• Downtown - Join guide Dugan as he leads a tour highlighting the significant contributions of Black Mainers. Explore the paths of those who stood against injustice and harnessed their power to advance our city, state, and nation towards the ideals of freedom, democracy, opportunity, and equality.
• Lobsterman Park - Uncover the hidden Black history in Maine that existed before the era of slavery.
• Congress Street - Discover the tale of a little-known yet influential international activist from the 19th century, whose story is hidden in plain sight.
• The Cathedral Of The Immaculate Conception - Delve into the complex history of racial passing at the highest levels of 19th-century Catholic Maine.
• Commercial Street - Dugan will guide you to the places where Black leaders and workers shaped Portland’s waterfront, earning their rightful place despite the odds. Pay tribute to the Black journalist who chose to leave the US for self-determination in a newly-established African nation.
• Mariner’s Church Banquet Center - Portland’s maritime history may surprise you. Discover the often-overlooked Black skill and labor that contributed significantly.
• United States Custom House - Admire the architecture and learn how antebellum Black Portlanders built and exercised political power during a time when most Black Americans were denied basic rights.
• Bell Buoy Park - Explore the Black social scene of WWII Portland and meet the influential figures from that era who continue to impact our lives today.
• Old Port - Follow Dugan through the Old Port to a historically Black area on the eastern waterfront, revealing the hidden Black history around us. Hear about the founders of Maine communities, those who abolished slavery statewide, drove maritime industries, influenced elections, established places of worship, crossed racial boundaries, and expanded rights for Mainers in modern times.
• Exchange Street - Discover the story of a young Black man who carved his own path in the legal field, overcoming obstacles along the way.
• India Street - Meet the courageous individuals who risked federal prosecution to assist freedom seekers from the South via the Underground Railroad.
• The Abyssinian Meetinghouse - Be inspired by the achievements of a small, close-knit community that worked together to enhance their lives and those of others.
• Portland Observatory - Learn about the vital role Black Portlanders played in the maritime economy during the age of sail.
• Green Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church - Visit the heart of the civil rights movement and hear the stories of leaders whose influence is still felt today.
• Eastern Cemetery - Discover the remarkable story of the Black minister who gathered a community of expatriate Black Americans to rewrite the US Constitution.

• 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

• A tip for your guide!

Follow the course of history by tracing the paths of the African-Americans in Portland who advanced the city, the state, and the nation towards the principles of independence, democracy, liberty, and fairness. Black prowess and knowledge played a significant role in Maine’s initial settlements. During this journey, you’ll encounter the stories of African-American Yankees who laid the foundation of Maine, abolished slavery regionally, propelled our seafaring industries, accrued political power, defied racial barriers, and broadened the rights of Mainers in contemporary times.

Strolling on time-worn granite cobblestones — once trodden by national icons such as Frederick Douglass — you’ll traverse past shops which once housed African-American-owned barber establishments, where anti-slavery activists discreetly shared information with operators of the Underground Railroad.

With a duration of 2 hours, you will be engaged in 1.5 miles of fascinating historical narration. Owner and guide, Dugan Murphy, meticulously researched the archives to curate a series of amazing tales usually sidestepped in conventional tours. TripAdvisor has lauded him as Portland’s foremost guide!

• 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.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.