Spirits Alive
Spirits Alive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Portland’s historic Eastern Cemetery through a range of activities including walking tours and ongoing education.
Portland ME 04101
Established in 1668, the Eastern Cemetery is the oldest historic landscape in the city and is home to around 4,000 interred.
In the summer we host scheduled walking tours of the cemetery, where trained guides explain the history of Portland highlighting some of the area’s major historical figures who now are cemetery residents.
They also discuss early cemetery art, iconography, stone types, cemetery development, and answer questions.
Private tours may also be arranged.
“Walk Among the Shadows” In the fall, we conduct evening tours with costumed actors who portray the ghosts of people who lived and died in our city.
In the winter we offer a 3-part lecture series on topics related to the history and customs surrounding cemeteries like ours. We also hold summer conversation work days where volunteers can learn proper stone conservation and restoration techniques.
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Cemetery Tours: A Popular Pastime
02 may 2022 5:07 pm | debi curry (administrator).
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Tour Portland’s Historic Lone Fir Cemetery
“ Lone Fir #1 ” by brx0 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 .
Looking for a one-of-a-kind experience to retrace Portland’s history in an arboretum? Take a tour of Portland’s historic Lone Fir Cemetery.
Located in Southeast Portland, Lone Fir Cemetery is one of Portland’s oldest continuously used cemeteries. The 30 acres is the final resting place of many noteworthy Portlanders in a picturesque setting with more than 500 trees. One of the old growth trees is a Douglas Fir that is the 150-year-old namesake of the cemetery.
This beloved green space has many iconic sights, like the Macleay Mausoleum (you may recognize this name from one of Portland’s best urban parks ), the Chinese burial grounds at Block 14, the Pioneer Rose Garden and Bottler Tomb. All of these historic attributes earned Lone Fir Cemetery a plot on the National Register of Historic Places.
The monthly tours of Lone Fir Cemetery retrace the rich history of our community and the people who helped shape it. Tours are hosted by the Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery, a volunteer organization dedicated to education, preservation and restoration of the historic cemetery. There are four opportunities below for you to explore this historic Portland cemetery.
Guided Tours
There are two different guided tours at the Lone Fir Cemetery each month: Historical Tour and Stories in Stone Tour. Both give you a unique insight of the historic figures who shaped our city while enjoying the beauty of the cemetery. Tours are suitable for all ages and wheelchair accessible by arrangement.
Historical Tour
The Historical Tour highlights Portland’s founders, pioneers, famous and infamous figures, and interesting headstones and monuments.
The event takes place on the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. The tour will begin at the Soldiers Monument, located in the center of the cemetery, and will last about 2 hours.
Here are the dates for the 2024 Historical Tours.
- February 10
- September 14
- December 14
Admission is a suggested donation of $10 and you can reserve a spot in advance online . Space is limited.
Stories of the Stone Tour
The Stories of the Stone Tour an insider’s guide to all of the marvels of Lone Fir Cemetery that are not covered in the Historical Tour. You’ll visit additional structures, historic figures and symbols seen throughout the cemetery.
The tour is split into north and south sides of the cemetery, which alternate every month.
Stories of the Stone takes place on the first Saturday each month at 10 a.m. The tour will begin at the Soldiers Monument, located in the center of the cemetery, and will last about 2 hours.
Here are the upcoming Stories of the Stone Tours:
- February 3 – North
- March 2 – South
- April 6 – North
- May 4 – South
- June 1 – North
- July 6 – South
- August 3 – North
- September 7 – South
- October 5 – North
- November 2 – South
- December 7 – North
Self-Guided Tours
If you’d like a DIY tour, Lone Fir Cemetery has an interactive Google Map that guides you to the notable residents, including civic leaders, pioneers, and other notorious and celebrated historic figures. The map includes a brief explanation of the significance of each highlighted headstone and monument.
The Lone Fir Cemetery is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. View the self-guided tour at the on the Friends of Lone Pine Cemetery website .
Headstone Workshops
Learn how to clean headstones and help fellow volunteers spruce up the cemetery. Meet at the Soldiers Monument, located in the center of the cemetery. This event is free to attend and you do not need to RSVP.
The workshop runs from 10 a.m. until noon. Supplies will be provided, but make sure you pack gloves and dress in clothes you don’t mind getting dirty.
Headstone workshops take place every third Saturday of the month from April through September.
Here are the 2024 dates:
- September 21
Lone Fir Cemetery is located at 649 SE 26th Ave. in Portland. For more information about events happening at Portland’s historic cemetery, visit the Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery website .
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Lone Fir Cemetery
649 SE 26th Ave. Portland , OR 97214 (503) 224-9200
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Friends of Evergreen Cemetery Walking Tours
The Friends of Evergreen docents are eager to share their stories behind the stones with visitors, especially with people who have recently discovered Evergreen’s vast grounds with its winding roads, gravestone symbols, statuary, and heritage trees. Tours may focus on an historic event such as the Civil War, Suffragists, 1898 SS Portland Disaster or on artists, Notable Women, politicians, famous families or gravestone symbols. During the tour season, tour descriptions can be found at www.facebook.com/friendsofevergreen
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Evergreen Cemetery
Spirits Alive at the Eastern Cemetery in Portland, Maine
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- Tours & Events
Dedicated to the Eastern Cemetery, the oldest historic landscape in Portland, Maine
- Tours & Events >
- Walk Among the Shadows
Walk Among the Shadows - The Portland Rum Riot 1855: Prohibition, Politics, & Protest in Maine
Thursdays – Sundays October 17 – 20 & 24 – 27, 2024
Stay tuned for more information.
Donations are suggested. Reserve your space on Eventbrite ! If Eventbrite says the night is sold out, you can pay in cash at the gate.
- Children under 12: $5
- Each walk lasts about 40 minutes
- Please to not photograph the spirits
- Expect uneven terrain on Funeral Lane
- Dress in layers—we do not cancel just because it is cold!
- Children, please bring your adults
- Pets, please stay home—this is a humans-only event
- Arrive early—parking is limited and you may have to take a short walk to get to the cemetery
Spirits Alive was formed in 2006 when folks decided to organize around its dedication to the preservation and beautification of one of the area's oldest public burial grounds, the Eastern Cemetery in Portland, Maine.
© 2006–2024 Spirits Alive, Portland, ME
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These tours are led by trained volunteers who cover the cemetery's history, prominent historical figures, and early gravestone art. Or take a virtual tour, Eastern Cemetery in 12 Stops anytime! Tour Details. Tours leave from the Congress Street gate. Tickets are $10, students and seniors (62+) $5, children under 12 are free; Tours last up to 1 ...
Spirits Alive. Spirits Alive is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Portland's historic Eastern Cemetery through a range of activities including walking tours and ongoing education. Save to Trip Plan Visit Website.
Eastern Cemetery in Portland, one of the earliest burying grounds in Maine (established 1668), is the only cemetery in the state that offers daily guided tours in season. Initially tours were offered only on weekends but in 2013, noted cemetery historian Ron Romano began improving and developing the tours and interest grew steadily.
Established in 1668, the Eastern Cemetery is located at 224 Congress Street in Portland, Maine. The oldest historic landscape in the city, the cemetery is home to around 7,000 interred. Tours available through Spirits Alive, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Portland's historic Eastern Cemetery.
The 'Walk Among The Shadows' tour brings spirits to life in Portland's Eastern Cemetery. Walk Among the Shadows premieres Thursday, Oct. 21 at 6:30, and will run through the weekend. Shows are: Oct. 21-23 & 28-30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., and Oct. 24&31 5:30-6:30 ... PORTLAND, Maine — The tour guides of Eastern Cemetery once again invite you this ...
Evergreen Cemetery. Evergreen Cemetery Interactive Map. Forest City Cemetery. Historic Cemeteries. Wilde Memorial Chapel. Government Websites by ...
About the Eastern Cemetery. Established in 1668, the Eastern Cemetery is located at 224 Congress Street in Portland, Maine. The oldest historic landscape in the city, the cemetery is home to around 7,000 interred (Romano). The gates are normally open by the city's park rangers from Memorial Day to Labor Day (late morning until late afternoon). Maps
Immerse yourself in 200 years of history of Portland, Maine; ... the Eastern cemetery, the Abyssinian Church, and more. Your tour will finish on a sweet note with a local treat. Includes. 2-hour walking tour; Services of a professional tour guide; ... 1 Portland, Maine Tours. 2 Portland, Maine Activities. 3 Portland, Maine Summer activities.
Historical Tour. The Historical Tour highlights Portland's founders, pioneers, famous and infamous figures, and interesting headstones and monuments. The event takes place on the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. The tour will begin at the Soldiers Monument, located in the center of the cemetery, and will last about 2 hours.
Eastern Cemetery is a historic cemetery at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Congress Street in the Munjoy Hill neighborhood of Portland, Maine.Established in 1668, it is the city's oldest historic site. It has more than 4,000 marked graves with an estimated further 3,000 burials in unmarked plots. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
The Friends of Evergreen docents are eager to share their stories behind the stones with visitors, especially with people who have recently discovered Evergreen's vast grounds with its winding roads, gravestone symbols, statuary, and heritage trees. Tours may focus on an historic event such as the Civil War, Suffragists, 1898 SS Portland Disaster or on artists, Notable Women, politicians ...
It was the city's primary burying ground from 1829 until 1852 when Evergreen Cemetery opened. The cemetery has an estimated 6,600 marked and unmarked graves and remained active until 1910. Its lots and circulation paths were planned by civil engineer James Hall in 1840. Its main entrance, the 1914 Daveis Memorial Gate, was designed by John ...
Saturday, May 11, 3pm - 8pm. Abyssinian Meeting House. A day of community programs and an outdoor public performance at the at the historic Abyssinian Meeting House. FREE, no RSVP needed. Memorial Day Tours. Monday, May 27, 10am - 2pm. We'll offer free tours of veterans and military grave stones and plots.
Eastern Cemetery is Portland, Maine's oldest public space. Designated in 1668, it was originally called the town Burying Ground and was open to the townspeople to bury family wherever they could find an unused plot. ... from spring through fall the Congress Street gate is open daily and the public is invited to take a self-guided tour (daily ...
Evergreen Cemetery. Introducing our interactive map of Evergreen Cemetery which allows you to search for burials. please click on the link below the image to access the map.
cemeteries found in Portland, Maine will be saved to your photo volunteer list. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Within 5 miles of your location. Within 5 kilometers of your location.
Evening tours through the Eastern Cemetery in October. Costumed actors portray cemetery residents in this historic and fun family-friendly event. Presented by Spirits Alive, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Portland's historic Eastern Cemetery through a range of activities including promotion and education.
Established in 1855, Evergreen Cemetery's 239 acres make it the second largest cemetery in Maine. It has a number of noteworthy headstones and is on the National Register of Historic Places. ... Portland, ME 04101 (207) 775-2411. [email protected]. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR E-NEWS Our Work. Trails; Active Transportation; Conservation; Placemaking ...
Thursdays - Sundays. October 17 - 20 & 24 - 27, 2024. Stay tuned for more information. Spirits Alive was formed in 2006 when folks decided to organize around its dedication to the preservation and beautification of one of the area's oldest public burial grounds, the Eastern Cemetery in Portland, Maine. Evening tours through the Eastern ...