation room. Placards identify surrounding landmarks and history. 

This placard explains that the compass rose is from the design of a map from Samuel de Champlain, the French explorer, who passed by the site of the bridge and tower on his travels up the Penobscot River.

Views from Penobscot Bridge Observatory

At the top, 360-degree views include the river and bay below, the Atlantic Ocean, the town of Bucksport, and historic Fort Knox. On a clear day it’s possible to view Cadillac Mountain in Acadia Park on Maine's Mount Desert Island. The fort, built in 1844, is considered one of the best preserved fortifications on the New England seacoast. (Our fort visit will be detailed in a future post.)

Waldo-Hancock Bridge (online source)

The Waldo-Hancock bridge (above) had been the first long-span suspension bridge built by the American Bridge Company in Maine at a cost of $850,000 ($16 million dollars today), and was a popularly designed suspension bridge used at the time to span wide rivers, like the Penobscot River. It was named after the Waldo and Hancock counties it connected. Collected bridge tolls went towards retiring bonds issued for construction; 22 years later in October 1953, the bonds were paid off and all tolls lifted.

The bridge continued in use for 70 years. While undergoing rehabilitation by the Maine DOT, severe corrosion of the suspension cables was discovered deteriorating their ability to support the deck, roadway and traffic. By 2002, the bridge was found to be beyond repair which meant that a replacement bridge would be needed and built adjacent to the aging bridge.

Waldo-Hancock Bridge & Penobscot Narrows Bridge (online source)

When the the Penobscot Narrows Bridge was completed as a replacement for the 1931 Waldo-Hancock Bridge, the former bridge was still standing. Time from conception to completion was 42 months. The cost of both the bridge and observation deck was $85 million dollars.

Concrete pier from Waldo-Hancock Bridge

In late 2006, the Penobscot Narrows Bridge opened to traffic. Meanwhile, the Waldo-Hancock Bridge was closed at both ends to cars and pedestrians. The bridge was demolished in 2013 and the concrete piers in the river (like this one) are all that remain of the former bridge.

Fort Knox, Protector of the Penobscot

Access to the Penobscot Narrows Observatory is seasonal. It's open the same times of the year as Fort Knox, usually the end of May through the end of October.

We visited mid-week with no delays. Tickets for the elevator ride to the tower are purchased when entering the Fort Knox historic site. Our cost as out-or-state senior residents was $5.50 each which included the self-guided tour of the fort and the observatory. Both are well worth the cost, if you are ever in New England, specifically in the state of Maine.