>>
>> AS
>> AS ROB
>> AS ROB REPORTS, WHAT COMES WITH THE LEGACY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY4@ OF PRESERVING
IT, NOT JUST ON LAND BUT AT
SEE.
>> Reporter: EVERY DAY,
THOUSANDS 4@OF PEOPLE FROM
PORTLAND4@ OUT TO CASCO BAY
ADMIRE THE VIEW.4@4@
PART OF WHAT MAKES THE VIEW
SPECIAL IS WHAT YOU DON'T SEE
ANYWHERE ELSE IN MAINE.
AND 19TH-CENTURY FORT, PERCHED
ON A SLAB OF LEDGE SO SMALL
THAT AT HIGH TIDE IT ALMOST
LOOKS AS IF IT 4@IS FLOATING.
>> THIS IS FORT GORGES. IT'S
NOT EASY TO GET TO.
THE ONLY WAY TO REACH THE FORD
IS BY SMALL BOAT4@. THE ONLY TI
YOU CAN TIE UP IS WITHIN A
COUPLE OF HOURS OF HIGH TIDE4@
>> UNTIL WE GET A DOCK OUT HERE
THIS WILL BE ONE OF THE
CHALLENGES.4@
>> BECAUSE IT'S NOT EASY TO
REACH THE IT'S ONE OF MAINE'S
AND TOURISTY GEMS, SEEN BY
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE@
, VISITED BY JUST A FRACTION OF
THEM4@4@ .
>> AS MUCH AS FORT GORGES IS ON
EVERYONE'S RADAR,4@ WE ROUTINEL
MEET PEOPLE WHO SPENT THEIR
WHOLE LIFE IN PORTLAND AND
THEY'VE NEVER BEEN BECAUSE THEY
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO A BOAT.
>> Repor4@ter:4@ ABOUT 8000 PEO
COME TO THE FORT, AND, THE
NUMBERS ARE RISING4@ .
>> ABSOL4@UTELY.
MOSTLY BECAUSE OF INSTAGRAM AND
FACEBOOK. EVERYBODY WANTS TO
VISIT THIS PLACE.
>> Reporter: WHEN THE FORT WAS
COMPLETED IN 1865 IT WAS
ALREADY OUTDATED, RENDERED4@
OBSOLETE BY ADVANCES IN NAVAL
GUNS.
THE CITY OF PORTLAND ACQUIRED
THE PROPERTY IN 1960 AND A 4@
NONPROFIT GROUP OF FRIENDS OF
FORT GORGES, IS DEDICATED TO
KEEPING THE FORT ACCESSIBLE FOR
FUTURE GENERATIONS4@ .
>> WATCH YOUR STEP ON THE
FLOOR, THE STUDS ARE STICKING
OUT OF THE FLOOR.
>> Reporter:4@ FUNDRAISING
CAMPAIGN WITH THE GOAL OF A
HALF MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN
STARTED, IF IT SUCCEE4@DS, THE
CITY WILL KICK IN $250,000. ALL
THE MONEY WILL GO TO
PRESERVATION AND IMPROVED
ACCESS.
ONE GOAL IS4@ BUILDING MORE
VIEWING PLATFORMS THAT WOULD
PROVIDE UNMATCHED VISTAS OF 4@
CASCO BAY4@ .
>> IT IS THE PREMIER SPOT 4@IN
THE BAY FOR TAKING IN THE
SURROUNDINGS AND LOOKING BACK
AT THE CITY
>> THE VIEWS ARE SPECTACULAR.
WHAT'S ALSO IMPRESSIVE ARE THE
ACOUSTICS IN THE FORT, WHICH
LEAH RAMSDELL REALIZED EARLY ON
.
>> PROBABLY MY FIRST ADVENTURE
OUT HERE WHEN I WAS 15 YEARS
OLD, JUST WALKING AROUND YOU
CAN HEAR IT4@ .
>> HE WASN'T REALLY SINGING AT
THAT POINT, I WAS PRETTY MUCH
JUST MAKING SOUNDS, OR
WHISTLING, WHATEVER.4@
IS FUN TO HEAR THE ECHO.4@ 4@
>> Reporter: YEARS LATER, HE
STARTED SINGING OPERA AND WHEN
VISITING THE FORT WITH FRIENDS,
HE'S BEEN NODE KNOWN TO BELT OU@
4@.
>> THE HOPE IS THAT ONE DAY
THEY CAN HOST CONCERTS, PLAYS,
LECTURES AND MORE.
BUT IT HAS TO BE PRESERVED .
>> YOU CAN SEE THE CRACKS IN
THE BRICK.4@
>> MAINTENANCE NEVER ENDS, AS
ANYONE WHO OWNS AN OLD 4@HOUSE
KNOWS4@ .
>> THE TAGLINE IS RESTORATION
AND PRESERVATION, THEY HAVE NO
INTENTION OF FULLY RESTORING4@
FORT GORGES UNLESS A MAJOR
FOUNDATION STEPS IN WITH A
MAJOR ENDOWMENT4@ RESTORATION A
PRESERVATION IN THIS INSTANC4@E
MEANS STABILIZING AND KEEPING
IT SAFE .
>> THAT RAISES 4@ANOTHER ISSUE,
HOW TO STRIKE THE RIGHT BALANCE
SO THAT FORT CAN WELCOME MORE
VISITORS BUT NOT SO MANY THAT
THEY LOVE IT TO DEATH .
>> IF TRAFFIC RA4@MPED UP TO TH
POINT WHERE IT WAS A CONSTANT
BARRAGE OF BOAT TRAFFIC4@ AND
4@ FOOT TRAFFIC, IT WOULD TAKE
AWAY FROM 4@THE EXPERIENCE.
SO, WHEN AND IF WE GET THERE,
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO 4@
LIMIT ACCESS 4@SO IT DOESN'T
DETRACT FROM THE EXPERIENCE .
>> TO TRULY APPRECIATE THE
FORT, PEOPLE NEED TO SEE IT UP
CLOSE, WALK AROUND, TOUCH TH4@E
STONES, TAKING THE VIEW,4@ THE
THINKING IS, ONCE VISITORS
EXPERIENCE THE PLACE , THEY
WILL BE A LOT MORE INCLINED TO
WANT TO HELP SAVE IT .
>> THING A PICTURE OF IT ON
INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK , DOESN'T
DO IT