Portland Freedom Trail

For decades prior to the Civil War, the state of Maine and, especially, its city of Portland was a hot bed of abolitionist sentiment. Indeed, one of Maine's greatest heroes, Civil War general Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, was a strong and vocal opponent of the American institution of slavery. He wasn't alone in his beliefs, as demonstrated in the legacy of Maine's anti-slavery leanings as evidenced through the free, choice walking tour of the Portland Freedom Trail. This is a comprehensive, do-it-yourself trek that features 16 marked sites which tell the tale of Maine as a chosen destination of temporary safety for escaped slaves. Many of the buildings you will view featured hidden passageways and tunnels that helped to safeguard African American slaves on their way to reach the salvation of freedom in nearby Canada. These structures ranged from private homes to churches and businesses that served as stops along the famous Underground Railroad. A downloadable map of the trail is available from the Maine Freedom Trails, Inc. website.