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Fort Williams Park. For more information on things to see and do at Fort Williams Park, see our Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park website. To see a list of annual events or special offerings at Fort Williams Park, see Major Events. Live Webcam of Portland Head Light.
Fort Williams Park is located at 1000 Shore Road in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and is open from sunrise to sunset every day of the year. Admission is free and parking is available within the park.
You can plan a picnic, fly a kite, walk along the pathways, explore the rocky beach, tour the Arboretum, take a walk on the cliffside loop, or enjoy the playground. Before your visit, you can print out our scavenger hunt or pick one up at the Greeter’s Shed, located in Central Parking.
The 90-acre park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Amenities within the park include Portland Head Light Museum & Gift Shop (Memorial Day through Columbus Day), historic sites, athletic fields, children’s play areas, a beach, walking trails, picnic tables, charcoal grills, tennis and pickleball courts, off-leash dog walking area ...
Lastly, the park you are currently in was the site of Fort Williams, which went into service in 1898, and was in use until 1962. The fort grounds provide numerous walking paths, a cliff walk offering spectacular views, and a newly planted Arboretum.
Dec 20, 2023 · Located five miles outside Portland, the 90-acre Fort Williams Park is a magnet for lighthouse lovers, hikers, and history lovers. The highlight is the iconic Portland Head lighthouse which is one of the most photographed lighthouses on the east coast.
As the name implies, long before Fort Williams became a town park, it was a military installation. Construction of defensive structures was started as early as 1873 but the area was not formally established as a “military reservation” until 1891. In 1898 the reservation became a sub-post of Fort Preble, and a few months later an independent post.
