Exploring Old Port

History

Once a booming production center, the Old Port is the site of many warehouses used during the city's industrialization period. Churning out such exports as clothes, shoes, candy, and, of course, seafood, the Old Port was an important economic center in Portland. When a shopping mall was built in a nearby suburb in the 1970's, many major companies and franchises moved out of the Old Port, allowing the neighborhood to maintain its charming small-town character with locally-run businesses and restaurants. The Old Port has been growing ever since, and is now one of the most successful former warehouse districts in the country.

Irish immigrants flocked to Portland following the Great Potato Famine, and the city, particularly the Old Port, still maintains much of that culture today. Remnants of the Eastern European and Italian cultures brought by second-wave immigrants can also be seen in the Old Port district.

Restoration

Portland, Maine has survived several phases in American history, being destroyed and revitalized at least four separate times. After three-fourths of the city was demolished in the Revolutionary War, the city's center moved to the Old Port. This historic Portland district got another facelift almost a century later, following the infamous Great Fire on Independence Day, 1866, by architect George M. Harding. He designed many of the commercial and elaborate residential buildings that charm today's visitors to the Old Port.

Portland's city government has been putting efforts into preserving the Victorian architecture of its latest rebuilding, much to the pleasure of tourists, but new shops and eateries also continue to spring up in the Old Port. With so much historical significance and booming new commercial ventures, it's no wonder the Old Port continues to be a popular destination for tourists to Portland.

Modern-day Attractions

Today, the Old Port is a blend of quaint boutiques and restaurants by day and thriving bar scene by night. Known for its shopping, visitors can take a stroll through the cobblestone streets and check out the merchandise in small shop windows before stopping into one of the seaside restaurants serving the catch-of-the-day.

Food fanatics should check out one of the culinary walking tours around the Old Port. The Chocolate Walking Tour reveals the process behind the truffles, pastries, and confections made right in Portland, ending with a morsel of handmade chocolate paired with just the right wine. The Culinary Delights Walking Tour takes you through the kitchens of some of Old Port's most famous chefs, complete with samples of such iconic Maine dishes as steamed lobster and blueberry preserves. Anyone curious about why Portland was named the "Foodiest Small Town in America" should not miss these tasty tours.

Take a walk through history on the Portland Freedom Trail, which includes several stops scattered across the Old Port district. This self-guided tour highlights important resting places along the Underground Railroad, as well as the final resting places of important abolitionists.

Learn more about Portland's history as you move through these 5 things to do in Portland.