Portland, Maine: Black History Guided Walking Tour
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Portland, USA
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Maine's Black community is small, but its history here goes back more than 400 years. On this guided tour, you’ll dive deep into Portland’s Black history, discovering how this community—national leaders, laborers, skilled workers, activists, and more—fought for freedom and equality and defined the state's path. From Frederick Douglass to lesser-known Black Yankees, there’s far more here than meets the eye, and with this tour, you’ll learn all about it.
- Follow Portland's #1 guide, per TripAdvisor, across the city
- Explore a historically-Black section of Portland's East End neighborhood with a local guide
- Learn more about Abyssinian Meeting House, Green Memorial Church, Portland Observatory, and more
- Limited to 15 travelers, you'll get a fun, small-group experience
What's Included
- Two hour fully narrated guided tour.
- 10% off water tours with Portland Paddle (instructions at confirmation)
- Donation toward restoring the Abyssinian Meeting House, America's third-oldest standing Black church
- A tip for your guide!
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- First Parish in Portland, Unitarian Universalist425 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101, USA
Meet at the front steps of First Parish Church. 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 church is one half mile from the cruise ship terminal.
End point
- Eastern Cemetery224 Congress St, Portland, ME 04101, USA
Eastern Cemetery is on Congress Street at the head of Montgomery Street. If you want to get back to where we started, it's an easy, straight shot 0.5 miles (10-minute walk) down Congress Street. It's also 0.5 miles from the cruise ship terminal.
Itinerary
1
Downtown
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Lobsterman Park (Pass By)
Congress Street (Pass By)
The Cathedral Of The Immaculate Conception (Pass By)
2
Commercial Street
20 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Mariner's Church Banquet Center (Pass By)
United States Custom House (Pass By)
Bell Buoy Park (Pass By)
3
Old Port
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Exchange Street (Pass By)
India Street (Pass By)
The Abyssinian Meetinghouse (Pass By)
Portland Observatory (Pass By)
Green Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church (Pass By)
Eastern Cemetery (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Pets are not allowed on tours unless medically required.
- Portland is a hilly city. Participants will walk uphill sometimes, including a staircase of 17 steps.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 143 reviews
Patrick_C, Apr 2026
I thought it was a great, very in depth look at Black history through the century in Portland. My guide Dugan took his time to careful explain how ghe African American population influenced Portland. He happily answered questions. He did a wonderful job with his presentation along with the pictures he displayed the locations during specific time periods.
Response from Host, Apr 2026
The images I bring with me on the tour do a great job illustrating topics as we explore the city. Thank you for learning about Black history with me and for reviewing your experience!
Rosemary_J, Nov 2025
Dugan was amazing with historical knowledge and the ability to answer questions appropriately. Recommend this as a must do. If it is in the colder season layer and bundle up because you will want to give your full attention.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
A must do! Thank you for the recommendation. Black history in Portland is too often overlooked, so it's important to me to share these stories and landmarks with others.
Patricia_S, Sep 2025
This tour was outstanding and very interesting. Dugan is an exceptional tour guide with a wealth of knowledge and an amazing way of presenting it. Not to be missed!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Those are very nice compliments. Thank you for saying so! I love sharing history and the history of Black Portland is particularly amazing.
Adelene_G, Aug 2025
It took the entire 2 hours and even a little longer for the tour so wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to walk up and down small hills and stairs.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Comfortable shoes are definitely recommended. Portland is a hilly city and our sidewalks aren't always super even. I'm glad you find the Black history in Portland as amazing as I do! Thanks for the review.
Jeron_M, Aug 2025
This was a very informative and insightful tour that provided the long history of Blacks in Portland, Maine that many don’t know exists.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
You're right that Black history in Portland is often overlooked. That's my main motivation for creating and leading this tour! I'm glad to meet someone who appreciates these stories too.
Derek_B, May 2025
Fantastic tour with an excellent guide! Would recommend to every and anyone who is a history buff. Thanks Dugan!
Response from Host, May 2025
Of course. I really enjoyed sharing history with you yesterday. I hope the rest of your visit to Portland went really well. Thank you for reviewing the tour!
Apollo_T, May 2025
I had a wonderful experience as Dugan was insightful along with fully prepared with any questions the group had.
Response from Host, May 2025
Black history runs deep in Portland, so there is so much to talk about. I appreciate you bringing questions so I could personalize the experience a bit. Thanks for choosing this tour and for working a review!
Emely_B, Nov 2024
It was a great experience Dugan was great and knowledgeable. You can really tell he knows and is passionate about his work.
Response from Host, Nov 2024
My tours are research-based and I'm always learning new things I'm excited to share with guests. I'm glad you also enjoy learning about Black history in Portland! Thank you for including this tour in your visit to Maine.
Lizabeth_W, Oct 2024
Very informative tour of Portland’s Black history. Dugan was a great tour guide. We also appreciated the visuals that he shared along the way. I highly recommend!
Response from Host, Oct 2024
I like to bring visuals with me on tours to help guests understand what Portland used to look like and who the important figures were. I'm glad you liked the Black History Tour so much! Thanks for reviewing.
Melody_B, Oct 2024
Another example of Black History untold. I make a point of learning something about Black history wherever I go on vacation. Not only did I learn something about Portland but American History at large. I only wished I was given a summary of all the wonderful people that I learned about. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Oct 2024
Thanks for the review! There are definitely so many connections between Black history in Portland and the rest of the country. And I am happy to send you a summary! I'll do that right now.
Jaime_R, Sep 2024
Dugan was knowledgeable and professional. I enjoyed enjoyed the pictures the tour guide provided. The day was warm and sunny for the walk.
Response from Host, Sep 2024
Thanks for the review! Carrying pictures is so worth it so you can see what people looked like as I tell their stories and see what places used to look like in their time.
christine_h, Aug 2024
Dugan was an amazing tour guide! He’s extremely knowledgeable and entertaining. We learned so much about the very surprising black history of Portland. Highly recommended!!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
So many surprising stories, right? I was delighted to show you the landmarks and tell you about the people associated with them. Thanks for writing a review!
RobinWest_S, Aug 2024
The breath of knowledge the tour guide provides was immeasurable. And the little know Black History fact of Susan Rice family really impressed us
Response from Host, Aug 2024
Not a lot of people know about her connection to Maine, but her mom and grandparents were super important, as you now know. Thanks for taking this tour and for reviewing it!
Star_W, Aug 2024
The most memorable things about this tour was the amount of information our guide knew about the black history of Portland and even though it wasn’t all black history it all tied together. Wonderful experience!!
Response from Host, Aug 2024
That's an appropriate phrase: "all tied together." The fact that Black history is American history is clearly evident in a place like Portland. It's connected to so many other relevant stories. Thanks for choosing this tour and for leaving a review!
RoshanneL, Jul 2024
The Portland Maine Black History Walking tour was incredible. It was full of facts & history. You can tell the tour guide Dugan takes great pride in the information they have researched and are able to deliver. It honestly was the best out of all the tours we took while visiting. If you are in town you wont go wrong with booking this tour.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
I'm happy to hear you had such an excellent experience! This history is incredible and I was honored to share it with you. Thank you for taking this tour and writing a review!
Rhonda_C, Jul 2024
It was fun and enjoyable. This information tied into the fire truck tour.
The kids where able to recall information from the fire truck tour and expand on the information.
The older family member was able to relate and expand their knowledge. Very relevant to the older members.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
The people and events on this tour tend to get left out of other tours and history books. I'm so happy you found me and decided to include this experience during your visit to Portland. Thank you for reviewing it!
darvinparker, Jul 2024
Dugan was so well versed on the prerevolutionary history of ME & NE and had a profound narrative on how so many historical figures related to contemporary figures & events of today. He was really attuned to the needs and interests of those of us on his tour which he developed himself. It's truly a unique experience.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
I am happy to hear you're as impressed by Portland's Black history as I am. I had a great time sharing it with you. Thank you for choosing this tour and for leaving a review!
Lana_A, Jun 2024
Thiis walking tour was so educational and our tour guide was amazing.. We walked the Freedom Trail and learn about Portland Black History.
Response from Host, Jun 2024
Thanks for the great review! I'm glad you enjoyed the Freedom Trail landmarks, as well as all the other tour stops relevant to other Black stories in Portland.
Derek_M, May 2024
To me, it was the best walking tour I ever been on. Dugan was so informative. I enjoyed it when Dugan talked about Susan Rice's maternal grandparents. They were from Jamaica and made contributions in Portland. My father is from Jamaica as well. I also enjoyed the talk about the Abyssinian Church. I truly enjoyed it!!!
Response from Host, May 2024
I love meeting people who are as excited as I am about Portland's history. There are so many Caribbean connections! Thank you for taking the tour and writing the great review. I hope the rest of your trip went great as well!
Natalie_W, Aug 2023
The tour is weaved through the streets of Portland and thanks to the In-depth research which the tour guide has done, it brings history to life through landmarks and visuals!
Response from Host, Aug 2023
It's important to me to carry visuals with me on all my tours. The figures on the Black History Tour played important roles in American history and I like sharing their stories with guests. Thank you for choosing Portland by the Foot and for writing a review!
Jessica_S, Jul 2023
We loved this tour! What a lovely way to get to know a city! Dugan was so knowledgeable and did an amazing job sharing the history of some of Portland’s civil rights advocates and icons. I loved how much context he provided about Portland through the years and how much he knew about the different historical figures he introduced us to. Thank you Dugan for sharing this important history in such an engaging way!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
I'm honored. I love guiding people through my hometown and I feel that this city's underrepresented Black history is especially important. I appreciate you choosing this tour and for writing such a nice review. Thank you!
Lela_B, Jun 2023
The Portland Maine Black History Walking tour was an incredibly informative, illuminating an uplifting experience! Our tour guide Dugan dazzled and enthralled us with a seemingly endless array of historical facts, figures and anecdotal insights on African slaves and their descendants who were able to achieve distinction in a society that largely treated them as sub-human.
We learned of the significant role Maine in general, and Portland in particular, played in the Underground Railroad and the Abolitionist Movement. Dugan identified several African-Americans in Maine’s early history who distinguished themselves as sailors, longshoremen, lawyers, railroad workers, entrepreneurs and clergymen, despite the ubiquitous presence of racial oppression and discrimination.
All and all, Dugan conducted an excellent tour. His meticulous and nuanced command of Portland Maine’s contribution to black history was certainly impressive!
One cautionary note: this tour involves a lot of walking, sometimes over brick and cobblestone sidewalks, and Dugan moves at a fairly brisk pace!
Response from Host, Jun 2023
Thank you for taking the time to write such a thorough review! I'm honored to be able to share this remarkable history with visitors. I do get pretty excited about each tour stop, which means I'm right out in front of the group. I do also make sure to wait at each stop for everyone to arrive before I say anything important about it. I hope to meet you again on another tour in the future!
Olivia_B, Nov 2022
Dougan was very knowledgeable and friendly. I would wholeheartedly recommend this tour. The information that Dougan was very well researched and presented in a very accessible way.
Response from Host, Nov 2022
Thanks for the review! Portland's past is so rich with Black history that there are a million amazing and inspiring stories to tell. Yet so little time! I really appreciate you choosing this tour during your visit to my hometown.
Zachary_S, Oct 2022
Dugan was an incredible and knowledgeable guide. I learned so much from him and the sites he took us too!
Response from Host, Oct 2022
Thanks for the review! I also find these stories incredible and I am so excited, on every tour, to stand in the presence of these landmarks where they took place so many years ago.
Daria_B, Oct 2022
Dugan was a great guide. He really took us through a very interesting history of African Americans in Maine specifically Portland . We found him entertaining & factual . Enjoyed the tour a lot!
Response from Host, Oct 2022
The history of Black folks in Portland and Maine is rich with stories of amazing and inspiring characters over hundreds of years. I was excited to share them with you and I'm glad you enjoyed them so much. Thanks for writing a review!
9999DRAPER, Jun 2022
Really good tour. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. He was patient and familiar with the overall history of the city.
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Thanks for the review! I love bringing guests around my hometown, especially the curious ones. I hope you can come back sometime for the Hidden Histories Tour or the Women's History Tour!
Danielle_G, Jun 2022
Dugan was an excellent tour guide. He answered everyone’s questions with enthusiasm and charm. He was witty and knowledgeable. We had a great time. The tour and information are so interesting you don’t even realize you’ve been walking for 2 hours.
Response from Host, Jun 2022
The stories from Portland's historic Black community are already incredible and inspiring. My goal is to do those stories justice when I share them with guests. Thank you for joining us and for the review!
Anja_P, Jun 2022
The tour was excellent. I particularly enjoyed learning about the profound contribution to Portland’s history made by so many black American men and women. The First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church and the Abyssinian Meeting Hall we’re particularly spectacular visits during the tour. The tour guide Dugan exhibited a wealth of information and gave great presentations including many pictures of key persons in Portland’s history.
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Portland's Black history includes many amazing and inspirational stories. Thank you for joining me on a walk through my hometown and exploring these stories with me. Thanks also for the review!
Kimberly_C, Apr 2022
This was an absolutely wonderful tour. I learned so much about The Black history of Portland, information that has been forgotten, ignored, or suppressed. My eyes were definitely opened. Dugan was wonderful. I was deeply impressed by his knowledge, his passion, and his research skills. I recommend this tour to anyone who visits Portland and to locals as well.
Response from Host, Apr 2022
I'm glad you agree how important this history is to understanding Portland, Maine, and the US. Thank you for taking the time to share your review!
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