What was Fort Preble?

Fort Preble is a military fort in South Portland, Maine.

Henry A. S. Dearborn built the fort in 1808 and named it in honor of Commodore Edward Preble. It was designed to guard Portland harbor in Casco Bay, along with Fort Scammel.

Fort Preble was manned by three companies during the War of 1812.

The fort saw action during during the United States Civil War, when Confederate Army raiders entered Portland Harbor aboard a captured ship named Archer on June 26, 1863. The Confederates captured the ship Caleb Cushing the next day, and attempted an escape. Calm seas forced them to set the ship on fire, and they were captured by Union forces. 23 Confederate prisoners were captured and taken to the fort.

The fort remained manned through the United States Civil War, World War I, and World War II. It was decommissioned in 1950.

Spring Point Ledge Light was built near the site in 1897. A 900-foot granite breakwater that extends from the fort and surrounds the lighthouse was later added in 1951.