Portland, Maine: Hidden Histories Guided Walking Tour
Overview
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 Cool Shore Excursions!
What's Included
- 10% off water tours with Portland Paddle (instructions at confirmation)
- Donation toward restoring the Abyssinian Meeting House, America's third-oldest standing Black church
- Two hour fully narrated guided tour.
- A tip for your guide!
Meeting Location
167 Middle Street
Portland, ME 04101, USA
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
54 Commercial Street
Portland, ME 04101, USA
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!
What To Expect
Book Online
Safe & secure Easy breezy Hassle‑free
Downtown
45 minutes Admission Ticket Free
The Press Hotel, Autograph Collection (pass by)
Portland City Hall (pass by)
The First Parish Portland Unitarian Universalist (pass by)
Our Lady of Victories (The Portland Soldiers and Sailors Monument) (pass by)
The Wadsworth-Longfellow House (pass by)
Old Port
45 minutes Admission Ticket Free
John Ford Statue (pass by)
Exchange Street (pass by)
Mariner's Church Banquet Center (pass by)
Commercial Street
30 minutes Admission Ticket Free
Wharf Street (pass by)
Custom House Wharf (pass by)
United States Custom House (pass by)
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- 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).
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Pets are not allowed on tours unless medically required.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions (7)
Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Portland, Maine: Hidden Histories Guided Walking Tour?
Cancellation Policy
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Activity code: C-333694P2
Traveler Photos
Reviews
Average 4.98 out of 5 stars based on 674 traveler reviews collected by Cool Shore Excursions and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
Additional Info
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from Cool Shore Excursions customers.
Filter by:
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (EST).
- 10% off water tours with Portland Paddle (instructions at confirmation).
- Donation toward restoring the Abyssinian Meeting House, America's third-oldest standing Black church.
- Two hour fully narrated guided tour.
- A tip for your guide!.
The minimum age to participate is 5..
Apr 2025If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025Accessibility information for the Portland, Maine: Hidden Histories Guided Walking Tour is as follows:
- Wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- 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).
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Portland, Maine: Hidden Histories Guided Walking Tour will be included in your confirmation email from Cool Shore Excursions. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024Once your refund is processed, it usually shows on your card statement within 5–10 business days. The exact timing depends on your bank or card issuer.
Want it sooner? When you cancel, choose Receive a refund to my wallet instead. The credit is in your Wallet straight away and is applied automatically at checkout on your next booking when you’re signed in with the same email. You can see your balance any time in My Wallet.
If you paid part of your booking with Wallet credit, that part always goes back to your Wallet. Trip protection isn’t refundable.
Oct 2026What's Included
- 10% off water tours with Portland Paddle (instructions at confirmation)
- Donation toward restoring the Abyssinian Meeting House, America's third-oldest standing Black church
- Two hour fully narrated guided tour.
- A tip for your guide!
Additional Info
- Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- 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).
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Pets are not allowed on tours unless medically required.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
