News
A Slice of History: Portsmouth’s Famous Orange Cake Returns to the Spotlight
Portsmouth’s Famous Orange Cake may not be a household name today, but the recipe stretches back to the days of our earliest settlers. This past Mother’s Day, Portsmouth Historical Society and Strawbery Banke brought it back into the spotlight at Springfests’s Orange Cake Bake-Off!
Alien Abduction and Local History Collide in “Betty & Barney” Exhibition
Now on view at the Portsmouth Historical Society, “Betty & Barney” explores the fascinating and multifaceted lives of the Hills– inviting visitors to look beyond the headlines and into the real people at the center of the phenomenon.
Stewarding Portsmouth’s Historic Legacy Through Strategic Preservation
The $13,930 grant award from LCHIP will support a comprehensive building assessment, enabling the Historical Society to prioritize preservation work and ensure the building continues to safeguard Portsmouth’s history…
Gingerbread Experiments Come to Life!
This year’s theme, The Great Gingerbread Experiment, really came to life in extraordinary ways. Visitors and staff are blown away by how boldly creators embraced experimentation: trying new materials, techniques, and designs they’ve never used before.
Now is the Time to Experience “Cabot Lyford: Winds of Change”
Artist Cabot Lyford (1925-2016) spent a lifetime creating works of art, including four in Portsmouth. Here he is on the Phillips Exeter Academy campus with his ever-present pipe. Image courtesy of the Lyford family. With just over a month until the show closes, now is...
Young Artists Contest 2025
This year's Young Artists Contest draws on works from "Cabot Lyford: Winds of Change" as well as "Contemporary Currents." There are also some submissions from our After-School Art program! This program encourages budding artists to draw on our show for inspiration to...
Floral Art Takes Center Stage at Portsmouth’s Art in Bloom
Enjoy a festive evening featuring stunning floral arrangements inspired by the art, architecture, and collections of the John Paul Jones House.
Uncover the Art and Impact of Cabot Lyford
This exhibition features over 100 works by Cabot Lyford (1925–2016), many of which have not been seen in decades. Locals may recognize Lyford’s monumental public sculptures, including “My Mother the Wind” on Four Tree Island and “Fisherman’s Luck” in Prescott Park. “We are proud to shed more light on an artist whose work is familiar to many in Portsmouth…”
“Winds of Change” Usher in a New Season
The Portsmouth Historical Society will launch an exciting new exhibition “Cabot Lyford: Winds of Change” with a preview party celebrating the artist’s groundbreaking work on Thursday, March 27 from 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Celebrating Preservation: Fresh Paint Transforms John Paul Jones House
“Watching paint dry has been one of the best things to happen at the John Paul Jones House since the fall, and that’s not because we are closed for the season, but because of how anticipated this much-needed preservation work has been,”