Old Port in Portland in Cumberland County, Maine — The American Northeast (New England)

Friends (Quaker) Meeting House

Portland Maine Freedom Trail

Photographed By James R. Murray, August 6, 2016

1. Friends (Quaker) Meeting House Marker

Inscription. Friends (Quaker) Meeting House, Corner of Federal and Pearl Streets. Famous abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison started the Maine anti-slavery movement with a speech given here in 1832. Garrison advocated "immediate emancipation without compensation" to the slave-owners instead of colonizing free African Americans to Liberia. In 1836, Portland's first anti-slavery riot occurred here during an anti-slavery speech by Henry Brewster Stanton. The meeting house was attacked again in 1847 when abolitionists Garrison, Frederick Douglass and Charles Lenox Remond attempted to lecture. Anti-slavery women successfully protected the speakers.

Erected 2007 by Maine Freedom Trails. (Marker Number 9.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • African Americans • Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Maine, Portland Freedom Trail, and the Quakerism series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.

Location. 43° 39.564′ N, 70° 15.294′ W. Marker is in Portland, Maine, in Cumberland County. It is in Old Port. Marker is at the intersection of Pearl Street and Federal Street, on the right when traveling north on Pearl Street. Marker is located

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just inside the boundary of Lincoln Park at the intersection of Pearl and Federal Streets. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 75 Pearl St, Portland ME 04101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. County of Cumberland (within shouting distance of this marker); In 1745 (within shouting distance of this marker); What's Going On Here? (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Press Herald Building (about 400 feet away); Portland Maine World War I Marker (about 600 feet away); Portland Maine Korea and Vietnam Memorial (about 600 feet away); Portland Maine World War II Memorial (about 600 feet away); Portland Maine Spanish War / World War I Memorial (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Portland.

Photographed By James R. Murray, August 5, 2016

2. Friends (Quaker) Meeting House Marker

William Lloyd Garrison image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James R. Murray, August 6, 2016

3. William Lloyd Garrison

William Lloyd Garrison who started the Maine anti-slavery movement with a speech given in 1832.

Frederick Douglass image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James R. Murray, August 6, 2016

4. Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass, who along with Garrison, and Charles Remond were involved in a near riot in attempting to speak in 1847.

Charles Lenox Remond image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James R. Murray, August 6, 2016

5. Charles Lenox Remond

Charles Lenox Remond, involved in the 1847 attack on the Meeting House.

Portland Maine Freedom Trail Friends (Quaker) Meeting House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James R. Murray, August 6, 2016

6. Portland Maine Freedom Trail Friends (Quaker) Meeting House Marker

Henry Brewster Stanton, who's speech in 1836 resulted in Portland's first pro-slavery riot.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2016, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. This page has been viewed 613 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 6, 2016, by James R. Murray of Elkton, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.