Vintage Fire Truck: Portland Maine Sightseeing

Explore Portland, Maine on a vintage fire truck. Discover lighthouses, Civil War forts, and historic sites in a 50-minute family-friendly tour.

Duration: 50 minutes
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights

Old Port - The Old Port in Portland, Maine is a charming historic area with cobblestone streets and shops offering clothing, gourmet food, and souvenirs. It’s also a popular nightlife destination with pubs, breweries, and bars attracting younger crowds. The dining scene is fresh and vibrant.

Casco Bay Lines Ferry Terminal - Casco Bay Lines, also known as the Casco Bay Island Transit District (CBITD), is a public transportation company serving the residents of the Casco Bay islands. These islands include Peaks Island, Little Diamond Island, Great Diamond Island, Diamond Cove, Long Island, Chebeague Island, and Cliff Island.

Shipyard Brewing Company - Established in 1994, Shipyard Brewing Company is a brewery and soft drink manufacturer in Portland, Maine. It is the largest brewer in Maine and the fourth largest microbrewery in New England.

Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Company and Museum - Founded in 1993, the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum is located in the former Portland Company Marine Complex. The collection includes passenger and freight equipment, as well as artifacts from the 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railways that operated in Maine in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The organization runs a 1 1⁄2-mile (2.4 km) railroad along the Casco Bay waterfront, parallel to Portland’s Eastern Promenade, using historic steam and diesel locomotives and restored coaches for passenger services.

Portland Observatory - The Portland Observatory, a historic maritime signal tower at 138 Congress Street in Portland’s Munjoy Hill area, was built in 1807 and is the only known surviving tower of its kind in the United States. It enabled two-way communication between ship and shore using a telescope and signal flags, several hours before an incoming vessel reached the docks. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006, it is now a museum managed by a local nonprofit and open to the public. The tower’s operations were funded by annual fees from shipping merchants, who paid to have their flags stored and hoisted when their ships were sighted. A telephone was later installed, extending the tower’s use until 1923, when engine-powered vessels and radio communication made it obsolete.

The Wadsworth-Longfellow House - The Wadsworth-Longfellow House, located at 489 Congress Street in Portland, Maine, is a historic house and museum operated by the Maine Historical Society. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.

Portland Museum of Art - The Portland Museum of Art (PMA), founded as the Portland Society of Art in 1882, is the largest and oldest public art institution in Maine. It is situated in the downtown Arts District of Portland.

Victoria Mansion - Also known as the Morse-Libby House or Morse-Libby Mansion, Victoria Mansion is a notable example of American residential architecture in downtown Portland. Its brownstone exterior, elaborate interior design, opulent furnishings, and early technological conveniences offer a detailed look at lavish 19th-century American living. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1971 for its architectural significance as a well-preserved Italianate mansion.

What's Included
  • Driver/guide
  • Tour
What's Not Included
  • Food and beverages
  • Gratuities (suggested)
Additional Information

Embark on this exciting 50-minute journey to explore Portland, Maine in a unique way. Hop on an antique Fire Engine for a trip into the past, guided by an informed local who narrates Portland’s vibrant history. The sights include lighthouses, Civil War forts, city parks and buildings accompanied by intriguing narratives and an interactive showcase of historic Maine photos. This is a must-do tour for families!

  • PLEASE LEAVE PLENTY OF TIME FOR INCREASED TRAFFIC AND PARKING IN PORTLAND! Do Not trust your phones GPS for estimated time arrival.
  • *We leave promptly at the designated time! Refunds are not provided for missed tours due to late/non arrival
  • We just need the name that you booked with and the staff will check you in on the truck
  • Our address is 180 Commercial St. Portland ME 04101
  • Please provide a cell phone number that you will have with you when you are in Portland. We may need to contact you regarding your tour
Location
180 Commercial St
Commercial Street
We are directly in front of Portland Lobster Co. Restaurant. We have a small kiosk in front of the blue fence. Meet the Fire Engine here! We leave prompltly on time so please plenty of time to park and to find us.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(655 Ratings)
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Miranda_h
Jul 24, 2024
Informative and Interesting - The guide was very knowledgeable. It was interesting to hear about Portland’s history and bits of information about the city. I would recommend this if you are looking for a short interesting tour.
Review provided by Viator
Amydx2866un
Jul 21, 2024
A must when in Portland - Great tour of the city, very knowledgeable!! Had a great time on the tour with my family, was interactive and everyone should do this tour when in Portland.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kenk581
Jul 21, 2024
Well worth the trip! - Matt our driver was great! Very friendly! And our tour guide was excellent! She was a retired teacher and very knowledgeable! Wish i could remember her name but she was excellent!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Josephsq7483ce
Jul 20, 2024
Great introduction to downtown Portland - First, we were running late and they let us move our reservation time. Second, the guide was extremely knowledgeable and friendly and funny. Unexpectedly, they had a TV monitor so they were able to combine the views with historic maps, as well as close-up photos, so we could tell what we were seeing.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Victoria_c
Jul 14, 2024
enjoyable afternoon hour - The tour guide, a young lady, was so Knowledgeable and friendly. The driver also was very friendly and very knowledgeable. We love the firetruck
Review provided by Viator
Maryann_m
Jul 8, 2024
Great crew and fun time with family. The little one was so excited to ride in the Vintage Fire Truck. - We had a fun time on the Vintage Fire Truck Sightseeing Tour. It was very informative learning about the history of Portland and all the fires that happened over time.
Review provided by Viator
Kaycee_s
Jul 5, 2024
Fantastic Tour! - The entire tour was amazing. Our kids enjoyed the ride as we enjoyed the information! Would recommend this tour!
Review provided by Viator
Sarabx244zd
Jul 5, 2024
Highly recommend - Honestly one of the best history tours I’ve been on! The guide was great, the vintage fire truck was cute and comfortable, and we saw so many great sites!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Da2708
Jul 2, 2024
A must do in Portland - Such a fun and super informative tour of Portland on a vintage fire truck. Lauren gives an interesting narrative of the history of Portland. She is a gem. Comfortable seating with great views. Highly recommend. Great for kids as it’s not to long and on a fire truck 🚒
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pamela_t
Jul 7, 2024
Good short tour in Portland - This is a well done tour of Portland in a short amount of time (an hour) where you can see a lot but never have to leave your vehicle, which is a vintage fire engine. That said, nothing except the vehicle is particular geared to kids. Our tour guide was professional and fun, and even offered a few questions with prizes, but the main point is not to entertain kids. We had a 7- and an 8-year-old with us, and they were content at least. We adults thought it was an excellent tour. But kids might prefer the duck boat tour (which I hadn't realized existed).
Review provided by Viator
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up to 12 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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