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Offered languages
- English
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!
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
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.
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!
Itinerary
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1Downtown
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 • Admission ticket free -
The Press Hotel, Autograph Collection (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.
Admission ticket free -
Portland City Hall (Pass by)
Appreciate the architecture and hear the stories not captured in plaques and statues.
Admission ticket free -
The First Parish Portland Unitarian Universalist (Pass by)
Marvel at the resilience of Indigenous communities who survived colonialism and are skillfully navigating diplomatic relationships in the modern day.
Admission ticket free -
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.
Admission ticket free -
The Wadsworth-Longfellow House (Pass by)
See the oldest building in downtown Portland and hear a surprising story about its world-famous inhabitant.
Admission ticket free -
2Old Port
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 • Admission ticket free -
John Ford Statue (Pass by)
Find the complicated history of one of Portland's most famous sons.
Admission ticket free -
Exchange Street (Pass by)
See beautiful Victorian buildings and learn about the largely forgotten history-makers who once inhabited them.
Admission ticket free -
Mariner's Church Banquet Center (Pass by)
Discover the often complicated relationship between stevedores, captains, shipowners, and common sailors in 19th-century Portland.
Admission ticket free -
3Commercial Street
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 • Admission ticket free -
Wharf Street (Pass by)
Learn what the other tours aren't telling you about the global implications of Portland's industrial and maritime histories.
Admission ticket free -
Custom House Wharf (Pass by)
See the picturesque working waterfront and find out who the female figures are got left out of the history books.
Admission ticket free -
United States Custom House (Pass by)
Hear how changing federal policies have impacted life in this port city over the centuries.
Admission ticket free
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
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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
- 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).
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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