Portland, Maine: Hidden Histories Guided Walking Tour

5.0(677)2 hFree cancellationBy Portland by the Foot

Comparing historical photos to modern Portland

About this activity

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

✓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!

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.

Good to know

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).

Cancellation policy

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

More things to do in Portland

The Real Portland Tour: City and 3 Lighthouses Historical Tour with a Real Local

Welcome to my hometown! Hop aboard for an authentic 1 hour and 45 minute historical sightseeing tour of Portland, Maine and 3 lighthouses with an experienced guide who is a real local, born and raised in Portland, Maine. Get an insider’s look at the current happenings and rich history of my hometown. We’ll go where other tours go, and then I'll take you places other tours don't - you'll see hidde…

5.0(1,719)1 h 45 minFree cancellation

From £56.17 per person

Portland City and Lighthouse Tour

The most comprehensive tour of Portland! Hop on board a trolley and relax as we show you around. The tour covers all of our most famous sights on the Portland peninsula. Towards the end of the tour, we make a 20-30 minute stop out at Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth.

4.8(1,460)1 h 45 minFree cancellation

From £46.30 per person

Portland Explorer | Maine History, Culture, & 3 Lighthouses Tour

Skip the city and head straight to the coast on this dedicated lighthouse tour of Maine’s best lighthouses. Explore three iconic beacons that have guided sailors for centuries, each offering a chance to delve into their rich history. While most lighthouses aren’t open for tours, you’ll still get up-close views and plenty of opportunities to admire their stunning architecture and scenic surroundin…

4.9(1,080)2 hFree cancellation

From £59.96 per person