Family Day: Art in Bloom
Get inspired by the architecture and art of our historic John Paul Jones House as you learn to make tissue paper flowers.
Thank you to our Family Day sponsor for making this free, family-friendly event possible:
Family Day: House Birthday Party
Help us celebrate the 268th birthday of this historic property!
Join us on the John Paul Jones House lawn all day for lawn games and crafts, fit for a revolutionary-era birthday bash as we celebrate the construction of this Portsmouth home.
All Day Activities:
- Yard Games: croquet, graves (french hoops), cornhole, sack races, and more
- I-Spy house tour
- Coloring Activities
- Cupcakes!
Free admission to the John Paul Jones House 10 a.m.– 5 p.m.
About the House
The building known today as the John Paul Jones House was built in 1758 for Gregory Purcell, a sea captain and merchant. When built, the house was considered to be at the edge of downtown and was amongst only a handful of stately three story homes in the city. The house changed hands several times during the nineteenth century. Owners included Woodbury Langdon, Henry and Alexander Ladd who rented the home to Senator John F. Parrott, and Samuel Lord.
It’s name comes from the potential resident, Captain John Paul Jones, who is believed to have stayed there during the American Revolution.
Family Day: Cemetery Tours
Costumes, candy, and a scavenger hunt in North Cemetery
Join us for some history and Halloween fun at North Cemetery! Come in costume (if you want!), participate in a scavenger hunt with candy prizes, and learn about the history of North Cemetery and some of the famous Portsmouth figures buried there.
This program is designed for families and will highlight what an important resource cemeteries are for learning about the past. Though we will not be discussing anything gruesome, haunted, or scary, we will be talking about things like colonial funerals and headstone symbols, which include images of skulls and bones. If you’re unsure whether this program would be a little too spooky, please reach out to our cemetery guide, Sarah Robbitts-Terry ( sarah@portsmouthhistory.org) with any questions.
Thank you to our event sponsor: