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

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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)

peggyh351

Sep 2022

The detailed historical information on this Black History Walking Tour was very interesting offering valuable facts of Portland's Black History. While visiting various cities, I have always enjoyed, but time with Dugan Murphy was an unexpected treat. I understand why he was the most requested tour guide at another company. Dugan, with a delightful personality, had a plethora of oral history and was open to hear any additional historical facts offered by those on the tour.

Response from Host

Sep 2022

Aww, thanks for the compliments. It was fun walking around my hometown with you and sharing these inspiring and sometimes surprising stories. And I very much appreciate you taking the time to review the experience.

Ellen S

Sep 2022

We thoroughly enjoyed our time with Dugan. He is passionate about learning and sharing true history and does so with interesting dialogue and openness to discussion. The time flew by and we could have stayed with him longer. Strongly recommend this or any of his tours as we suspect they are all equally well researched and presented. Thanks, Dugan!!

Response from Host

Sep 2022

It was such a pleasure guiding you through my hometown and sharing these amazing stories with you. Thank you for taking the tour and writing a review!

Pmm3v3

Sep 2022

Awesome tour! Learned a ton about black history in Maine and across New England. Dugan was a wonderful tour guide.

Response from Host

Sep 2022

I was so happy to be able to share this inspiring and sometimes unbelievable history with you. Thank you so much for joining me on a walk through my hometown and for leaving a review!