Walk Among the Shadows 2021 is back in the cemetery!

Walk Among the Shadows 2021

The Secret History of the Eastern Cemetery: Movers and Shakers in the Old Burial Ground

October 21–24 & 28–31

Thursdays through Saturdays, 6:30pm
Sundays, 5:30pm

Donations are suggested. Reserve your space on Eventbrite

• Adults $10

• Children under 12: $5

Seven Spirits will rise from their graves to tell stories of their time in the old burial ground: true tales of new stones, old stones, overcrowding, unexpected relocations, and more. Audience members will be led through the cemetery by specters, encountering each story at a different location along Funeral Lane.

• Each walk lasts about 40 minutes

• 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—if you drive, parking is limited, and you may have to take a short walk to get to the cemetery

We appreciate the support of generous sponsors, and a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Pete imparts his vast cemetery wisdom to an eager learner

Tours of Eastern Cemetery Wrap Up

Daily at 4:00pm until Wednesday, October 13
Tickets are $10, students and seniors (62+) $5, children under 12 are free

Still going strong… join us on a guided walk through the cemetery and hear stories of those interred, a history of the design and shape of gravestones, and how the site fits into the formation of Portland, Maine.

Reserve your tour tickets in advance on Eventbrite. Guides will not be able to make change for cash.

If you can’t make 4:00pm, but would still like a tour, let us know!

More information: Walking Tours

Descendant Dan Gibbs with Dr. John Briggs stone in 1973 and in 2021

Dr. John Briggs Honored

We were lucky to have the opportunity to honor Dr. John Briggs, a war surgeon buried in Eastern Cemetery, with a ceremony at the end of July. The excitement over his life extended to New York, Arizona, Wyoming and Texas as descendants and those interested in telling his story in connection with the Battle of Champlain ensured. Several media outlets responded in kind with interviews with Ron Romano who researched Dr. Briggs and produced excerpts from the ceremony, including historian Herb Adams’ rendition of the battle.

• Long-forgotten Maine veteran gets graveside recognition 207 years later (Bangor Daily News story)

• Historian Uncovers Veteran’s Valor (Mountain Lake Journal video interview with Ron Romano, aired September 2021, PBS)

• Historian Discusses Battleship Saratoga Physician’s Role During Battle of Plattsburgh (Radio story with Ron Romano on WAMC Northeast Public Radio)

• November 2020 Subterranean Celebrity: Dr. John Briggs

• Photos of the conservation of the Briggs head stone on our Flickr site

• Dr. John Perkins Briggs (1791-1837): A Surgeon in the War of 1812, the 9th in a series of papers written by Ron Romano

Support Eastern Cemetery

You can help Spirits Alive keep the Eastern Cemetery alive for generations to come. Through your support, you can help us, an ALL-VOLUNTEER organization, to continue to:

• Keep the gates open – encouraging the community to explore its open and safe green space

• Offer education about the cemetery and its residents to the public – through tours, lectures, and events

• Encourage and support the city in keeping the site clean and safe for visitors of all ages

• Preserve this incredible outdoor museum and sacred historic landscape

Spirits Alive is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Portland, Maine’s historic Eastern Cemetery through a range of activities including promotion and education.