Even though Douglass, a former slave and anti-slavery advocate, did not come to Portland in 1850, he did visit the state in 1877, to join veterans of the First Maine Cavalry, a Civil War unit, at their annual reunion in 1877 at Old Orchard Beach.
Douglass is standing fourth from right in the first row. He noted that it was a sign of great progress in race relations that he had enjoyed "a game of croquet with ladies and gentlemen of a different race right out in front of the hotel."
