Portland Hidden History Walking Tour

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!

Meeting Point

Post Office Park

167 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

Meet at the corner of Middle and Exchange Streets by the small boulders in the park. Your guide will be holding a sign that says "Portland by the Foot." Check-in time is 10 minutes prior to the scheduled tour time. The park is one half mile from the cruise ship terminal.

What's included:

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

Not included:

• A tip for your guide!

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours

Downtown

Downtown, Portland, ME 04101, USA

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.

45 minutes

The Press Hotel, Autograph Collection

119 Exchange St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

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

Pass by without stopping

Portland City Hall

389 Congress St, Portland, 04101-3566, Maine

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

Pass by without stopping

The First Parish Portland Unitarian Universalist

425 Congress St, Portland, 04101-3505, Maine

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

Pass by without stopping

Our Lady of Victories (The Portland Soldiers and Sailors Monument)

Monument Square, Portland, 04101, Maine

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

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The Wadsworth-Longfellow House

489 Congress St, Portland, 04101-3414, Maine

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

Pass by without stopping

Old Port

Old Port, Portland, ME 04101, USA

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.

45 minutes

John Ford Statue

Gorhams Corner, Portland, 04101, Maine

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

Pass by without stopping

Exchange Street

Exchange St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

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

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Mariner's Church Banquet Center

368 Fore St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

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

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Commercial Street

Portland, Maine

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.

30 minutes

Wharf Street

Wharf St, Portland, ME 04101, USA

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

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Custom House Wharf

Portland, Maine

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

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United States Custom House

312 Fore St, Portland, 04101-4110, Maine

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

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