Private Island Fort Tour in Casco Bay: Boat Cruise & Island Tour
Description
Board the Elizabeth Grace for this exclusive one-of-a-kind experience. Whether you are a local or visiting from away, the stone fortresses built in the early 19th century in Portland Harbor are always captivating. They are imposing reminders of days not too far gone when the defense of our coastline required their presence. Despite their prominence, the forts are not easy to access for a variety of reasons, and most locals and visitors have never been to Fort Scammel, the only fort in the Harbor to see active combat. Fortunately, the owners of Fort Scammel have partnered with us to offer private tours of this incredible historic site. This is an experience NOT TO BE MISSED! Along the way, we’ll cruise past some of the other great sights in the bay, including the iconic lighthouses. GROUP OF 6 OR MORE? Please reach out to us about private charter options for the best experience possible! Our Fort Tour on a Private Island has a 4 PERSON MINIMUM to operate.
Tour Options
Itinerary
At SeaPortland, we are happy to offer a truly unparalleled experience with our Private Island and Fort Tour. With access to Fort Scammel on House Island, a historic site that is privately owned and was inaccessible to the public for decades, this is a tour you won’t find anywhere else in Portland! You’ll have the chance to explore the unique architecture, masonry, and preserved ruins of the fort, with its catacombs-style underground passages and French influences.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(80)
Very interesting history. Our guide was passionate about the history of the fort, providing details not available otherwise. We were lucky to have the most excellent weather of the summer and the short boat trip out to House Island was smooth and wonderful, passing several lighthouses and landmarks. One word of caution is this is a moderate activity and not for anyone with a disability that would prevent them climbing elevation or stairs. But if you get tired and have to stay behind there are benches with incredible views!
I took this tour with my husband, a teenager and a preteen. Everybody thought it was great! The host couldn’t be better, guide fantastic. Definitely a must do for a Portland Maine trip.
We're so happy to hear that you had a good time on the Fort Tour! House Island and Fort Scammel are so ingrained in the history of Portland and we're incredibly lucky to be able to highlight it. Thanks for joining us!
I went on a Saturday. Our meet up location was a local brew pub, slightly off of the main traffic area. I walked from the Holiday Inn in about 15 minutes so I cannot speak to parking, other than it is expensive and hard to find. The guide met us there, took a walk to the boat and then out to the island for a tour of the South end including grounds and down into the fort. I appreciated the natural history of the area, which is something I never learned in history class back in Kansas. It was a hot and humid day outside so time in the fort was magical. Like truly. It was cool and misty in the gun powder storage area. I spotted actual stalactites and stalagmites from the years of dripping ground water. There is also a limited space campground in this area that we got to view, including a few campers in our tour group that were staying there for the first hand experience. This group offers multiple tours. Ours was called the private island and fort tour in Casco Bay or something similar. A well organized group, and I'm proud to support the locals in my travels .
Thank you so much for this detailed review, and for joining us on the fort tour! It really is such a unique way to explore Portland and learn about the maritime and military history and the views are something special. Especially great on a hot day! Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to see you again soon!
Great experience. I took my kids on this tour of Fort Scammel. We left on time and enjoyed the short boat ride to the fort. Once there, the guide gave an engaging tour, detailing the history of the fort and the broader area. We got to explore the inside and outside areas. It was just over 2 hours altogether.
Thank you so much for joining us on the Fort Tour! Fort Scammel and House Island are such an interesting way to see Portland and learn more about the extensive maritime history, and we're incredibly lucky to have access to it. We're glad you had fun, and thank you again for visiting!
We booked this last minute due to other plans falling through and it ended up being our favorite thing we did on our trip! What an incredible experience and we highly recommend booking!
We're glad you had fun despite some plans falling through! Planning around is never fun or easy, and we're thankful you joined us on the Fort Tour and had a great time! It's definitely one of the most interesting places in Portland and we're incredibly grateful to be able to share it with others. We hope to see you again soon!
Outstanding trip. Enjoyed the scenery. Education was awesome. Stephen was amazing tour guide. Highly recommend.
Thanks for joining us on the Fort Tour, and we're thrilled to hear you had a good time! Fort Scammel's importance in Portland's naval history is so interesting and the scenery is definitely second to none. There's a lot more to explore around here so we hope to see you again soon!
It was fun, informative. Dress accordingly and bring sunblock/sunscreen. There is also glamping options too! Check it out!
We're glad to hear you had a good time on the Fort Tour! The island and the fort were pivotal in Portland's maritime history, and we're honored to be able to showcase it. The sun can certainly be a doozy so we'll continue to think about how we can provide a more comfortable experience for folks on the island.
Great boat trip! Guide was extremely knowledgeable & kept us engaged the entire trip! The history was amazing as was the incredible views! Had opportunity to ask questions. If you are ok with the dark ( limited amount) & really cool tunnels I highly recommend this tour!!
Thanks for joining us on the Fort Tour! It really is a fascinating aspect of Portland's history, even though the fort can certainly be a little spooky at times! We're glad the crew was fun and engaging as well. Hope you join us on another tour sometime soon!
Danny and Pete were Fantastic! They were very knowledgeable!! We all enjoyed the tour very much! The only thing that was confusing was where to meet.
We're thrilled to hear you had a fun time on the tour! Capt Pete and Danny's knowledge of the area and passion to share it with others are second to none, so we're happy to hear they showed the group a fun time. Thanks for feedback on the meeting point; we'll continue working on how we can be as clear as possible in our communications.
Fun and excellent hidden treasure! As a local it takes a lot of be impressed by tourist things but this excursion makes it to the list of fun and worthwhile activities to recommend when families and friends come to visit! Captain Pete really knows the story and human interest of the island and fort with all the fun facts and not just rote history.
It's so fun to have some locals on the tour, thank you for joining us!! Portland really is full of hidden treasures, and Fort Scammel's definitely one of the more interesting ways to see Portland's maritime history. There's so much more to explore around town, so we hope to see you again sometime soon!
