Portland, Maine: Black History Guided Walking Tour

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Recommended by 99% of reviewers

Badge of Excellence | Portland, USA

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2 hours (approx.)

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Overview

Trace the steps of the Black Portlanders who moved our city, state, and country closer to the ideals of freedom, democracy, opportunity, and equality. Maine’s earliest settlements couldn’t have existed without Black labor, skill, and insight. You'll meet the Black Yankees who founded Maine communities, overturned slavery statewide, drove our maritime industries, gained political influence, crossed color boundaries, and expanded Mainers’ rights in the modern era.

Stepping on granite cobblestones crooked with age — that once saw footfalls from national heroes like Frederick Douglass — you’ll pass storefronts once home to Black-owned barbershops where abolitionists whispered intelligence to Underground Railroad conductors.

Enjoy 2 hours of entertaining and enlightening historical narration over a 1.5-mile route. Owner and guide, Dugan Murphy, dug through the archives to present an amazing constellation of stories left out of most tours. City Boat Tours named him Portland's #1 guide!

What's Included

10% off water tours with Portland Paddle (instructions at confirmation)
Donation toward restoring the Abyssinian Meeting House, America's third-oldest standing Black church
Two hour fully narrated guided tour.

A tip for your guide!

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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Congress Street
Portland, ME 04101, USA

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Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Downtown

Your guide Dugan will lead you to the locations relevant to Black Mainers and their achievements. We'll trace the steps of the folks who resisted indignity and realized power to move our city, state, and country closer to the ideals of freedom, democracy, opportunity, and equality.

50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Lobsterman Park (Pass By)

Discover the hidden Black history that predates slavery in Maine.

Congress Street (Pass By)

Be surprised by the story of a largely unknown but well-connected international activist from the 19th century hiding in plain sight.

The Cathedral Of The Immaculate Conception (Pass By)

Hear the complicated history of racial passing at the highest levels in 19th-century Catholic Maine.

Commercial Street

Dugan will guide you to where Black leaders and laborers shaped Portland's waterfront and earned a seat at the table when the odds were against them.

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Mariner's Church Banquet Center (Pass By)

Portland's maritime history may not be what you think it is. Discover the Black skill and labor too often overlooked.

United States Custom House (Pass By)

Marvel at the architecture and hear how antebellum Black Portland built and wielded political power at a time when the vast majority of Black Americans were denied suffrage.

Bell Buoy Park (Pass By)

Visit the Black social scene of WWII Portland and meet the important people who came out of that period to impact our lives today.

Old Port

Follow Dugan through the Old Port to a historically-Black section on the eastern end of the waterfront, uncovering Black history hidden all around us. You'll hear about the people who founded Maine communities, overturned slavery statewide, drove our maritime industries, swung elections, founded houses of worship, crossed color boundaries, and expanded Mainers’ rights in the modern era.

50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Exchange Street (Pass By)

Learn the story of an enterprising Black man who forged his own destiny in spite of those who tried to hold him back.

India Street (Pass By)

Find the brave folks who risked federal prosecution by aiding and abetting freedom seekers from the South via the Underground Railroad.

The Abyssinian Meetinghouse (Pass By)

Marvel at the achievements of a small, tight-knit community, who worked together to improve their lives and the lives of others.

Portland Observatory (Pass By)

Learn how important Black Portlanders were to the maritime economy in the age of sail.

Green Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church (Pass By)

Visit the beating heart of the civil rights movement and hear the stories of the leaders whose impacts are still being felt today.

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Additional Info

Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Portland is a hilly city. Participants will walk uphill sometimes, including a staircase of 17 steps.
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Pets are not allowed on tours unless medically required.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(6)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Portland, Maine: Black History Guided Walking Tour?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EDT). Read more Apr 2025