Portland, Maine: Hidden Histories Guided Walking Tour

About this activity

Meet Portland and the people—of all backgrounds and identities—whose wit and grit have made Maine's largest city what it is today. Your locally-raised guide will captivate you with extraordinary, exciting, and surprising stories largely left out of the history books. Get ready to broaden your sense of what Portland and Maine have been and could be.

Brick sidewalks beneath your feet and beautiful Victorian-era buildings nestled around you, we'll casually stroll Portland’s lush, historic Old Port toward the sparkling waters of Casco Bay. We’ll see where Indigenous Wabanaki leaders made their earliest relationships with European colonizers and walk together through the centuries.

Enjoy an inclusive, empowering, and surprising constellation of tales that offers a welcome contrast to the more obvious themes you’re likely to experience on other tours. You'll enjoy 2 hours of narration over a 1.5-mile route with owner and guide, Dugan Murphy. He is Portland's top-rated guide on TripAdvisor!

Itinerary

1. Stop 1 · 45 min

   You and your guide Dugan will walk the downtown district, visiting major landmarks and a few hidden gems. Your guide Dugan will highlight unsung heroes and folks too often left out of the history books.

2. Stop 2 · pass by

   Meet the woman who, a century ago, lived as her true self and improved the lives of Mainers around her, against all odds.

3. Portland City Hall · pass by

   Appreciate the architecture and hear the stories not captured in plaques and statues.

4. The First Parish Portland Unitarian Universalist · pass by

   Marvel at the resilience of Indigenous nations who survived colonialism and are skillfully navigating diplomatic relationships in the modern day.

5. Our Lady of Victories (The Portland Soldiers and Sailors Monument) · pass by

   Hidden stories are revealed about the folks not recognized by Portland's largest monument.

6. The Wadsworth-Longfellow House · pass by

   See the oldest building in downtown Portland and hear a surprising story about its world-famous inhabitant.

7. Stop 7 · 45 min

   Follow Dugan through Portland's Old Port, uncovering hidden histories of the city and her people. You'll learn about people from all backgrounds and identities whose grit and ingenuity made the city what it is today.

8. John Ford Statue · pass by

   Learn the complicated history of one of Portland's most famous sons.

9. Stop 9 · pass by

   See beautiful Victorian buildings and learn about the largely forgotten history-makers who once inhabited them.

10. Stop 10 · pass by

    Discover the often complicated relationship between stevedores, captains, shipowners, and common sailors in 19th-century Portland.

11. Commercial Street · 30 min

    You and Dugan will stroll through the waterfront district along Commercial Street, discovering the people and economic forces that forged it. Get ready for an inclusive, empowering, and surprising constellation of tales that offers a welcome contrast to the more obvious themes you’re likely to experience on other tours.

12. Stop 12 · pass by

    Learn what the other tours aren't telling you about the global implications of Portland's industrial and maritime histories.

13. Custom House Wharf · pass by

    See the picturesque working waterfront and discover the female figures who got left out of the history books.

14. United States Custom House · pass by

    Hear how changing federal policies have impacted life in this port city over the centuries.

Meeting point

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

End point: Bell Buoy Park is on Commercial Street at the Casco Bay Lines ferry terminal. If you need to head back to where we started, it's only 0.3 miles (6-minute walk) away. It's also next door to the cruise ship terminal. Or sit a while to enjoy the ocean views!

Good to know

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Pets are not allowed on tours unless medically required.
• Portland is a hilly city. Participants will walk uphill sometimes, along some cobblestones, up a staircase of 6 steps, and down two staircases (24 steps total).

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

• 5 star665
• 4 star9
• 3 star1
• 2 star2
• 1 star0

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