Story Time
2022-09-06 10:00, 2022-09-13 10:00, 2022-09-20 10:00 (America/New_York) | NH

"Imagine That!" Celebration & Reception
2022-09-22 17:00 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
All are welcome to join for a celebration of “Imagine That! The Power of Picture Books” on Thursday, September 22 from 6-8 pm on the John Paul Jones House Lawn. Exhibition catalogues will be on sale at the reception.
For more event details and to register, visit https://portsmouthhistory.org/events/imagine-that-members-only-celebration-reception/

Art Round Town
2022-10-07 16:00 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join us for the monthly Art Round Town with Josh Hrehovcik, author/photographer of the “Retro Road Trip” series on Friday, October 7 from 5-8 pm in our Gift Shop.

John Paul Jones House Closes
2022-10-10 10:00 - 16:00 | John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Be sure to visit before John Paul Jones House closes for the season on Monday, October 10.

"It's Pastel!" Exhibition Reception
2022-10-22 16:00 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
The Pastel Society of New Hampshire will be hosting a reception for their annual exhibition It’s Pastel! This event is free and open to the public. The event will be held in the first floor gallery at the Portsmouth Historical Society’s Welcome Center & Galleries at 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801.

Image: “Winter Path” by Laurinda O’Connor

Show & Tell Opening Reception
2022-10-27 16:30 - 18:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
You’re invited to an opening reception for Show & Tell: Greater Seacoast Illustrators! Join curator Tess Feltes and local Seacoast illustrators featured in the exhibition for a preview of Show & Tell before it opens to the public on Friday, October 28. The reception will be held on the second floor of the Welcome Center & Galleries at 10 Middle Street. Light refreshments will be served.
This event is free and open to the public. No RSVP is required.

Workshop: Drawing from Nature
2022-11-03 16:30 - 18:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join Susan Spellman for an interactive workshop on drawing from nature!

These days it is so easy to be overwhelmed by our devices and obligations that we sometimes miss the joy our natural surroundings can give us. Drawing is a powerful tool for quiet reflection, insight, and imagination. To look at and closely observe a shell, a leaf, or a feather by drawing it, can reveal an entirely new way of seeing. Come play with us as we draw directly from small objects from nature in front of us. Various papers, drawing tools, and natural objects will be provided. All levels of skill are welcome.
$10 member/$15 non-member
Recommended for ages 10+
Book Now!

About Susan Spellman
Susan has a studio workshop in Newburyport MA, where she pursues a dual career as a fine artist and as an illustrator with extensive experience in painting, portraiture, and children’s book illustration. She began her career as a staff illustrator working for an educational filmstrip company illustrating fairy tales and folklore. In addition to over 35 books, Susan has also illustrated stories for children’s magazines, such as Highlights for Children and Cricket and for anthologies such as A Treasury of Christmas Tales and A Treasury of Bedtime Stories. Her illustrations are all done in watercolor and colored pencil. She really loves helping to bring the world of words, images and ideas to life through the pages of a book. More of her work and information can be found at www.spellmancollection.com

Art Round Town
2022-11-04 13:00 - 16:00 | NH
We’ll be open until 8pm on November 4th for Art ‘Round Town!
Free admission all day long.
Visit our two most recent exhibitions “Show + Tell: Greater Seacoast Illustrators” and “It’s Pastel” put on by the Pastel Society of NH.

Meet the artist: Rebecca Dudley
“Like most illustrators, I start with an image in my head and make sketches. Unlike most illustrators, I then build a place for my idea to live.”
More information about Rebecca’s work can be found at http://storywoods.blogspot.com/

Portsmouth Advocates 2022 Awards
2022-11-09 12:00 - 14:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Portsmouth Advocates Honors City Preservation Projects
Since 1989 Portsmouth Advocates has honored individuals and projects that enhance the city’s unique historic character and make Portsmouth a better place to live and work.
Where: Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle StreetWhen: Wednesday November 9, 2022 5-7pmAwards presentation begins at 5:30 pmLight refreshments will be served.

Portsmouth Advocates is pleased to announce the following award winners:

Restoring the Integrity of a Resource:

State of New Hampshire Bureau of Historic Sites for restoration of the Billiard Room at the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion

Continued and Sensitive Maintenance of a Historic Property:

Christine Dwyer and Michael Huxtable, 600 Broad Street

Arthur J. Gerrier Memorial Award:

Bruce Blanchard

John Grossman Memorial Award:

Lawrence Yerdon

the new Nancy Carmer Preservation Planning Award:

Nancy Carmer

John Paul Jones House Open for Veterans Day
2022-11-11 06:00 - 10:00 | John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Built in 1758, the John Paul Jones Historic House Museum is a registered national historic landmark.
Although the season officially ended on October 10, the John Paul Jones House will be open on Friday, November 11 in honor of Veterans Day.
Free admission for all.

Workshop: Read, Discover, and Draw
2022-11-13 09:00 - 10:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join us for a fun morning with children’s book illustrator, Gina Perry!

Explore a read aloud, uncover how a book is made and learn new techniques through drawing games! All participants will also have the opportunity to author and illustrate their own book.

$5 member/$8 non-memberRecommended for ages 5+

Book Now!

About Gina Perry
Gina Perry lives with her family on the Seacoast of New Hampshire. She is the illustrator of Aven Green Chapter Book series (Sterling), Operation Frog Effect (Random House), TOO MUCH! NOT ENOUGH and NOW? NOT YET! (Tundra) and SMALL (little bee books). She is also the creator of #KidLitArtPostcard event.
More information about Gina’s work can be found at http://www.ginaperry.com

"Show + Tell" Curator Tour
2022-11-16 07:00 - 08:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Get behind-the-scenes insight with “Show + Tell” Curator, Tess Feltes.
“Show & Tell,” in addition to introducing visitors to local artists, offers a peek into the process that illustrators use to create memorable and engaging works. Twenty talented artists were selected from New Hampshire, northern Massachusetts, and Maine. Each has a unique style, a significant body of work, and varied subject matter. Although their approaches differ, they each use the same “tricks of the trade”: color, line, shape, size, and composition. Just like language and grammar, these elements of design can be used in infinite ways.
Date: Wednesday, November, 16
Time: 12-1 pm
Free Admission
No reservations required

Brewster Lecture Series: “Book Illustration Process.”
2022-11-17 13:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join two of the artists featured in “Show + Tell,” Jill Weber illustrator of Cat in the City and Ryan O’Rourke illustrator of “Let’s Build a Little Train,” for a lively discussion about the process of illustrating a book.

Thursday, November 17, 6:30 pm
FREE for members, $15 for non-members

Get your tickets

Jill Weber doubles as a children’s book illustrator and designer. Her favorite projects are the ones where she wears both hats. She has illustrated numerous books for children and adults, including The Story of Hanukkah, a NYTimes holiday pick, The Story Of Passover, and New York Times bestseller The Christmas Tree, which was written by Julie Salamon. Jill and Julie also collaborated on Cat in the City (Dial Books 2014) and Mutt’s Promise (Dial Books 2016 ). This year her new books are Pippa’s Passover by Vivan Kirkfield (Holiday House), What is the Story of Hello Kitty? (Penguin Workshop ) and Goodnight Bubbala by Sheryl Haft. When Jill is not at her drawing board, she can be found in her garden.

Show + Tell: Greater Seacoast Illustrators

OCTOBER 28–DECEMBER 30, 2022
Celebrating contemporary children’s picturebook illustrators of the greater Seacoast Region

Learn More

Get Outside! Do Something Different!

It’s finally cooled down a bit! Now is definitely the right time to go on one of our walking tours!
Tours go out every day, with specialty tours a few times a month. Get your tickets today!
Nothing fit your schedule? Book a private tour! Just reach out to tour manager Robin Lurie-Meyerkopf or give us a call, 603-436-8433

Learn More

Portsmouth 400th Book Available for Pre-Order

In advance of next year’s celebrations, this commemorative book will give readers a sense of “who we are” and “where we are” as Portsmouth continues its journey from our past before 1623 to our future beyond 2023. Each object is depicted with a full-page photograph accompanied by an essay by a local author – 80 different writers who are the historians, experts, participants, and observers of Portsmouth history best able to explain how each object’s story offers a path into our bigger 400+ year history.

Reserve Your Copy Today!

History. Arts. Culture.

32nd Annual Gingerbread Contest and Exhibition Opens
2022-11-25 05:00 - 12:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Enter a world of fiction at this year’s Gingerbread Exhibition
The exhibition will be on display at the Portsmouth Historical Society from Friday, November 25 until Friday, December 22. Some houses may remain on display until the end of the year.
Want to learn more about our Vintage Christmas Kickoff Party, Downtown Scavenger Hunt, People’s Choice Awards, and Raffles?

Learn more about Gingerbread

Museum Store Sunday
2022-11-26 - 2022-11-27 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Museum Store Sunday
We are proud to partner with hundreds of other museums and cultural institutions across the United States to take part in Museum Store Sunday on November 27. There are all sorts of unique and hand crafted items available for sale in our gift shop.

Free shipping on all online orders placed on Sunday, November 27 using the code MSS2022.

Browse the online shop

Sip n' Shop
2022-11-30 12:30 - 14:00 | NH
Sip n’ Shop
Join us for an exclusive, members-only shopping experience with raffles, prizes, and refreshments.
Where: Portsmouth Historical Society, 10 Middle StreetWhen: Wednesday November 30, 2022 5:30-7:30 pm

10% Discount for Historical Society Members

Browse the online shop

RSVP below:

Vintage Christmas Kickoff Party
2022-12-02 12:30 - 14:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Vintage Christmas in Portsmouth Kickoff Party
Join us on Friday, December 3 from 5:30 to 7:30 to celebrate the season! We’ll be announcing the community judges’ winners for the Gingerbread House Contest and gearing up for Saturday’s parade and tree lighting!
Free admission for all.

Strawbery Banke
The Music Hall
The City of Portsmouth
The Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth
Portsmouth Historical Society
Yankee Magazine

"Show + Tell" Curator Tour
2022-12-07 07:00 - 08:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Get behind-the-scenes insight with “Show + Tell” Curator, Tess Feltes.

“Show & Tell,” in addition to introducing visitors to local artists, offers a peek into the process that illustrators use to create memorable and engaging works. Twenty talented artists were selected from New Hampshire, northern Massachusetts, and Maine. Each has a unique style, a significant body of work, and varied subject matter. Although their approaches differ, they each use the same “tricks of the trade”: color, line, shape, size, and composition. Just like language and grammar, these elements of design can be used in infinite ways.
Date: Wednesday, December 7Time: 12-1 pmFree AdmissionNo reservations required

People's Choice Voting Closes
2022-12-14 10:00 - 17:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
People’s Choice Voting Closes 12/14
Categories include: most creative building materials, most whimsical, most attention to detail, and best in show.All ballots must be cast in-person at 10 Middle Street.

Downtown Scavenger Hunt
Take the fun downtown with our scavenger hunt. Collect all the stamps and enter to win a raffle of gift cards and prizes from participating retailers!

Download the Stamp Sheet

Book Signing with Lenaye Marsten
2022-12-14 12:30 - 14:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join us for a book signing with author Lenaye Marsten
Get a chance to meet and speak with the author of The Secret Life of Mary White: Darkness Into Light.
Books will be available for sale in the gift shop. Admission is free, no RSVP required.

About the Author:
Author Lenaye Marsten, an alternative healer, an award-winning artist, and a descendant of Mary White lives in Maine with her family and a houseful of pets.

About the Book:
Inspired by a true story from the 17th century Piscataqua region of New England. Young Mary White must walk a fine line between her healing craft and the deadly intolerance of the fearful and ignorant. From natural magic and alchemy to ancient wisdom and folklore, she must transcend the consequences of her gift in order to survive and help others with her crucial healing talents. A story of triumph and tragedy and the transmutation of darkness into light.

Show + Tell Exhibition Final Day
2022-12-30 05:00 - 11:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Final Chance to see “Show + Tell”
Stop by before 4 pm on Friday, December 30 to see “Show + Tell” Greater Seacoast Illustrators.

Featured Artists:
Carey Armstrong Ellis • Jeannie Brett • Jane Cowen-Fletcher • Ken Daley • Rebecca Dudley • Timothy Basil Ering • Kim Ferreira • Josie James • Marty Kelley • Scott Magoon • David McPhail • Hazel Mitchell • Ryan O’Rourke • Gina Perry • AJ Smith • Susan Spellman • Robert Squier • Nicole Tadgell • Jill Weber • Teri Weidner

Final Day of the 2022 Season
2022-12-30 10:00 - 16:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Visit us before we close for the season Friday, December 30.
Current Exhibitions:“Show + Tell” Greater Seacoast IllustratorsSome Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibition entries

2023 Opening Day
2023-04-01 10:00 - 17:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join us for the start of the 2023 season on April 1.
Featured Exhibition:
A Sense of Place, a companion exhibition to A History of Portsmouth NH in 101 Objects

April Book Sale
2023-04-01 10:00 - 2023-04-30 17:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Stock your library with Portsmouth history books!
Fill one of our Portsmouth Historical Society tote bags with a selection of books from our museum store for just $25. Whether you stuff the tote bag to the brim or just choose a few volumes, you have to be able to carry it out of the building yourself.
This sale will run through April or until we run out of tote bags.

Spring Opening Reception
2023-04-06 17:30 - 19:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join us to celebrate our new exhibitions!

RSVP to the Spring Opening Reception

Art 'Round Town
2023-04-07 17:00 - 20:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
We’ll be open until 8pm on April 7th for Art ‘Round Town!
Free admission all day long.
Visit our two most recent exhibitions “A Sense of Place” and “Reinventing Portsmouth” both are a part of Portsmouth’s 400th anniversary celebrations.

Making Old New Again, Family Day
2023-04-08 11:00 - 16:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Come celebrate sustainable fashion for all ages at the Portsmouth Historical Society, as we look to the past for inspiration in creating and taking care of our clothing.
Admission is free, pre-registration for workshops required.

Register for "Mending with Maggie" Workshops

Mending with Maggie Ruth Kid’s Workshop, ages 5+ 11am
Explore the basics of sewing in this workshop designed for children ages 5 and up. With safe plastic needles, Maggie will guide participants through designing and creating their own patch, which can then be sewn onto a piece of clothing. Kids will build their crafting confidence and leave with their own unique creation! Please note that this is not a drop-off program; children will need an adult present.

Mending with Maggie
All Ages Workshop
1 & 3 pm
Practice gratitude for what we already have and learn the historic, practical, and sustainable art of mending! In this workshop, participants will learn basic stitches and common mends, which will help them repair all kinds of clothing. We ask that each participant bring in a piece of clothing from home that they’d like to mend, but we will also have fabric scraps available for practicing. Please note that this workshop uses sharp needles, so all participants need to be comfortable around sharp objects.

All-Day Activities
Need an idea of what to do with all those old t-shirts? There will be projects using recycled fabrics available all day in the upstairs gallery. Make a tote bag with no sewing required, a braided bracelet, a fabric bookmark, or just experiment and explore with the materials provided!

"A Sense of Place" Curator Tour
2023-04-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Go behind the scenes with the curator(s) of “A Sense of Place”
Spend an hour walking through our downstairs exhibition with the experts. Curators and museum staff will highlight behind-the-scenes exhibition creation, point out favorite items included, and add further information that just couldn’t fit within or on the walls of our museum.

Our curator tours are free with museum admission.
