Portland, Maine: Hidden Histories Guided Walking Tour
Portland by the Foot
5.0
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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!
Departure Point
- 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.
Return Details
- 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!
Duration
2 hours
Languages Available
- Human tour guide - English
Points of Interest
Stop At: Downtown
Portland, ME 04101
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.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: The Press Hotel, Autograph Collection
119 Exchange Street, Portland, ME 04101
Meet the woman who, a century ago, lived as her true self and improved the lives of Mainers around her, against all odds.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Portland City Hall
389 Congress St, Portland, Maine
Appreciate the architecture and hear the stories not captured in plaques and statues.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: The First Parish Portland Unitarian Universalist
425 Congress St, Portland, Maine
Marvel at the resilience of Indigenous communities who survived colonialism and are skillfully navigating diplomatic relationships in the modern day.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Our Lady of Victories (The Portland Soldiers and Sailors Monument)
Hidden stories are revealed about the folks not recognized by Portland's largest monument.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: The Wadsworth-Longfellow House
489 Congress St, Portland, Maine
See the oldest building in downtown Portland and hear a surprising story about its world-famous inhabitant.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Old Port
Portland, ME 04101
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.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: John Ford Statue
Gorhams Corner, Portland, Maine
Find the complicated history of one of Portland's most famous sons.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Mariner's Church Banquet Center
368 Fore Street, Portland, ME 04101
See beautiful Victorian buildings and learn about the largely forgotten history-makers who once inhabited them.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Commercial Street
Portland, Maine
Discover the often complicated relationship between stevedores, captains, shipowners, and common sailors in 19th-century Portland.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Wharf Street
Wharf Street, Portland, ME 04101
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.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Custom House Wharf
Learn what the other tours aren't telling you about the global implications of Portland's industrial and maritime histories.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: United States Custom House
312 Fore St, Portland, Maine
See the picturesque working waterfront and find out who the female figures are got left out of the history books.
Duration: Not Available
Stop At: Exchange Street
Exchange Street, Portland, ME 04101
Hear how changing federal policies have impacted life in this port city over the centuries.
Duration: Not Available
Additional Information
- 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).
- 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
Exclusions
- A tip for your guide!
Redemption Instructions
No need to print anything! Just tell Dugan your name when you arrive.
Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Portland by the Foot in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.
This offer is not eligible for promo codes.
Need To Know Info
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services. Offer is not eligible for our promo codes or other discounts. Learn about Strike-Through Pricing and Savings