2 Hours | Portland, Maine Black History Walking Tour
Overview
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. TripAdvisor named him Portland's #1 guide!
Inclusions
- Two hour fully narrated guided tour.
What to expect
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Old Port, Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
We'll walk through Portland's Old Port and a historically-Black section of the East End neighborhood, uncovering Black history hidden all around us. *Highlights include:* First Parish Church, Lobsterman Park, Exchange Street, Mariner’s Church, US Custom House, India Street, Abyssinian Meeting House, Green Memorial AMEZ Church, Portland Observatory, Eastern Cemetery, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception
Duration: 2 hours
Additional information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Pets are not allowed on tours unless medically required.
- Bring a face covering in the event your tour group is invited inside a historic building and you would like to wear one while inside.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
Cancellation
Dugan is an absolute delight. He is deeply knowledgeable about the city and so good at answering related history questions. He kept the tour lively and interesting, and contextualized the Black history of Portland with Black history in the US clearly and honestly. I generally am less than excited...
Dugan is an absolute delight. He is deeply knowledgeable about the city and so good at answering related history questions. He kept the tour lively and interesting, and contextualized the Black history of Portland with Black history in the US clearly and honestly. I generally am less than excited about a tour of a city- this ended up being one of my highlights! Loved “being in the murkiness” with him and would gladly take both of his other tours next time we’re in town.As a long time Portland resident I thought I knew the general history of Portland and it's different neighborhoods; Our wonderful and insightful tour guide Dugan showed me how wrong I was! There was so many interesting stories shared about the African American experience in Portland that I was un...
As a long time Portland resident I thought I knew the general history of Portland and it's different neighborhoods; Our wonderful and insightful tour guide Dugan showed me how wrong I was! There was so many interesting stories shared about the African American experience in Portland that I was unaware of. Presented with joviality and obvious excitement for the subject matter the stories captivated me. He even had pictures of all the interesting public figures that really helped capture the times. While still acknowledging and explaining the affect of racism on the history, Dugan did a great job of making the tour feel like a true celebration of Afrifcan American history in Portland instead of just talking about white people and their racism. Great tour over all and I'm very excited to take some more from this wonderful company!Truly a one-of-a-kind tour of a one-of-a-kind city with a truly exceptional tour guide! Dugan takes you back in time on a tour that is brimming with fascinating details that help bring important yet typically hidden aspects of local history to light. This tour really helps make the many-layered ...
Truly a one-of-a-kind tour of a one-of-a-kind city with a truly exceptional tour guide! Dugan takes you back in time on a tour that is brimming with fascinating details that help bring important yet typically hidden aspects of local history to light. This tour really helps make the many-layered histories of Portland's past relevant in thoughtful, thought-provoking, and sometimes unexpected ways. Leaves you wanting more in the very best way possible!!I took the Black History Tour with Dugan Murphy. I’m a local, and I thought I knew Portland’s history, but it turns out that I missed a lot. As we descended into the misty Old Port streets, I soon lost track of where I was, and more importantly, what year it was. Mr. Murphy recounts Portland’s bl...
I took the Black History Tour with Dugan Murphy. I’m a local, and I thought I knew Portland’s history, but it turns out that I missed a lot. As we descended into the misty Old Port streets, I soon lost track of where I was, and more importantly, what year it was. Mr. Murphy recounts Portland’s black history with compassion and humility in equal measure, delivering a tour that is both vivid and engaging. I highly recommend.An excellent and informative tour! Dugan knows his stuff, as someone who's done a bit of my own research on Black History in Portland I was constantly surprised and delighted by the unknown stories Dugan brought into focus from preachers and legislators to the underground railroad and more! Sure ...
An excellent and informative tour! Dugan knows his stuff, as someone who's done a bit of my own research on Black History in Portland I was constantly surprised and delighted by the unknown stories Dugan brought into focus from preachers and legislators to the underground railroad and more! Sure to please any history buff in the making.Absolutely loved this tour. Dugan was such a thorough and conscientious guide providing us with a rich tapestry of the real stories that built Portland, the stories you never learned in school. Providing thoughtful narrative on an often difficult topic - he masterfully found ways to integrate ...
Absolutely loved this tour. Dugan was such a thorough and conscientious guide providing us with a rich tapestry of the real stories that built Portland, the stories you never learned in school. Providing thoughtful narrative on an often difficult topic - he masterfully found ways to integrate humor and warmth and never missed a beat when questions or curve balls were thrown at him. This is a can't be missed tour for those looking to gain deeper insights into Black and Indigenous history in New England and Portland. The walking tour took us through areas of Portland that we would not otherwise have explored. It was well paced and well planned. For any traveller or local looking to gain a deeper understanding of the complex and rich history of Portland - this tour cannot be missed.