Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory

Amazing views! Take a quick ride up the elevator. 420 feet to be exact!
The entire observatory is wheelchair accessible. The staff is very friendly and helpful.
$ 7 for both the bridge and observatory and Fort Knox.
Bathrooms located outside the bridge and Fort Knox.

Really enjoyed exploring this unusual bridge + observatory platform — the highest in the world! –which I understand is a bit of an unusual design feature for a bridge… But, then again, it guarantees continued revenue, doesn’t it? Pure genius. And which works really well with the revenue-​generating fort that was already there (i.e. Fort Knox). Visiting the bridge wasn’t a planned stop for us — just one of life’s little surprises on the way to Acadia National Park — but I’m glad we did. The entrance fee wasn’t too exorbitant and it wasn’t crowded at all (maybe because it was a rainy weekday?) Very handicap accessible — built into the design from the start — and plenty of explanatory signage.

Great place — on a clear day, you can see Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.
I definitely recommend going, as it will give your feet a break from walking through Fort Knox. See my review for that as well.

Wow, was not expecting this. Very fairly priced and a magnificent view. Don’t forget the fort though. Fort Knox was incredible. The fort without the gold is still excellent. Great for kids! Very nice people running this place as well. Loved it.

This was an amazing side stop going from Bangor to Bar Harbor. We spent about 90 minutes enjoying the views from the observatory. We lucked out going on a week day so there were no crowds, maybe 10 people at once. Then we went over to Fort Knox and explored the area. It was decked out for Halloween which added an extra element of fun. Creepy yet historic. A great side trip if you’re going to be within 20 – 25 miles of it.

Totally awesome — must see! We loved it. The kids loved it. We won’t forget it.
There is so much to see and do from putting your feet in the cool Penobscot, to going to the observation tower, to spending a few hours exploring the massive Fort Knox’s many levels and chambers.
Some of the rooms are a little creepy, so a $ 8 Wal*Mark Ozark Trails head lamp might do a little better than using the camera flash on your phone as a flashlight.

Carrying Route 1 across its namesake river, the Penobscott Narrows Bridge is heavily reminiscent of the Washington Monument (by design, as the informative exhibition inside will tell you). Its beautiful construction manages to stand out from the surrounding hills without appearing out of place.
Inside, the welcoming National Park staff will direct you to the lift to the top of the tower, where a specially built observatory gives spectacular views over the area.
The exhibition details the bridge’s rapid construction and advanced design. A few steps from the entrance, a section of the bridge is displayed for greater understanding of the internal structure.
The nearby Fort Knox is also accessible with one ticket, or you can just visit the observatory for a quick break. Very much worth it!

Came upon this place by accident. Definitely worth stopping. The observatory is awesome. The fort is cool and nicely preserved. Make sure to bring a flash light Some of the tunnels in the fort are very dark. I used my flashlight app on my phone but it didn’t help very much.

We stopped in Bucksport on our way home from Bar Harbor and were looking for something to do. We found this on Unilocal and decided to give it a try since it only cost about $ 14 total for the family do go to the top of the observatory and to explore the fort. The observatory provided an impressive view of the surrounding area and my young daughter loved it. The elevator ride to the top was very smooth and quick. We stayed for about ten minutes while I took photos and then headed back down to go to the fort. We had two flashlights & I would recommend some sort of light source. Some areas of the fort were dark enough that you would not be able to see at all without a flashlight or a smartphone light. We spent about an hour exploring the different areas. It was not too crowded while we were there but there was also never the sense that we were far from other people. The fort is supposed to be haunted. My 4 year old daughter did not encounter anything that scared her. If you are in Bucksport and looking for something to do for a few hours, I highly recommend the observatory and Fort Knox.

Unique, wonderful structure and knowledgeable staff person. Fun tip for the kids (adult kids too): stand at side of the bottom entrance and give a shout against the column– your Amazing echo will follow 3 seconds later, and then again!

What a wonderful little surprise to have such a great place to come to here in the Penobscot Bay area.
Come during any time of year (but not on foggy days), you will be treated to marvelous views of the area. The observation room is sparse and small but that makes it all the more intimate.
I most certainly give this $ 5-​fee venue all five stars. «Thank you», human engineering and Mother Nature both. :-)
oh, and you have a cool fort to go to as well while you’re at it.

Pros: Tallest bridge observatory in the world.
Cons: Views aren’t that spectacular for the area, but you’ll find a few moments of solitude. Staff is neither friendly nor helpful.

While Maine is a state known for its abundant natural wonders and startling beauty, there are some man-​made wonders to be found as well.
The Penobscot Narrows Bridge is a testimony to engineering excellence and an amazing design sensibility.
The bridge officially opened on December 30^th 2006 and replaced what was known as the Waldo-​Hancock Bridge which had been in tough shape. The observatory opened a few months later in May 2007.
The Penobscot has some serious «wow factors» going for it. For those of you who are familiar with the Zakim/​Charlestown Bridge in Boston, the design of this one will be familiar.
This is a stunning creation the looks like arms reaching to the heavens. If you’ve come up this far in Maine already, don’t just cross the bridge by car, but instead take a little time to pull into the nearby parking lot so that you can also visit the observation tower which is 420 feet tall and on a clear day provides incredible views of the Penobscot River, the Fort Knox Historic site and beyond.
Sometimes in the midst of giving glory to nature there are opportunities like this to revel in the creation of the beautiful things humans are often capable of creating.

After a quaint drive from Acadia National Park, we decided to stop by the Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory which was worth the pit stop.
This magnificent work of steel was built in 2006 and opened an observatory at the second tower in 2007 where visitors can take a quick elevator ride 400+ feet up to see the fantastic views of the connecting lands of Prospect and Verona Island. The deck was the first US bridge observation tower with 360 degree views.
To enter, you must drive to the entrance and pay for the Knox Fort and Observation ticket (Adults $ 7, Children $ 5) and park near the tower where you will be escorted into an elevator which brings you to the access points. There were two levels at the top. Be sure to take your camera for some unbelievable shots of Maine.
This activity will only take about 45 minutes of your time for the tower only. The hours are typically from 9AM-​4PM so plan accordingly if you’re interested in visiting Fort Knox which is adjacent to the bridge.

You can see over 70 miles from the observation tower. In the fall the vistas are really spectacular. Definately a must do.

Stunning views, worth the trip. Easy to get to, enjoyed the 2 for 1 tix with Fort Knox. Amazing structure.

An absolutely stunning bridge with the added bonus of being able to go inside and get a birds-​eye view of the surrounding area. They have maps labeling what can be see on the horizon outside every window along with a bit of information about everything. You can also snap some fun pictures from up top.

The Penobscot Narrows Bridge was designed as an emergency replacement for the Waldo-​Hancock Bridge and from conception to completion, just 42 months elapsed. Engineering innovations used in the bridge helped it appear in Popular Science Magazine as one of the 100 best innovations of the year in 2006. The 420′ observatory is the first bridge observation tower in the United States and as if now is the tallest public bridge observatory in the world. The view is pretty cool because you can see the beautiful rolling hills of Maine, a harbor town, and neighboring Fort Knox.
If you’re from a big city the 447′ bridge will seem a bit short (this is a couple hundred feet shorter than the Verazzano and Washington Bridges in NYC) but it’s still a good looking bridge with a nice scenic view almost never seen from bridges or tall buildings.
Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory shares its visitors center, parking lot, and entrance/​fees with the awesome Fort Knox so your trip can include both at once, definitely making the trip worth while.

The Penobscot Narrows Bridge is a 2,120 foot long bridge stretching over the Penobscot River. It connects the towns of Prospect and Verona Island, Maine. If you were to drive from Belfast to Ellsworth or Bar Harbor, Maine you would cross this bridge.
The top of the first bridge tower has an observatory 420 feet high which offers a spectacular view of the river, Penobscot bay, nearby Fort Knox and the surrounding towns.
I heard someone say if the observatory tower was a building it would be 44 stories high.
Check out the photos!