Portsmouth Historical Society

"Upstairs with the Furniture Masters" Exhibition Opens
2024-11-29 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States

Members Sip & Shop
2024-12-04 17:30 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join us for a fun and exclusive holiday shopping experience!
Enjoy special discounts, raffles, and door prizes, plus complimentary light refreshments to make your shopping even more enjoyable. Members are welcome to bring a friend for an evening of holiday cheer and unique finds. Don’t miss out on this festive annual event!

Browse the online store

Gingerbread Reception and Judges' Awards
2024-12-06 17:30 - 19:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Gingerbread Reception and Judge’s Awards
Friday, December 6, 5:30–7:30 pm
Join us to celebrate the opening of our 34th Annual Gingerbread House Contest and Exhibition! Get in the holiday spirit and see our marvelous cookie creations, while also enjoying some cider and small treats. Stay for the big reveal of the winners of our Judges’ Choice prizes!
This event is free and open to the public.

See all the sweet details

Thank you to our sweet sponsors:

Avery Insurance

Devine Millimet
Seacoast Lately

Bangor Savings Bank

Open Late for Shop & Stroll
2024-12-07 17:00 - 21:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States

Members-Only Gingerbread Event
2024-12-11 09:00 - 10:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Members only chance to see Gingerbread
Get in one hour early and enjoy seeing the Gingerbread exhibition in the sweetest way!

Become a Member!

Learn about the exhibition

Register for our special Members Gingerbread Event

Book Signing: "Lucy's Voice" with Dennis Robinson
2024-12-11 17:30 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Buy Your Copy of Lucy's Voice

Join us as local author, Dennis Robinson, reads from his new history-mystery!

About the Author:
J. Dennis Robinson is a popular columnist, lecturer, and public historian.
He is the author of a dozen narrative history books on topics ranging from Jesse James, Lord Baltimore, and child labor exploitation to Wentworth by the Sea Hotel, Strawbery Banke Museum, Privateer Lynx, archaeology at the Isles of Shoals, and the infamous 1873 Smuttynose Island ax murders.

Buy your copy of Lucy's Voice

About the Book:
SHE WAS HAPPILY ENGAGED TO THE MOST HANDSOME MAN IN THE NATION. THEN HE KILLED THE PRESIDENT.
An ornate Spanish dresser reignites a Civil War-era mystery. What did Lucy Hale know when her fiancé, John Wilkes Booth, shot Abraham Lincoln? The privileged daughter of a New Hampshire senator, Lucy was never questioned. Museum caretaker Levi Woodbury and reporter Claire Caswell are drawn into the search for a lost journal that may rewrite history.

"Furniture Masters" Reception
2024-12-12 17:30 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
“Upstairs with the Furniture Masters” Reception
Thursday, December 12, 5:30–7:00 pm
All are welcome to attend this reception celebrating 30 years of the New Hampshire Furniture Masters. This exhibition features a variety of holiday gift items alongside an extraordinary collection of studio-made, handcrafted fine furniture made by members of the organization. Many pieces on display are available for purchase. Perfect for a last-minute gift.
This event is free and open to the public.

Learn more about "Upstairs with the Furniture Masters"

Gingerbread Open Late
2024-12-13 10:00 - 20:00, 2024-12-20 10:00 - 20:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States

Family Favorite Cookie Swap
2024-12-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Share your a family holiday tradition and enjoy the Gingerbread Contest!

Take part in the Family Favorites Cookie Swap

Members-Only Gingerbread Event
2024-12-18 17:00 - 18:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Members-only chance to see Gingerbread
Get in one hour early and enjoy seeing the Gingerbread exhibition in the sweetest way!

Become a Member!

Learn about the exhibition

Register for our special Members Gingerbread Event

Museum Closed
2024-12-25 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States

Holiday Hours 10am-4pm
2024-12-26 - 2024-12-30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States

Gingerbread Exhibition Closes
2024-12-30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States

Gingerbread Smash
2025-01-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Register for our Gingerbread Smash!

Can we smash more houses than last year?

Homeschool Program: Portsmouth and the Revolution
2025-01-17 10:00 - 14:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
How did the people of Portsmouth’s past live? Find out at our homeschool programs.

Register for the Homeschool History Program Friday, January 17th!

Portsmouth Historic Sites Associates present Life & Death in the Piscataqua
2025-02-08 09:30 - 15:30 | Masonic Temple, 45 Miller Ave, Portsmouth, NH, United States

Community Valentine Project
2025-02-08 11:00 - 13:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Register for our Community Valentine Project!

Homeschool Program: Portsmouth Fires
2025-02-21 10:00 - 14:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
How did a series of fires in the 1800s impact the way Portsmouth looks now? Learn about these historic events and how fires have been put out over the centuries.

Register for the Homeschool History Program Friday, February 21st!

Homeschool Program: NH Waterways
2025-03-21 10:00 - 14:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
How have people been using New Hampshire’s waterways for centuries?

Register for the Homeschool History Program Friday, March 21!

Winds of Change Preview Party and Silent Auction
2025-03-27 17:30 - 20:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Preview Party
Be among the first to experience our exciting new exhibition “Cabot Lyford: Winds of Change” and enjoy an exclusive preview of the artist’s groundbreaking work. Lyford is the visionary behind some of Portsmouth’s most iconic public art, like My Mother, The Wind on Four Tree Island, and in this exhibition, we’ll dive deep into his innovative career and his commitment to advocacy.

and Silent Auction
This evening also features a silent auction with incredible items, with all proceeds directly benefiting the Historical Society’s vital programs. Your participation helps fund initiatives like our beloved 3rd-grade history program, the community-driven Gingerbread Exhibition, and the preservation of our historic properties.

Join us for the opening of “Cabot Lyford: Winds Of Change”

RSVP to the Preview Party & Silent Auction

Thank you to our exhibition sponsors

Dan BrownGiving Fund

Sunpointe Investments

Bob Thoresen, in memory of Sue Thoresen

Thank you to our auction sponsor:

The Hotel Portsmouth

Women's History Month Walking Tour
2025-03-29 14:30 - 16:00, 2025-03-30 14:30 - 16:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Women of Portsmouth Walking Tour
Learn the untold stories of navigators, preachers, artists, authors, tavern keepers, and madams who defied stereotypes and shaped Portsmouth on this 90 minutes tour.

Join the Women's History Month 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.

Young Artists Contest
2025-04-01 - 2025-04-30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
We invite our young visitors to explore their creativity with our 2nd annual Young Artists Contest!

Come visit our two exhibitions, “Winds of Change,” which features the sculpture and paintings of artist Cabot Lyford, and “Contemporary Currents,” which features many local artists across different mediums, and find a piece that inspires you. Take that inspiration, create your own piece of writing or visual art, and submit it to our contest to be eligible for a prize, which includes a gift certificate from Blick Art Materials!

Enter the contest!

Preview the exhibition from home

Submissions are broken down into the following age divisions:
Ages 7 – 10
Ages 11 – 14
Ages 15 – 18
A winner and an honorable mention will be chosen for each age division in the categories of writing and visual art. Winners and honorable mentions will have the opportunity for their work to be displayed at the Portsmouth Historical Society.
The contest will be open from April 1st through May 31st. There will be a reception for all entrants and their families at the Historical Society at 5:30pm on June 13, 2025.

Content Note
While this exhibition does not contain anything graphic or obscene, please be aware that there are five pieces on display that depict female nudity.

What kind of art can I submit?
Writing: Short stories, poems, plays/dialogue, newspaper articles, essays, imagined interviews, and more are all potential options! Writing submissions have a max word count of 2,000. Visual Art: Any medium can be submitted, including (but not limited to) paint, colored pencils, charcoal, pastels, photography, collage, etc. Visual art will need to be photographed to be submitted. Please make sure your artwork is well lit and against a plain background. Have another idea? Reach out to sarah@portsmouthhistory.org with any questions!

How do I submit my art?
You can fill out our submission form online, or print out a paper form and drop it off or mail it to the Historical Society. Entries should be mailed to: Portsmouth Historical Society Sarah Robbitts-Terry 10 Middle Street Portsmouth, NH 03801 We can’t wait to see your work!

Is there a limit to number of submissions?
Each artist may submit up to three pieces of art, but each piece must be submitted with a separate form.

Enter the Young Artist's Contest!

Thank you to our prize sponsors:

Opening Day!
2025-04-01 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join us for our 2025 exhibitions!
Reopening on Tuesday, April 1.

“Winds of Change,” is retrospective of the work of Cabot Lyford (1925–2016). Lyford’s experimental approach to different materials and his advocacy of environmental and political issues through his art will resonate with viewers as much now as it did in the 20th century.

We are proud to announce we our continued collaboration with NHAA and artists across New Hampshire. This fall, we will open a call for art that will fill our balcony gallery with a contemporary response to “Winds of Change.”

"Winds of Change" Curator Tour
2025-04-04 12:00 - 13:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
A behind-the-scenes look at our current exhibition
Walk through “Winds of Change,” a retrospective of the work of Cabot Lyford (1925–2016), with Guest Curator Rachel Walls. Learn how Lyford’s experimental approach to different materials and his advocacy of environmental and political issues through his art can resonate with viewers as much now as it did in the 20th century.
Finish your tour with a visit to the complementary, contemporary exhibition upstairs featuring a juried selection of NHAA artists.
Tours happen at 12:00 and 5:30 pm.This is a free tour, no registration required.

Learn more about the exhibition

Opening Reception: "Contemporary Currents"
2025-04-04 17:00 - 20:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
“Contemporary Currents” Opening Reception
Friday, April 4, 5–8 pm
Join Portsmouth Historical Society and the New Hampshire Art Association for the opening reception of Contemporary Currents during Art Round Town on Friday, April 4, from 5–8 PM. This dynamic exhibition explores themes of advocacy and experimentation in art, offering a contemporary response to Seacoast artist Cabot Lyford’s works on view in the adjoining gallery.
Enjoy an evening of art, conversation, and community. All works are available for purchase, with proceeds benefiting local artists, Portsmouth Historical Society, and the New Hampshire Art Association. Don’t miss this inspiring celebration of artistic innovation!
This event is free and open to the public.

Learn more about "Contemporary Currents"

Browse and Buy Artwork

See what’s happening at the NHAA:

"Wind of Change" Curator Tour
2025-04-04 17:30 - 18:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States

Family Day: Lindsay and Her Puppet Pals
2025-04-12 10:00 - 12:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Enjoy a performance from Lindsay and her Puppet Pals!

Register for our Family Day

Thank you to our event sponsor:

How to Research Your Historic Property
2025-04-13 14:00 | Portsmouth Public Library, 175 Parrot Ave, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Get started on your historic plaque journey

RSVP to the Portsmouth Plaques Program Library Event

Portsmouth Historic Plaque Program
Learn more about the program and sign up to start your plaque research.

Learn more about our program partner and see their full list of events:
