Walking Tours
Regularly scheduled walking tours are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Old Port Tour
Portland’s colonial maritime heritage and authentic Victorian architecture make this vibrant economic hub and downtown shopping district truly unique. (90 minutes daily, 10:30 am, every day except Sunday & 1:30 pm on Thursdays; $10 per person, 16 and under free, GPL members: FREE. Purchase tickets at Tommy’s Park, corner of Middle & Exchange Streets). Offered June 15 - September 4, 2010.
Homes of Portland’s Golden Age (1800 - 1860)
Elegant Federal mansions, Greek Revival residences, and high style Italianate houses grace this tour of the Spring Street Historic District, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. (90 minutes, Thursday and Friday, 10:30 am; $10 per person, 16 & under free, GPL members FREE. Purchase at the Center for Architecture and Preservation, 93 High Street). Offered June 15 - October 8, 2010.
The Eastern Cemetery (1668)
The oldest burial ground on the peninsula holds graves of colonists, ship captains and Civil War soldiers featuring evocative headstone art. (60-90 minutes). Offered by special booking only; minimum 8 people.
Congress Street
Trace the development of Portland through its architecture from the 1780’s to the present. See wonderful examples from the Federal First Parish Church to the Beaux Arts City Hall and the Art Deco and contemporary buildings that define Portland’s main street. (90 minutes). Offered by special booking only; minimum 8 people.
East End / Munjoy Hill
The most ethnically diverse and densely populated neighborhood in the city features harbor views, the Portland Observatory, Queen Anne mansions, and the magnificent Eastern Promenade. (90 minutes). $10 per person, 16 and under free, GPL members: FREE. Purchase tickets at the Portland Observatory Museum, 138 Congress Street. Offered Saturdays at 10:30 am, September 11 - October 9, 2010. Also offered by special booking; minimum 8 people.
Western Promenade
Elegant 19th- and 20th-century architecture of Italianate, Queen Anne, Gothic and Colonial Revival styles distinguish this intact Victorian neighborhood, recognized by the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. (60-90 minutes). Offered by special booking only; minimum 8 people.
The Portland Observatory (1807)
Guided tours of the only remaining maritime signal tower in the United States offer spectacular views of Portland, Casco Bay, Back Cove and Mt. Washington. Recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 2006. (40 minutes). Offered daily 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, May 29 - October 11, 2010. Learn more here.
Common Architectural Styles can help you to prepare for your tour.