Dating to 1724,[1] it runs for around 1 mile (1.6 km), from the Eastern Promenade on Munjoy Hill in the northeast to Pleasant Street in the southwest.

It splits briefly at Boothby Square, shortly after passing the United States Custom House.

[16] At the corner of Fore and Moulton, there is a Portland Freedom Trail marker for the anti-slavery bookstore and a printshop run by Daniel Colesworthy.

The Boothby Square Watering Trough was first installed in 1902 as part of the City Beautiful movement.

At Fore Street's southwest terminus is the location of the John Ford Statue, a bronze statue of American film director and Portland High School graduate John Ford that was installed in 1998.