Fort Henry National Historic Site of Canada, an authentic 19th century British military fortress, invites your group the opportunity to experience Ontario's only World Heritage Site. Majestic Fort Henry is set high above the Kingston harbour on Lake Ontario, the gateway to the St. Lawrence River, the Rideau Canal.

As your guests pass the Sentry guarding the citadel entrance, they will experience life set in the year of Canada's Confederation, 1867. Set your watch by our Noon Gun while men and women interpret their daily chores of the era. See the Fort Henry Guard perform military music, drill and artillery practices during the day and in grand style every Wednesday evening in July and August at the World Heritage Sunset Ceremonies.

Fort Henry also boasts heritage dining at the Fort's Restaurant Facilities, take advantage of our Hospitality Services and shop in the Garrison Stores.

For a full description of what a guided tour entails, click on Touring the Site.

Group Rates: Based on a minimum of 15 people per group; Driver & Escort Complimentary; French Guided Tours available upon request. All funds are in Canadian Funds.

This informative & entertaining tour offers a unique view of Fort Henry not normally seen. Combine this with a sampling of some beverages that left their mark on Kingston, and your tour will be a memorable one.

Particulars

Four Tastings:

Royal Navy Grog Port Wine Fire Water/Brandy India Pale Ale. 20-60 guests (maximum). $30.00 per person, tax & gratuities included. Guests must be 19 years of age or older.

Learning History through Sight and Taste!

The Curator's Stones and Spirits Tour, is a premium product designed to educate and entertain guests, extolling the history and architecture of Fort Henry, plus the social habits of the garrison and civilians circa 1860. It's a 3 hour experience you'll not soon forget!

The Tour

You'll be welcomed in the Advanced Battery of Fort Henry by Curator, Ron Ridley and food historian Paul Fortier, and then offered a tot of "grog" the daily ration of the Royal Navy. The tour will commence with an explanation of the location of the Fort and the purpose of the Advanced Battery in the protection of the Royal Naval Dockyards. The importance of the waterways during this era as the lifeline to England and the need to defend the naval establishment will be explained and how this tenuous line of communication evolved into the creation of the Rideau Canal, now a World Heritage Site designation.

As we proceed into the Redoubt, aspects of the fortification will be highlighted; such as the setting of the Redoubt into the hill, the glacis, the ditch system, loopholes and equipoise bridge. Your party will proceed to #1 Passageway and into the men's cookhouse, followed by the married quarters where you will be given a tasting of India Pale Ale and regaled with stories of the life of the private soldier, their wives and families. Your tour will then proceed through the bakery, schoolhouse and second barracks room before entering the wine cellar.

In the wine cellar, you will be presented with a glass of "Port" and told of the gulf between the lives a private soldier and the Officers' Class in Queen Victoria's army. You will be escorted through the private quarters of the garrisoned Officers. The purchase system will be explained in the context of the social stratification of the time. Following this, you'll see the Officers' Mess and Ante Room, elaborating the social life of the officer class.

You will then exit the officers' wing and climb the stairs in the west demi-bastion and along the west ramparts to experience the scenic view of the City of Kingston. Arriving at the northwest corner of the ramparts, your tour will finish up with a panoramic view of the dockyards, now The Royal Military College of Canada, the city and the approaches to the Rideau Canal.

Following the sound of our piper, you will proceed to the Advanced Battery to meet your mess servants that will escort you to the Officers' Mess for a sumptuous dinner.

The Dinner

Guests will savor an historic candlelight dinner in the limestone casemates of the Officers' Mess, served by soldier servants and entertained by the Victorian sounds of a harpist.

EXCITING OPTIONS: ADD $50/PERSON
If you pride yourself in being a real adventurer, why not spend the night?
Bed down on traditional straw mattresses on authentic iron bunks in an actual soldier's barracks room, then awakened early in the morning by the Regimental Bugler. Plus, you'll get an after dinner Ghost Tour of the Fort and hear stories that may keep you up all night long!

Guided Tours:
May to September
Open Daily: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Reserved Group Tours: 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Rates:
Adult Group: $10.00 (including GST) per person.
Driver & Escort Complimentary.

Student/Youth: $6.00 (including GST) per youth, a ratio of 1:10 adults to students complimentary.

Reserved Group Tours: 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Rates:
Adult Group: $6.00 (including GST) per person.
Driver & Escort Complimentary.

Student/Youth: $5.00 (including GST) per youth, a ratio of 1:10 adults to students complimentary.