Portsmouth Historical Society

Daily Walking Tours (May–October)
2024-06-01 - 2024-06-30, 2024-07-01 - 2024-07-31 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
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.

Book your walking tour!

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.

New Hampshire Gives
2024-06-11 17:00 - 2024-06-12 17:00 (America/New_York) | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States

Homeschool Day Walking Tours
2024-06-12 10:00 - 13:00, 2024-06-13 10:00 - 13:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Add your name to the waitlist

Our June 12 and 13 Homeschool Days have filled up!
We will add additional sessions if we have enough interest. Please fill out this form if you want to register for this event on another day.

John Paul Jones House and the Portsmouth Peace Treaty
Morning Session (10–11 a.m.)
Join our resident John Paul Jones House expert for a guided tour through the historic house! Finish your tour on the top floor with the Portsmouth Peace Treaty exhibition, a look through Portsmouth’s involvement in the peace negotiations of the Russo-Japanese War.

African Burying Ground and Black Heritage Trail Sites
Afternoon Session (12–1 p.m.)
Join us at the African Burying Grounds for an in depth tour of this fascinating memorial site. Following our time at the African Burying Grounds, we will embark on a walking tour to discover additional sites in Portsmouth with connections to Black heritage.

Homeschool Day details
Cost:
Students $8 per session
Accompanying adult free
Homeschool Days are intended for students ages 5 and older. All students must be accompanied by an adult.
This is our final program of the school year, we look forward to having monthly offerings for the 2024-2025 school year. While we are planning, take advantage of the reduced pricing and give us your feedback! How can Portsmouth Historical Society further support your learners?

Add your name to the waitlist

Morning and afternoon sessions can be purchased as part of the same order. No lunch is provided, but those enrolled in both sessions are welcome to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the John Paul Jones House lawn.

Women of Portsmouth Walking Tour
2024-06-12 14:30 - 16:00, 2024-07-10 14:30 - 16:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Women of Portsmouth Walking Tour
Once a month at 2:30 pmSecond Wednesdays of the monthLearn the untold stories of navigators, preachers, artists, authors, tavern keepers, and madams who defied stereotypes and shaped Portsmouth on this 90 minutes tour.

Book your walking tour!

Tour Description:
For over 400 years women have been shaping the course of Portsmouth’s history. After the 90-minute walking tour, we hope you will walk away surprised by all the ways that women have impacted the fabric of this city. Your tour will cover almost two miles including Prescott Park and the Old Harbor.

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.

Doodle Day
2024-06-15 11:00 - 14:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Sharpen your pencils and get doodling!

Register for the Doodle Family Day

LGBTQ+ Walking Tour
2024-06-16 14:30 - 16:00, 2024-07-21 14:30 - 16:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
“Gay” Old Times: Stories of Portsmouth’s LGBTQ+ Community
Once a month at 2:30 pm
Third 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.

Book your 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.

Along the Waterfront
2024-06-19 14:30 - 16:30, 2024-06-26 14:30 - 16:30, 2024-07-17 14:30 - 16:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Along the Waterfront
Twice a Month at 2:30 pm
Third and fourth Wednesdays of the month
Stretch your legs on our longest walking tour! This two-hour tour includes Prescott Park, the working waterfront, the tugboats, a bit of beer history and more. Born and bred Portsmouth local, Ron Sher, adds personal anecdotes and depth to this extended tour.

Book your walking tour!

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.

Workshop: Family, Memory, Place
2024-06-20 18:00 - 19:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join us for a deeper dive into recording personal histories.

Register for Family, Memory, Place Workshop

About the Presenter:
Maura MacNeil is a writer, editor, and teacher. She is the author of the poetry collections: A History of Water (Finishing Line Press), Lost Houses (Kelsay Books), and This Last Place (Dancing Girl Press). Her poetry, prose, and critical writing has been published and anthologized in numerous publications over the past three decades including: Penning the Pandemic: An Anthology of Creative Writing from the Beginning of the Covid Era; Mud Chronicles: A New England Anthology; Poet Showcase: An Anthology of New Hampshire Poets; and Voices from the Frost Place Volume II. For over two decades she has taught writing at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire.

This event is made possible by a grant from New Hampshire Humanities

Loyalist to Liberty Walking Tour
2024-06-21 14:30 - 16:00, 2024-07-05 14:30 - 16:00, 2024-07-19 14:30 - 16:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
From Loyalist to Liberty
Semi-Monthly at 2:30 pm
First and third Fridays of the month
This 90-minute walking tour traces the path of Portsmouth during the 1770s. From a hub of British loyalty a series of events in the 1770s fanned the flames of independence and turned Portsmouth into a hotbed of Patriotism.

Book your walking tour!

Tour Description:
Learn about British settlement of the Seacoast and the economic prosperity that made Portsmouth the capital city of the royal colony and then see how the events of the 1770s changed public opinion to that of revolution. During your 90-minute walk, you will visit sites that are related to the American Revolution including: North Church and State House Plaque, Queen’s Chapel, Liberty Pole, Pitt Tavern, and more.

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.

Pride Day LGBTQ+ Walking Tour
2024-06-22 10:00 - 11:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
“Gay” Old Times: Stories of Portsmouth’s LGBTQ+ Community
Additional Pride Month walking tour begins at 10:00 amEnds in time to attend the Portsmouth Pride ParadeLearn about the hidden history of LGBT clubs, organizations, and people who impacted the Seacoast of NH on this 90-minute walking tour.
Learn about other Pride Month events.

Book your 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.

Big Trees of Portsmouth Tour
2024-06-23 10:00 - 12:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Get to know some of the oldest and biggest State Champion Trees of Portsmouth

Register for Big Trees of Portsmouth: Tour and Presentation

About the Presenter:
Author and boatbuilder Kevin Martin has over 40 years of experience working with wood. Served on the Epping Conservation Commission, was chair of the Lamprey River Advisory Committee and State Coordinator for the NH Big Tree Program. Trained for the National Big Tree Measurers Cadre.

Pride Month LGBTQ+ Walking Tour
2024-06-24 14:30 - 16:00, 2024-07-01 14:30 - 16:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
“Gay” Old Times: Stories of Portsmouth’s LGBTQ+ Community
Once a month at 2:30 pmThird Sundays of the monthLearn about the hidden history of LGBT clubs, organizations, and people who impacted the Seacoast of NH on this 90-minute walking tour.Learn about other Pride Month events.

Book your 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.

Knit Happens
2024-06-28 14:30 - 15:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join us for a monthly yarn circle!

Register for Knit Happens

Curator Tour
2024-07-05 12:00 - 13:00, 2024-07-05 17:30 - 18:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
A behind-the-scenes look at our current exhibition
“The Matter of Memory” explored the ways that museums are the vessels of communal and individual memory along with how they consciously or unconsciously shape memory through what types of items are displayed and shared. Walk through the gallery with our museum curator and get a deeper understanding into some of the choices made in museum collections and exhibitions in both the past and present.
Tours happen at 12:00 and 5:30 pm.This is a free tour, no registration required.

Learn more about the exhibition

Art Round Town
2024-07-05 17:00 - 20:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
We’ll be open until 8 p.m. on July 5th for Art ‘Round Town!
Free admission all day long.
Visit our most recent exhibition “The Matter of Memory” and view highlights from our permanent collection in our “Past & Present” exhibition.

Add the 12:00 pm curator tour to your calendar

Add the 5:30 pm curator tour to your calendar

John Paul Jones 277th Birthday celebrations
2024-07-06 11:00 - 17:00 | John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Help us celebrate the 277th Birthday of John Paul Jones!
Join us at the John Paul Jones House to celebrate the captain and legend himself. Enjoy cupcakes on the lawn at 12 pm, available while they last. There will be no guided tours, but museum docents will be on site to answer your questions.
Free admission to the John Paul Jones House 11 a.m.– 5p.m.

Happy Birthday, John Paul Jones!

Adopt an Artifact
2024-07-10 17:30 - 18:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
RSVP to Adopt an Artifact

The “Adopt an Artifact” program was created to help raise funds to meet the critical needs of our historical collection. Portsmouth Historical Society has approximately 3,000 objects that it cares for, and many of our collection items need some repair in order to last 200, 300 years—and more, as we do our best to preserve them for future generations to learn from and enjoy.

Learn more about Adopt an Artifact

Colonial Field Day
2024-07-13 10:00 - 14:00 | John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Join us for historic lawn games
Put down your screens, step back in time and join us for a morning of old-fashioned yard games! From bag races to Game of Graces, embrace the simplicity and timeless joy found in playing outside with family and friends.
Thank you to our sponsor Newburyport Bank for making this program FREE for everyone.

Book Signing: Lighthouses of New Hampshire
2024-07-17 17:30 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join us for a book signing with author Jeremy D’Entremont.
Get a chance to hear from and speak with the author of Lighthouses of New Hampshire.
Books will be available for sale in the gift shop. Admission is free, no RSVP required.

About the Author:
Jeremy D’Entremont has been photographing and writing about lighthouses for almost four decades. He is the author of more than 20 books and hundreds of articles on lighthouses and maritime history, and he has appeared on Public Television and other local and national TV and radio. He is the historian for the U.S. Lighthouse Society and hosts the Society’s weekly podcast, “Light Hearted.” He is a past president of the American Lighthouse Foundation and founder of Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses.

About the Book:
Portsmouth Harbor’s 1771 lighthouse was the first lighthouse established in the American colonies north of Boston. A few miles offshore, a lighthouse was established at the southernmost of the Isles of Shoals in 1821. Inland, three wooden lighthouses were built on Lake Sunapee in the late 1800s to guide steamships full of vacationers to their destinations around the lake. All of these locations have stories to tell of dedicated keepers and their families, shipwrecks, rescues, and much more.

Piscataqua Riverfest
2024-07-20 10:00 - 17:00 | NH
