Portland Head Light und Fort Williams Walking Tour

Jack was a nice young man and wonderful tour guide. He knew a lot about the history of the lighthouse and fort. We greatly enjoyed our walking tour with Jack! side not: Just make sure you verify meeting place and how to identify Jack before your arrival.

My husband and I frequently walk in Fort Williams and decided to take a tour this July to learn the history behind the many former structures that are sprinkled around the park. Jack, of Jack’s Tours, is an enthusiastic tour guide with a well-planned itinerary. He has endless knowledge on the fort’s role in coastal defense during the wars. At each historical ruin he showed us a photo of the site at its heyday. Then through facts and storytelling we were transported back in time. We learned about a curious ship wreck, a sneaky submarine, secret defense tactics, and the splendid Goddard Mansion. A highlight was being guided through a dark secret passageway and then we were invited to help solve the mystery on what purpose it served. Jack also patiently answered all of our questions about the surrounding islands and lighthouses. I highly recommend Jack’s Tours to both locals and tourist. You will come away with some fascinating history about this coastal defense fortification from a local who knows it well.

I’ve taken a lot of walking tours in many places around the world and this was one of the best. Our tour guide, Jack, is a local guy with a real passion for the history of the area and for Maine in general. I didn’t realize how much this area has been part of American history from pre-Revolutionary War through WW2. Beautiful walk on seaside trail and really cool old fortifications. It was a little over an hour - just right. Bravo to a college-aged entrepreneur making something happen. I had a fantastic lobster roll at the food truck to complete the experience.

Full disclaimer, I did not participate in this entire tour. While walking the grounds with some friends, we stumble upon Jack giving this tour and he was kind enough to let us listen in and learn some of the history of Fort Williams Park. I have a season pass and come to walk my dog on these grounds at least once a week if not more; however, I had friends visiting and they kept asking questions about the history and I was embarrassed that I could not provide any information. I think sometimes when we live in an area we take for granted all of the hidden gems. The next time I have friends in town, I will be booking this entire tour as Jack was incredibly knowledgeable and I learned so much information in the 5-10 minutes that we were talking with him. I am also grateful that the two people who paid for the tour were more than happy to allow us to join in for short time. Thank you Jack for your kindness and knowledge!!

Jack is an incredible tour guide! He was super kind and friendly throughout the tour, and taught us so much about the history of the Head Light, Fort Williams, and the whole of Portland. My partner and I had a great time learning from him and he showed us a bunch of old base buildings we might have otherwise walked by. He's just starting out so book him while he still has availability!

This is a wonderful small but very interesting park. I visited in both the summer and winter and both times were very beautiful! The tour was very reasonably priced and I learned a lot of interesting facts about the park and Maine. The first American solider death was on the beach here at the park. Jack was also very personable and knowledgeable about each landmark in the park.

I had the most incredible experience on my recent tour of Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine! This park is an absolute gem, and the guided tour truly made the whole visit special. Our guide, Jack, was super passionate and knowledgeable about the history of the fort and its stunning surroundings. They really brought the stories of the old military structures to life and I learned so much about the park's past! Whether you're a history buff or just looking for a beautiful spot to enjoy Maine's natural beauty, I can’t recommend this tour enough. It’s the perfect blend of history, scenery, and fun. Definitely worth the visit if you’re in the area

Jack gave a wonderful, fun, and informing tour that really gave me a new perspective on U.S. history. Would definitely do this tour again!

Excellent knowledgeable guide with local insights. Good Portland lighthouse and WW2 history. Got so much more out of the Park and visit by taking the tour.