2 Hours | Portland Black History Walking Tour

Overview

Take a guided walk tracing 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—and since those first moments, Black Yankees have agitated and organized to resist indignity and realize power. You'll meet the people who founded Maine communities, overturned slavery statewide, drove our maritime industries, gained political influence, founded houses of worship, crossed color boundaries, and expanded Mainers’ rights in the modern era.

The Portland Black History Tour includes 2 hours of entertaining and enlightening historical narration over a 1.5-mile route through the Old Port and East End neighborhood. Owner and guide, Dugan Murphy, dug through piles of research and historic documents to present an amazing constellation of stories left out of most tours.

City: Portland

Mon 24 Feb

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $49.00

Make a reservation

Mon 24 Feb

Starting at $49.00

Make a reservation

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (103) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (113) Entry Tickets (47) Sporting Events (1) Good for Small Groups (6) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (41) Walking Tours (697) Outdoor Activities (20) Limitied Availability Tours (6) LGBT Friendly Tours (4) Family-friendly Activities (7) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (27) Travelers recommend (73) Good for Groups (8) Top Activities (18) Guided Audio Tours (3) Art, Culture & History (135) Attractions to explore (38)

What's Included

Two hour fully narrated guided tour.

Additional Info

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
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Pets are not allowed on tours unless medically required.
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
Masks are optional, but encouraged for non-vaccinated guests. You should bring a face covering in the event your tour group is invited inside a historic building for an impromptu visit or for use if you’d like while walking outside.

What To Expect

Old Port

We'll walk through Portland's Old Port and Waterfront Districts—and pop over into the East End for a bit, too—uncovering Black history along the way. *Highlights include:* First Parish Church, Lobsterman Park, Exchange Street, Mariner’s Church, Boothby Square, Commercial Street waterfront, India Street, Abyssinian Meeting House, Green Memorial Church, Portland Observatory, Eastern Cemetery, North School, St. Paul’s Church, Portland High School, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (50)

Uzuri2710

Oct 2022

There was no one favorite part of the tour for me. The entire tour was amazing! Dugan provided detailed and well researched information. I HIGHLY recommend this tour to those who embraces the REAL TRUTH!

Response from Host

Oct 2022

I'm honored to receive such high marks. I really enjoyed showing you around my hometown and sharing stories from Portland's Black community in times past. These stories are far too often left out of the history books. Thank you for taking the time to write a review!

rosalindl280

Oct 2022

Black history walking tour was a phenomenal experience. I learned so much about various Black Mainers and their impact/foot print in Maine. It was an eye opener regarding the wealth of knowledge the tour guide had and how he enthusiastically shared this knowledge with us. It was an Unforgettable walking tour. Try it, you will gain knowledge touring parts of Portland, and exercise (walking) at the same time. Win, win in my book!

Response from Host

Oct 2022

I'm glad you enjoyed the tour so much. There are so many Black folks from Portland who have achieved so much over the centuries; those stories really speak for themselves. Thank you for joining me for a walk through my hometown. And thanks for the review!

CarpyInMA

Oct 2022

Very interesting tour. There’s so much more positive Black history in Portland than I could have imagined. Wish I had time to also do the women’s history tour this trip but I’ll try to do it next time I’m here.

Response from Host

Oct 2022

Black history here is rich and runs deep through hundreds of years. I was so happy for the opportunity to show you the places where these folks made their mark and tell you about their lives. Thank you for choosing my tour and for writing a review!