John Paul Jones- Free Visit Day
2025-11-11 10:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States

Evening Gingerbread Workshop
2025-11-12 18:00 - 19:00 | Port City Makerspace, 68 Morning St, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Ready, set, bake!
Get into the holiday spirit with the Portsmouth Historical Society’s hands-on Gingerbread Workshop hosted at Port City Makerspace. This event is perfect for all ages and skill levels, inviting you to unleash your inner architect and confectioner. We’ll provide an abundance of colorful candies, delectable icing, and expert guidance to help you construct and decorate your very own edible masterpiece.
Kits are available with your registration, but those who want to bring their own unique kits can as well. We’ll cover expert tips for assembling gingerbread and then decorate with a variety of creative and fun edible treats.
Want to enter the 35th Annual Gingerbread House Exhibition and Contest? Leave your creation with us and let thousands of people admire it during our annual holiday event.
Event cost:Portsmouth Historical Society or Makerspace Members with kit purchase $35Non-Members with kit purchase $40Bring Your Own Gingerbread Kit option $10 for members | $15 non-members

Register for the Workshop

Learn about the Gingerbread Contest

Ten Piscataqua Writers 2026 Book Event
2025-11-20 17:30 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Enjoy an evening celebrating the works from 2026: 10 Piscataqua Writers.
Join us on Thursday, November 20 for the book launch of 10 Piscataqua Writers. Join the authors for a fun evening celebrating their accomplishment as they sign copies and discuss the work alongside light refreshments.
This free event is open to the public, no registration required.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase.

Contributing Authors:
James Gatto Clara Beller and Larry Andrews, fiction, novel excerpt, chapter opening
Peter Welch Boyhood, Belonging, Becoming, nonfiction, memoir excerpt
Abbie Kiefer Better Homes, Better Gardens, poetry, 11 poems
Jason Allard Some Kind of Hero and Shugyōsha, fiction, short stories
Matt Miller Midway Through This Journey, nonfiction, Short essays
John Perrault Whatever You Got Going On, 21 Poems
Bob Gielow The Culling, fiction, short story
Jane C. Elkin The Colors of Mourning, nonfiction, memoir
Paul Goodwin The Long Perspective, 30 Poems
Madeline Kearin Witch Hole Pond, fiction, short story

Buy Your Copy of 2026 Ten Piscataqua Writers

Museum Closed- Thanksgiving Day
2025-11-27 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Portsmouth Historical Society Closed 11/27
The historical society will be closed on Thursday, November 27 in observation of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will reopen the next day, Friday, November 28 at 10 a.m. with the opening of our 35th Annual Gingerbread Contest and Exhibition.

35th Annual Gingerbread Contest Opens!
2025-11-28 10:00 - 17:00 | NH

Community Night: Flatbread
2025-12-02 16:00 - 21:00 | Flatbread Company, 138 Congress Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Who knew that pizza night was the perfect way to keep history alive!

Check out the Portsmouth Flatbread Location

Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Join us for a delicious way to support the Portsmouth Historical Society! From 4:00 to 9:00 pm, Flatbread Company in Portsmouth will generously donate a portion of all dine-in and take-out sales to help fund our exhibitions, education programs, and preservation initiatives. During the Benefit Bake Night we receive
$1.75 per small pizza sold
$3.50 per large pizza sold

UNABLE TO ATTEND? You can still keep Portsmouth’s history alive. Consider a donation to support Portsmouth Historical Society’s mission to connect the community to our past, present and future through collections, interpretation, education, and preservation.

Keep History Alive!

Member Sip n' Shop
2025-12-04 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 up to 20% 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

Homeschool Day: Celia Thaxter & Poetry
2025-12-05 10:00 - 11:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Discover Portsmouth’s great poetess and her love of the Isles of Shoals. Take these lessons and end the day writing your own poetry.

Register for the Homeschool History Program!

Gingerbread Reception and Awards Party
2025-12-05 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 5, 5:30–7:30 pm
Join us to celebrate the opening of our 35th 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
Louis F. Clarizio, DDS PA
Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce
Seacoast Lately

A part of:

Open Late for Shop & Stroll
2025-12-06 10:00 - 21:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States

Reinventing Portsmouth Book Launch
2025-12-10 17:30 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Celebrate the launch of Reinventing Portsmouth

RSVP to the Book Launch

About the Author:

Robert Thoresen served as Portsmouth’s Planning Director from 1971 thru 1977. During that time he contributed to the City’s revitalization effort and many other planning efforts. He later consulted nationally on downtown revitalization, historic preservation, and other planning issues. He became a development consultant and has rehabilitated historic properties. He has served in leadership positions on many non-profit boards. He holds an AB in Sociology and a Master of Regional Planning degree from Syracuse University and a Master of Public Administration degree from UNH.

Extended Gingerbread Hours
2025-12-12 10:00 - 20:00, 2025-12-19 10:00 - 20:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States

Gingerbread Tips & Tricks Tour
2025-12-12 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-12-19 17:30 - 18:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States

Gingerbread Workshop
2025-12-13 10:30 - 11:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join us in the gallery for more gingerbread workshops!

Register for the Gingerbread House Workshop!

Explore the Gingerbread Contest

New Favorites Cookie Swap
2025-12-13 13:00 - 15:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Discover a new holiday tradition and enjoy the Gingerbread Contest!

RSVP to the Cookie Swap

Gingerbread Workshop
2025-12-20 10:30 - 11:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Be inspired by the gingerbread contest and make your own gingerbread house!

Register for the Gingerbread House Workshop!

Explore the Gingerbread Contest

Museum Closed- Christmas Day
2025-12-25 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Portsmouth Historical Society Closed 12/25
The historical society will be closed on Thursday, December 25 in observation of Christmas Day. We will reopen the next day, Friday, December 26 at 10 a.m with more delicious holiday fun at the 35th Annual Gingerbread Contest and Exhibition.

Learn More About Gingerbread

Holiday Hours: 10 am – 4 pm
2025-12-26 - 2025-12-30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States

Homeschool Day: the Portsmouth Peace Treaty
2026-01-02 10:00 - 11:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Learn about the special connection between Portsmouth and Japan, all based on the peace treaty signed here that ended the Russo-Japanese War.

Register for the Homeschool History Program!

Gingerbread Smash
2026-01-03 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?

Thank you to EnviroVantage for assistance in providing safety equipment and tools for our smash and Mr.Fox for composting the sugar remnants.

Homeschool Day: The Women of Portsmouth During WWII
2026-02-06 10:00 - 11:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Celebrate the Women of Portsmouth who stepped up and took on new roles during World War II.

Register for the Homeschool History Program!

PHSA Life & Death Symposium: America 250th
2026-02-14 10:00 - 15:00 | Masonic Temple, 45 Miller Ave, Portsmouth, NH, United States

Benefit Night: Community Oven Hampton
2026-03-02 16:00 - 21:00 | NH
Who knew that pizza night was the perfect way to keep history alive!

Plan your order for March 2

Monday, March 2, 2026
Join us for a delicious way to support the Portsmouth Historical Society! From 4:00 to 9:00 pm, The Community Oven in Hampton will generously donate 20% of all dine-in and take-out sales to help fund our exhibitions, education programs, and preservation initiatives.

UNABLE TO ATTEND? You can still keep Portsmouth’s history alive. Consider a donation to support Portsmouth Historical Society’s mission to connect the community to our past, present and future through collections, interpretation, education, and preservation.

Keep History Alive!

Homeschool Day: Reinventing Portsmouth
2026-03-06 10:00 - 11:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
So much happened in Portsmouth in the 1960s and 1970s. Learn about how the phyical city changed and the citizens who came together to create community.

Register for the Homeschool History Program!

How to Research Your Historic Property
2026-03-21 14:00 - 16:00 | 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:

"Betty & Barney" Preview Party Member Event
2026-03-26 17:30 - 19:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
A special night to celebrate our members

RSVP to the Preview Party

Not yet a member? Join anytime!
Join today to be among the first to see our 2026 exhibition and get access to numerous other member benefits, including free admission, discounted tickets, 10% off the gift shop year-round, and more.

Become a Member

Women's History Month Walking Tour
2026-03-28 14:00 - 15:30, 2026-03-29 14:00 - 15:30 | 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.
