10 Middle Street Closed

10 Middle Street Closed

by | Jun 22, 2026

Exterior of Portsmouth Historical Society located at 10 Middle Street. A large brick building with an open flag.

The galleries at 10 Middle Street will be closed on Saturday, July 4

We encourage you to visit the John Paul Jones House instead (free admission day!).

Revolutionary Portsmouth Exhibition. At the John Paul Jones House. Portsmouth NH, May 22-October 30.

On Display at the John Paul Jones House

In the 1760s and 1770s, residents of the American colonies, including Portsmouth, were forced to make a serious choice between democracy or monarchy, between being a Patriot or a Loyalist. Despite the Patriot’s emphasis on asserting longstanding English liberties, what did the Revolution actually mean for local African Americans, Native Americans, or women? What was life on the homefront like? What did the town look like at this time, in terms of its architecture and material life?

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Revolutionary Portsmouth Lecture Series: Music of the American Revolution

Revolutionary Portsmouth Lecture Series: Music of the American Revolution

by | Jun 22, 2026

Music of the American Revolution: Soundtrack of a Nation in Conflict Thursday, July 30, 2026, 5:30–6:30 PM Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth

“Revolutionary Portsmouth” Joint Lecture Series:

Music of the American Revolution: Soundtrack of a Nation in Conflict
Thursday, July 30, 2026, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth

Erin Dubois explores the sounds of the Revolutionary era, from the fifes and drums that directed troops on the battlefield to the songs and dances heard in homes, taverns, and gathering places. Through historical context and musical examples, this talk examines how music served practical, social, and political purposes during the fight for independence, shaping morale, strengthening community bonds, and reflecting the hopes and tensions of a nation in formation.

Erin Dubois is a flutist, educator, and arts administrator based on New Hampshire’s Seacoast. She serves as General Manager of the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra and performs as the orchestra’s piccoloist and second flutist. She teaches Woodwind Methods at the University of New Hampshire, is an instructor at Concord Community Music School, and continues to perform regularly throughout New England.

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Revolutionary Portsmouth Exhibition. At the John Paul Jones House. Portsmouth NH, May 22-October 30.
Learn about our "Revolutionary Portsmouth" exhibition

This event is part of a joint lecture series with Strawbery Banke Museum

Strawbery Banke logo
Revolutionary Portsmouth Lecture Series “The Enduring Legacy of Wentworth Cheswill”

Revolutionary Portsmouth Lecture Series “The Enduring Legacy of Wentworth Cheswill”

by | May 28, 2026

The Enduring Legacy of Wentworth Cheswill Thursday, November 12, 2026, 5:30–6:30 PM Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth

“Revolutionary Portsmouth” Joint Lecture Series:

The Enduring Legacy of Wentworth Cheswill
Thursday, November 12, 2026, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth

John Herman offers a closer look at Wentworth Cheswill, a pioneering and often overlooked figure in early American history. An archaeologist, messenger rider, and the first person of African descent elected to public office in the United States, Cheswill’s life reflects a remarkable journey from enslavement to civic leadership. This talk highlights his lasting impact and the broader story of Black history in Revolutionary-era New England.

John Herman is an artist, educator, and performer whose work brings local history to life. His practice spans visual art and improvisational theatre, and he has been featured in NH PBS’s Granite State Challenge as part of its America250 programming. He is the author of Wentworth Cheswill’s Ride: Chasing a Would-Be American Folk Hero.

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Revolutionary Portsmouth Lecture Series “The Politicization of Shoes” at Portsmouth Historical

Revolutionary Portsmouth Lecture Series “The Politicization of Shoes” at Portsmouth Historical

by | May 28, 2026

The Politicization of Shoes: Purchasing Patriotism During the Revolutionary Era, 1760s–1770s Thursday, September 24, 2026, 5:30–6:30 PM Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth

“Revolutionary Portsmouth” Joint Lecture Series:

The Politicization of Shoes: Purchasing Patriotism During the Revolutionary Era, 1760s–1770s
Thursday, September 24, 2026, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth

Dr. Kimberly Alexander explores how everyday consumer choices became acts of political expression during the Revolutionary era. Focusing on shoes as a case study, she reveals how American women supported boycotts of English goods by purchasing locally made footwear and repairing existing pairs, helping disrupt British industry and advance the cause of independence.

Dr. Kimberly Alexander is a Senior Lecturer and Director of Museum Studies in the History Department at the University of New Hampshire. A former curator at institutions including the MIT Museum, Peabody Essex Museum, and Strawbery Banke Museum, she specializes in material culture and dress history. Her publications include Treasures Afoot: Shoe Stories from the Georgian Era and Fashioning the New England Family.

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