by Portsmouth Historical Society | Jul 11, 2023
The Portsmouth Path of President Washington
Semi-Monthly at 2:30 pm
First and third Fridays of the month
This 90-minute walking tour walks in the footsteps of George Washington, stopping at many of the places he stayed or visited during his Presidential tour of New England that took place six months after his inauguration.
Tour Description:
President Washington visited Portsmouth for four days in the fall of 1789 as part of the President’s tour of the northern states six months after his inauguration. During your 90-minute walk, you will follow the route of the President down Congress Street to the site of the former British State House in Market Square where he addressed the citizens of Portsmouth. By the end of this walking tour you’ll get a sense of just how busy the presidential visit truly was!
Walking Tour Rates:
Tours are $15 for members, $20 for non-members, $15 for discounted groups (Children 5-18, Seniors 62+, Students, Portsmouth Residents), and free for children 5 and under.
All tours depart from Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth NH.
Online reservations close 30 minutes prior to tour departure. Please call (603) 436-8433 for last minute bookings.
Upgrade your ticket for just $5 to also visit our galleries and John Paul Jones House.
by Portsmouth Historical Society | Jul 11, 2023
“Gay” Old Times: Stories of Portsmouth’s LGBTQ+ Community
Once a month at 2:30 pm
Second Sundays of the month
Learn about the hidden history of LGBT clubs, organizations, and people who impacted the Seacoast of NH on this 90-minute walking tour.
Tour Description:
Tour guide Tom Kaufhold will take you through Portsmouth for this engaging 90-minute tour. You will pass by many beautiful historic sites and learn some important facts about Portsmouth LGBTQ+ people, places and events, including:
- How UNH and the NH Supreme Court impacted Portsmouth’s LGBTQ+ community
- Where the first gay and women’s bars were in Portsmouth
- The restaurant credited with starting Portsmouth’s restaurant renaissance
- The church that supported two LGBTQ+ organizations for decades.
Walking Tour Rates:
Tours are $15 for members, $20 for non-members, $15 for discounted groups (Children 5-18, Seniors 62+, Students, Portsmouth Residents), and free for children 5 and under.
All tours depart from Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth NH.
Online reservations close 30 minutes prior to tour departure. Please call (603) 436-8433 for last minute bookings.
Upgrade your ticket for just $5 to also visit our galleries and John Paul Jones House.
by Portsmouth Historical Society | Jul 11, 2023
Daily Walking Tours
Walking Through 400 Years of History
Daily at 10:30 am
Saturday and the 2nd and 4th Friday at 2:30 pm
This daily 90-minute walking tour covers the streets, stories, buildings, and architecture of historic downtown Portsmouth.
Tour Description:
Learn why Portsmouth is the hub of the New Hampshire Seacoast! Our downtown is filled with hidden treasures. Our knowledgeable walking tour guides will introduce you to the city’s rich past and lively present—a unique mix of architecture, specialty shops, and bustling streets nestled in a village-like setting. This 90-minute guided walking tour is sure to bring the history of Portsmouth alive!
Walking Tour Rates:
Tours are $15 for members, $20 for non-members, $15 for discounted groups (Children 5-18, Seniors 62+, Students, Portsmouth Residents), and free for children 5 and under.
All tours depart from Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth NH.
Online reservations close 30 minutes prior to tour departure. Please call (603) 436-8433 for last minute bookings.
Upgrade your ticket for just $5 to also visit our galleries and John Paul Jones House.
by Portsmouth Historical Society | 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 Portsmouth Historical Society | Jul 10, 2023
Can you solve this sensational crime before the clock runs out?
Inspired by historic murders on Smuttynose Island in 1873, this interactive evening will invite one and all to try to solve one of Portsmouth’s most infamous crimes. You might know the historical figures, but we can guarantee you’ll be puzzled by this original murder mystery. Over the course of the evening, you’ll be called to examine the evidence against a set of suspicious subjects. Interrogate the witnesses, dress in your finest historic fashion, and become a part of history at the Music Hall Lounge. Light refreshments available for purchase.
Proceeds from this event benefit the preservation and growth of the Portsmouth Historical Society.
