One hundred sixty years ago this summer, Portland burned. On July 4, 1866, a firecracker tossed into a boatyard on Commercial Street set off a blaze that tore through the city for fifteen hours, destroying over 1,500 buildings and leaving roughly 10,000 people homeless. Join us for a walking tour that retraces the path of destruction and rebirth, from the spark on the waterfront to a public park that rose from the ashes.

Along the way you'll stand where the old U.S. Custom House once stood gutted and unstable, see the Old Mariner's Church, one of the only commercial buildings to survive the flames, and walk Exchange Street, and new buildings built from salvaged fire brick. You'll pass the Woodman Building, the city's defiant answer in cast iron and stone, and stop in Monument Square, where families once piled their most treasured belongings inside a City Hall they believed was fireproof.

The tour closes at Lincoln Park, the city's first public green space, created as a direct result of the fire. Historical photographs from the Soule collection will be shared at several stops along the route, showing the city in ruins just as it looked in 1866.

Event Details:
Start Location: Benches on the brick-paved area at 350 Commercial Street
Details: This is an in-person event. Street and garage parking nearby

The tour covers about 1.5 miles and runs approximately one hour. It begins at the benches on the brick-paved area at 350 Commercial Street and ends at Lincoln Park, at the intersection of Congress and Pearl Street. This is a one-way walk, not a loop, but you're welcome to stroll back along Fore Street or Commercial Street and grab a bite at one of the many restaurants along the way. Ample public parking is available along Commercial Street and in nearby public lots.