by Sabina Ion | Aug 21, 2023
Join us below the cherry tree at the John Paul Jones House to celebrate the Portsmouth Peace Treaty!
This year is the 118th Anniversary of the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty on September 5, 1905. The spirit of the Treaty, the statesmanship of the diplomats and President Roosevelt, and the citizen diplomacy of local people is a legacy that is perhaps more important than ever in these turbulent global times — and is echoed in the themes of the “Diplomats in Portsmouth” exhibit displayed for the Portsmouth NH 400th at the John Paul Jones House.
By re-enacting the bellringing that occurred when the Treaty was signed on September 5, 1905, we echo the celebration all around the Seacoast that welcomed the news that the Russo-Japanese War was over and we commemorate the active role local citizens played in helping to achieve that peace. So the sounding of bells around the state at 3:47 pm on September 5th is the historical, and in many ways most meaningful celebration of Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day, an official statewide observance since unanimous legislation was passed in 2010.
by Sabina Ion | Jul 10, 2023
Join the Portsmouth Historic Sites Association for its annual Twilight Tour on Friday, August 11, from 4-8 p.m.
This year’s Twilight Tour features special exhibitions and objects of PHSA sites that celebrate the City of Portsmouth’s 400th anniversary, including those highlighted in the legacy project, A History of Portsmouth NH in 101 Objects.
The following historical properties will be open during Twilight Tour:
- Portsmouth Athenaeum
- Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
- Historic New England’s Langdon House
- Moffatt-Ladd House and Gardens
- Portsmouth Historical Society’s John Paul Jones House
- Strawbery Banke Museum’s Goodwin Mansion
- Warner House
- Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion
Tickets are $25 for adults ($20 in advance) and $10 for children ages 12 and under. All tours are self-guided and houses can be visited in any order. Each ticket is valid for one admission to each of the participating sites on the night of August 11. The ticket remains valid until the end of the 2023 season for any houses not visited on the night of Twilight Tour.
Ticket holders are responsible for their transportation and parking.
by Sabina Ion | Apr 14, 2023
Get a jump start on your garden, and spread some wildflowers!
Celebrate the lovely spring weather with some fun gardening activities for the whole family! We’ll be creating seed-starting egg carton greenhouses all day between 11am and 4pm.
This is a FREE event.
No pre-registration is required.
All activities will take place on the John Paul Jones Lawn.
Seed ball workshops at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm.
Help support our local pollinators and bring a little beauty to your yard with seed balls! Seed balls are little compost and clay spheres full of wildflower seeds that you can drop in your yard or in a pot. With just some water and sunshine, you’ll soon have your own patch of wildflowers! This seed ball activity is appropriate for ages 5 and up, and children will need to have their adult present.
by Sabina Ion | Nov 10, 2022 | News
Registration for the 32nd Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibition closes 11/18
Gingerbread is back for 2022! Once again, we’re filling our galleries and downtown shop windows with sweet holiday goodness!
The 2022 theme is: fictional places and characters. We are inviting the gingerbreadologisits of Portsmouth and beyond to craft your favorite fictional places and characters —edible materials only, of course!
Register by November 18 to participate.
Upcoming “Show + Tell” Workshop, Lecture, and Curator Tours
Join us for a fun morning with children’s book illustrator, Gina Perry! Ages 5+
Get behind-the-scenes insights from “Show + Tell” curator, Tess Feltes.
Book Illustration Process
Thursday, November 17, 6:30-7:30 pm
Join two of the artists featured in “Show + Tell,” Jill Weber and Ryan O’Rourke, for a lively discussion about the process of illustrating a book.
“Show + Tell,” our celebration of the depth and breadth of local children’s picturebook illustrators opens Friday, October 28, with an opening reception the previous evening (Thursday, October 27) from 5:30-7:30pm. It’s open to the public, and we have many of the publications for sale in the shop that could be signed by the illustrators!
It’s Pastel!, the 14th annual national juried exhibition of the Pastel Society of New Hampshire, opened Saturday, October 22!
John Paul Jones House open Veterans Day.
The JPJ House will be open 11am-3pm on November 11, and admission is FREE!
Vintage Christmas Kickoff Party
Join us on Friday, December 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 to celebrate the season!
