Walking tour sheds light on Maine’s role in the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad
PORTLAND, Maine — As Black History Month approaches, local organizations are spotlighting Maine’s rich and often overlooked Black history. One such effort is a Black History Walking Tour hosted by Black Travel Maine, held Sunday in Portland.
The tour, designed to educate both locals and tourists, showcased the state’s integral role in the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad.
“It’s really just about sharing history with people who want to know it,” Lisa Jones, founder of Black Travel Maine, explained.
Jones spent 25 years in the travel industry before discovering the extent of Maine’s Black history.
“Everyone thought Maine was an all-white destination and there was no other history here, and that’s not true,” she said.
Maine was home to numerous leaders in the abolitionist movement. The state also played a pivotal role in the Underground Railroad, with dozens of safe houses serving as the final stop for many African Americans on their journey to freedom.
“Those stories need to be told and how they contributed to this amazing state,” Jones added.
Through Black Travel Maine, Jones is working to make these stories more accessible. The walking tour is one of several events hosted by the organization, providing opportunities for people to learn about the deep roots African Americans have in Maine.
“I’m not even the one sharing them,” Jones said. “I’m letting the people who took part in the history share their own stories.”
Sunday’s tour guide, a Maine native, added a personal touch by incorporating anecdotes about her family and local landmarks. One story highlighted the Maine College of Art, once a luxury department store, and how many Black Mainers worked there in service roles like doormen and elevator operators.
“Could you kids even imagine that you would just aspire to run an elevator?” she asked participants.
For some families, those jobs were considered the pinnacle of achievement. But the guide also reflected on how limited aspirations can stifle hope.
“If your guidance counselor and the schools and the whole city aspire for you to run an elevator, where is your hope?” she said.
Jones said she wanted the tour to send a message of resilience and remembrance.
“It’s our job as African Americans to keep our history alive, which is why I took it upon myself when I got here and learned this amazing history,” she said.
