Exploring Battery Steele

Exploring Battery Steele on Peaks Island

Last week I took a trip over to Peaks Island to check out an abandoned WWII military base sitting just off the coast of Portland, Maine. Getting there is part of the fun. It is a quick 15 minute ferry ride that pulls you away from the noise of the mainland. The island is quiet and really peaceful, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to feel like they are off the grid without having to travel very far.

The History and Atmosphere of Battery Steele

Battery Steele is one of the biggest military fortifications built along the U.S. coastline during World War II, and walking inside it feels like stepping into a huge concrete shell that time forgot. Long echoing corridors, big reinforced rooms, and pockets of deep shadow give the whole place a strange mix of calm and creepiness. Over the years the walls have turned into a giant art space, with graffiti covering pretty much everything.

Graffiti, Shadows, and Flooded Rooms

The amount of graffiti there is wild. Around every corner is something different. Big pieces, random tags, weird sayings, and tons of color. Some parts of the bunker are flooded, which makes for some cool reflections, but I did not feel like risking my camera gear to poke around in the deeper sections. Even without going into those areas, there is still plenty to explore.

Planning a Return Trip

I am already planning another visit in the spring of 2024 when the weather is better and I have more time to check out the spots I skipped. The place is huge, and one visit is nowhere near enough to see everything.

Photo Highlights From the Trip

Until then, here are some of the photos I shot during this visit. Graffiti covered rooms, long empty hallways, and all the textures and colors that make Battery Steele such an interesting place to wander through.

More of my photography can be accessed via my Instagram account here.