Portsmouth Historical Society

Workshop: Read, Discover, and Draw
2022-11-13 09:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | 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

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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.

Family, Memory, Place: Writing Family Stories for Our Community
2023-04-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
What family stories do you carry with you? What story do you tell over and over? What landscape do you cherish the most? One of the deepest human instincts is to tell our life stories, to figure out who we are and what it means to be human. This interactive workshop led by Maura MacNeil explores how the landscapes of our lives shape the stories that we tell. Participants explore the themes of family, memory, and place through sample narratives and a series of short writing exercises, gaining a deeper awareness of how their stories can preserve personal, generational, and communal history.
Admission is free, pre-registration recommended.

Register for Family, Memory, Place

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

Annual Meeting (Members Event)
2023-04-20 17:00 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
We welcome all members to attend the 2023 Annual Meeting
Date: Thursday, April 20Time: Doors open 5 p.m., meeting starts at 5:30 p.m.This meeting will take place both in person at 10 Middle Street and virtually on ZoomHear highlights from the 2022 season in our annual report.Learn about what Portsmouth Historical Society has planned for 2023.Members will vote on Board officers and renewing Board members.
Invitations will be sent via email to members.

Knit Happens
2023-04-28 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 April's Knit Happens

Daily Walking Tour (May–Oct)
2023-05-01 10:30 - 2023-05-31 12:00 | 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.

President Washington Walking Tour
2023-05-05 14:30 - 16:00, 2023-05-19 14:30 - 16:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
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.

Book your walking tour!

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.

Art 'Round Town
2023-05-05 17:00 - 20:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
We’ll be open until 8pm on May 5th 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.

Enter our First Friday Raffle

Our May raffle features a lovely straw sunhat paired with a lightweight scarf, perfect for the sunny days and warmer weather ahead.
Raffle tickets are $1 a piece and can be purchased in the gift shop.

Read It and Eat! a Community Conversation
2023-05-08 18:00 - 19:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Register for Read It and Eat! a community conversation and meal inspired by the Black Trumpet cookbook.

Copies of the cookbook are not included with registration. Please check your local library or bookshop for a copy! This cookbook is available at the Portsmouth, Kittery, Dover, and Hampton libraries. If you’re unable to access a copy, but would like to participate, please contact programs@portsmouthhistory.org.

Gardening Family Day
2023-05-13 11:00 - 16:00 | John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Get a jump start on your garden, and spread some wildflowers!
Celebrate the lovely spring weather with some fun gardening activities for the whole family! We’ll be creating seed-starting egg carton greenhouses all day between 11am and 4pm.This is a FREE event.No pre-registration is required.All activities will take place on the John Paul Jones Lawn.

Seed ball workshops at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm.
Help support our local pollinators and bring a little beauty to your yard with seed balls! Seed balls are little compost and clay spheres full of wildflower seeds that you can drop in your yard or in a pot. With just some water and sunshine, you’ll soon have your own patch of wildflowers! This seed ball activity is appropriate for ages 5 and up, and children will need to have their adult present.

LGBTQ+ History Walking Tour
2023-05-14 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
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.

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.

Portsmouth on Tap: Cisco Brewery
2023-05-18 16:00 - 18:00 | Cisco Brewery, 35 Corporate Dr, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Salty & Malty since 1623
When: Thursday, May 18, 4 – 6 pmWhere: Cisco Brewery, 35 Corporate Dr, Portsmouth, NHWhat: drink a limited-edition beer inspired by the life of Ona Judge and participate in historical trivia and games

This beer is inspired by:

Ona Judge was born an enslaved woman. She worked for George and Martha Washington where she served as Martha’s personal maid. During Washington’s presidency, Ona was one of the enslaved people who came with them to the executive residence first in New York and then in Philadelphia. To avoid the 1780 Philadelphia emancipation law Ona was regularly sent back to Mount Vernon. She served the Washingtons until May 21, 1796 when she Ona Judge fled to Portsmouth, NH. This is only the start of Ona’s story. We you come to the event or read more about her life to discover even more about this fascinating individual.

Treasure from the Isles of Shoals: How New Archaeology is Changing Old History
2023-05-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
There is treasure here but not the pirate kind. Scientific “digs” on Smuttynose Island are changing New England history. Archaeologist Nathan Hamilton has unearthed 300,000 artifacts to date on this largely uninhabited rock at the Isles of Shoals. Evidence proves prehistoric Native Americans hunted New Hampshire’s only offshore islands 6,000 years ago. Hundreds of European fishermen split, salted, and dried valuable Atlantic cod here from the 1620s. “King Haley” ruled a survivalist kingdom here before Thomas Laighton struck tourist gold when his family took over the region’s first hotel on Smuttynose. Laighton’s daughter Celia Thaxter spun poetic tales of ghosts and pirates. J. Dennis Robinson, a longtime Smuttynose steward, explores the truth behind the romantic legends of Gosport Harbor in this colorful show-and-tell presentation.
Admission is free, pre-registration recommended.

Join the waitlist for Treasure from the Isle of Shoals

About the Presenter:
J. Dennis Robinson has published over a dozen books and 3,000 articles on history focused primarily on the seacoast region. He is the author of richly illustrated books on the Isles of Shoals, Strawbery Banke Museum, Wentworth by the Sea Hotel, and Privateer Lynx. His new award-winning hardcover, Music Hall, tracks the 400-year evolution of the performing arts in Portsmouth. His first novel, Point of Graves, is a character driven “history mystery” that explores Black history in New Hampshire’s only seaport. He is currently completing a history of New Castle, a provocative study of the first NH settlement in 1623, and a comic book history of Portsmouth for kids with children’s book illustrator Robert Squier. His work can be seen at jdennisrobinson.com online.

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