Why is the Penobscot Narrows Bridge Famous?
If we didn’t drive on Highway 1 from Trenton in Maine to North Hampton in New Hampshire, we would never know about Penobscot Narrows Bridge. And apparently, it’s a famous bridge!
We just spent two days in Acadia National Park and drove to Lubec, the easternmost part of the country, and then we saw the bridge on our way to Massachusetts.
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Our trip to Maine was part of our road trip from Texas to New England. It was our first time in Maine and the other states in New England. We started the trip from Vermont, moved to New Hampshire, and then Maine before we drove down to the states in the southern part of New England.
We drove Highway 1 because I wanted to see lighthouses in Maine. About forty minutes later, what we saw first was a fort. We decided to stop at the fort because we never heard about a fort in Maine.
When we crossed the bridge towards the fort, we saw window glasses on one of the towers and wondered what that was.
We turned right after the bridge and arrived at the entrance to the fort. The park host gave us a short info about the fort. She told us it’s an observatory at the tower and open to the public. Of course, we wanted to go up there.
From our visit and the brochures, I share with you what makes Penobscot Narrows Bridge famous.
Why is the Penobscot Narrows Bridge Famous?
1. It is home to the Penobscot Narrows Observatory.
The Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory is the crown jewel of coastal Maine. It was built to replace the Waldo-Hancock Bridge, built in 1931. It took 42 months to complete, from concept until the bridge opened in December 2006. The cost to design and build the bridge was $85 million. It has had numerous recognitions and awards since its opening day.
The Penobscot Narrows Bridge is a 2,120-foot (650 meters) long cable-stayed bridge. It crosses the Penobscot River and connects Verona Island to Prospect on US-1.
As for the Penobscot Narrows Observatory, it opened to the public on May 19, 2007.
2. The Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory is the first bridge observation tower in the United States.
The observatory has three decks offering 360-degree views of the Penobscot Bay and River, the Maine countryside, the distant western mountains, and Fort Knox. In a good weather condition, you can see as far as 40 miles or more in some directions.
The observatory is fully enclosed in specialty safety glass. There is no AC or heat. Check out the weather on the day of your visit.
An elevator will take you to the lowest deck from the bottom. It’s the fastest and tallest passenger elevator in Maine and takes about one minute to the top. From the lowest deck, take a stairway to the other two decks. If you have trouble with stairs, a vertical lift connects the elevator deck to the top deck.
When on the top deck, check out the beautiful inlaid bronze compass rose. The design was taken from a map by Samuel de Champlain (1567-1635), an early French explorer who passed by this site on his way up the Penobscot River.
3. The Penobscot Bridge Observatory is the world’s tallest public bridge observatory.
At 420 feet (128 meters) in elevation (42 stories), the Penobscot Observatory became the world’s tallest public bridge observatory. It is one of the only four bridge observatories in the world. The other three are in China, Thailand, and Slovakia. It is also the tallest public-occupied structure in Maine.
4. The Penobscot Narrows Observatory is taller than the Statue of Liberty.
When it’s taller than the Statue of Liberty in New York (305 feet/93 meters) or the Bunker Hill Monument in Boston, Massachusetts (221 feet/67 meters,) the Penobscot Observatory is shorter than the Washington Monument in DC (555 feet/169 meters.)
Tips for Visiting Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory
– I don’t recommend you go to the observatory decks if you are afraid of heights.
– If you choose to go up because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you, stay in the middle of the deck. Peek through behind your spouse, friends, or children.
– I have a minor claustrophobia. I asked my husband and son to talk with me during the elevator trip up and down. Elevator capacity is 6 to 8 adults. It’s not packed like the elevator in Hoover Dam or Washington Monument.
– There are stairs from the bottom to the top. They are for unlikely events such as elevator malfunctions. You can only take the elevator to go to the observatory deck.
Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory Hours
May 1 to June 30: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
July 1 to August 31: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
September 1 to October 31: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Fort Knox is open from May 1 to October 31 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and open until 7 p.m. from July 1 through October 31. The park grounds are open year-round from 9 a.m. to sunset.
Penobscot Observatory Rates
Admission to Observatory and Fort
Adults 12 & older: $9 or $7 for Maine residents.
Seniors (65+): $5.50 or $2.50 for Maine residents.
Children 5-11: $5 for both non-resident and Maine residents.
Observatory Rates for Maine State Park Season Passholders
Adults 12 & older: $2.50
Seniors (65+): $2.50
Children 5-11: $2.50
These prices are for Maine residents and non-residents.
There is no limit to the time you can spend at the observatory, but please understand others are waiting to visit.
Directions to the famous Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory
Penobscot Bridge is on US Route 1, the main road when you travel along the coastal Maine. Visitors enter the bridge observatory area through the Fort Knox State Historic Site on 711 Fort Knox Road in Prospect.
The entrance is just off Route 1 in Prospect on Route 174. You will turn left before the bridge if you come from the south. Turn right after the bridge if you come from the north.
Here are the approximate mileage from nearby cities:
– Augusta: 58 miles
– Bangor: 28 miles
– Belfast: 18 miles
– Bucksport: 2 miles
– Camden: 36 miles
– Ellsworth: 25 miles
– Portland: 118 miles
Is It Worth It to Stop at the Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory?
Absolutely! It’s the tallest observatory bridge in the world, and the views from the top are amazing. Climbing to the top is like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You may drive on Route 1 again but not have time to stop. In that case, don’t forget to explore the historic Fort Knox.
Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory Address
Enter this address to your GPS unit, Mapquest, or Google Maps:
740 Fort Knox Road, Prospect, Maine 04981.
Happy to know that they’re open to public. I have heard about the Penoscot Bridge Observatory as the world’s tallest and would love to visit. The prices are super cheap and definitely worth spending on. I can just imagine the view to be amazing. 🙂
It seems you had a very interesting visit at the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory. Although I am not sure, if I would make a detour to visit this site. I am not afraid of heights, so crossing the bridge would not be a problem.
That’s such an exhaustive coverage on Penobscot Narrows Bridge. We haven’t had the opportunity to visit Maine but this is one bridge that we certainly wouldn’t want to miss. Bridges have always fascinated me and my wife during our travels. And just to get a feel of Oresund bridge we had travelled from Copenhagen to Malmo and it was such a wonderful experience going underwater. It would be quite a view from the Observation tower in this case.
I did not know this was a famous bridge, but it totally makes sense now. Loved reading the facts on the bridge on how long it took to build and the cost. I am a sucker for places with good views and would totally make the stop here to go to the top. Thankfully I am not claustrophobic nor afraid of heights so seems this would be perfect place for me to add to my list if visiting the area. Now I need to plan a trip so I can get to see this famous bridge.
I am scared of heights. But despite that I wouldn’t miss this bridge and the observatory. The views are fantastic and the idea of being on top of the world is so captivating. I may not be able to climb mountains, but this is doable for sure.
Very interesting! I’m not really afraid of heights, but it does churn my tummy a bit to look down from above. I never really think about the bridges we drive over, but this one seems to be a really big attraction with the observatory and such. It must be really tall from the image putting the Statue of Liberty in perspective with it. Wow!
I have to admit that through all my travels, I have never been on an observatory on top of a bridge. Penobscot Narrows Bridge seems like a very fascinating place. Even though I don’t get along with heights, I would probably still go up to the deck, just to see the view. It’s there for a reason, and that is probably because it is very worth it. Especially when the bridge is so high!
What a fantastic way to stumble upon such an amazing structure! Sometimes, unplanned road trips really are the best. The Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory, being the tallest public bridge observatory in the world, sounds incredible. I’m in my late 50s, and your tips about handling heights are super helpful. Thanks for sharing your adventure!
As a Civil Engineer I must admit I find bridges fascinating. So I would definitely want to find out why the Penobscot Narrows Bridge was famous. On our travels around Maine we missed this bridge. But were sure did enjoy the lighthouses! It would be great to catch the view from the Observatory. We definitely don’t have any trouble with heights. Interesting to know this is the first bridge observation tower in the U.S. and the tallest one in the world.
If you took US highway 1 when driving around Maine, you wouldn’t miss the Penobscot Bridge. It was longer than the main highway, but you got to see many things.