LGBTQ+ Walking Tour
2025-05-18 14:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

Along the Waterfront Walking Tour
2025-05-21 14:30 - 16:30, 2025-06-18 14:30 - 16:30, 2025-06-25 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.

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.

John Paul Jones House Opens for 2025
2025-05-22 10:00 - 16:00 | John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Thursday–Monday
11:00 am – 5:00 pm
last admission 4:30 pm
Open Memorial Day weekend through Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Also open on Veterans Day with free admission for all
November 11th, 11:00 am–3:00 pm

Preservation Workshop: Energy-Efficent Windows
2025-05-23 18:00 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Sustainability and Preservation are a perfect pair!

RSVP to "Five Easy Ways To Energy Efficient Windows"

About the Presenter
Window Woman of New England was founded in 2003 by Alison Hardy. The inspiration for the business stemmed from years of frustration while residing in old houses with drafty, broken windows, coupled with dissatisfaction with available replacement options. Rooted in Yankee thrift, it seemed illogical to discard windows brimming with charm and character simply because they were weathered or painted shut. After enduring years of trial and error, extensive research, and growing disillusionment with her career in the textile industry, Alison began refurbishing not only her windows but also those of friends and eventually paying clients.

Cabot Lyford’s 100th Birthday Tour
2025-05-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
“Cabot Lyford’s 100th Birthday Family Exhibition Tour
Sunday, May 25, 1–2 pm
Come join the Lyford family to celebrate Cabot’s 100th birthday! The family will take guests on a tour through the exhibition, and then all are invited to join for light refreshments afterwards.

Learn more about the exhibition

Daily Walking Tours (May–October)
2025-06-01 - 2025-08-31 | 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 amSaturday and the 2nd and 4th Friday at 2:30 pmThis 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.

"Winds of Change" Curator Tour
2025-06-06 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-06-06 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-07-11 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

Loyalist to Liberty Walking Tour
2025-06-06 14:30 - 16:00, 2025-06-20 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.

Art Round Town with Priscilla French
2025-06-06 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. every First Friday for Art ‘Round Town!
Free admission all day long.
Visit our most recent exhibition, “Cabot Lyford: Winds of Change” and view highlights from our permanent collection in our “Past & Present” exhibition.

About the Artist:
Priscilla French began sketching as a young girl using pastels and paints and took a life-changing drawing class in college that opened her eyes to different ways of seeing. Since moving to Portsmouth, NH in 1985 she has studied watercolor consistently with esteemed teachers and artists Doris Rice, DeWitt Hardy and Russell Whitten – and will never stop! She has taught both studio art and art history at the high school level and was recently accepted as a juried member of the New Hampshire Art Association.

Don’t forget about our free curator tours!

June 2026Curator Tour "Revolutionary Portsmouth"June 5, 2026 12:00 pm Curator Tour “Revolutionary Portsmouth”June 5, 2026 5:30 pm July 2026"Betty & Barney" Curator TourJuly 3, 2026 12:00 pm "Betty & Barney" Curator TourJuly 3, 2026 5:30 pm

Family Day: Portsmouth on Foot
2025-06-07 11:00 - 14:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Explore Portsmouth during Preservation Month!
Rescheduled to Saturday, June 7

RRSVP to Portsmouth on Foot (our May Family Day)

Thank you to our event sponsor:

NH Gives
2025-06-10 17:00 - 2025-06-11 17:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join us for New Hampshire’s biggest day of giving!
Portsmouth Historical Society’s mission to preserve and tell the stories of the people of Portsmouth would not be possible without our many members, volunteers, and supporters who make our work a true community effort. Help us keep history alive! By participating in New Hampshire Gives and donating to Portsmouth Historical Society, your gift supports our programs, exhibitions, preservation efforts and growth.

Donate on June 10 & 11

Women of Portsmouth Walking Tour
2025-06-11 14:30 - 16:00, 2025-07-09 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.

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.

Art in Bloom Garden Party
2025-06-12 17:30 - 19:30 | John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Bloom into history with our first annual Art in Bloom!

RSVP to the Art in Bloom Garden Party

Thank you to our expert judges:

Jamie Colen of Fuller Gardens

Beth Fischer,a Strafford County Master Gardener

John Forti of Bedrock Gardens

Betsy Brown Scott,
former owner of the Flower Kiosk

UNABLE TO ATTEND?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 Portsmouth's history alive!

Make a splash with wearable art headpieces provided by Grace & Diggs at our event photo-op.

Thank you to our food and beverage sponsor:

Tent provided by:

Art in Bloom
2025-06-13 - 2025-06-16 | John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Bloom into history with our first annual Art in Bloom!
Celebrate the creative fusion of fine art and floral design as you tour stunning arrangements inspired by the art, architecture, and collection of our John Paul Jones House. Experience these blooming masterpieces while experiencing the home’s history.
This inaugural event runs from Friday, June 13 through Monday, June 16 at the John Paul Jones House. Experience the magic during regular museum hours of 10 am to 4 pm, with extended evening hours until 7 pm on Friday and Saturday.
Art in Bloom is included with the price of admission; tickets available at John Paul Jones House or 10 Middle Street.

Join us for the Garden Party on June 12

Partnering with the Pocket Gardens of Portsmouth Tour

Pocket Garden Tour ticket holders recieve discounted admission to Art in Bloom!

UNABLE TO ATTEND?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 Portsmouth's history alive!

LGBTQ+ Walking Tour
2025-06-15 14:30 - 16:00, 2025-06-21 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-06-23 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
Additional Pride Month walking tour begins at 10:00 am
Ends in time to attend the Portsmouth Pride Parade
Learn about the hidden history of LGBT clubs, organizations, and people who impacted the Seacoast of NH on this 90-minute 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.

Museum Closed
2025-06-19 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
The museum will be closed on Juneteenth
Below are some of the great events that other organizations have planned for city-wide Juneteenth celebrations.

Juneteenth Freedom Walk

Wednesday June 19, 2024 at 9:30am
FREE
Celebrate Juneteenth side-by-side with others of goodwill by walking from Kittery, Maine to the African Burying Ground in Portsmouth, New Hampshire!
Meet at the John Paul Jones Memorial Park on the Kittery side of the Route 1 Memorial Bridge. Walkers will gather by 9:00 AM begin the 0.8 miles at 9:30 AM to the Burying Ground, located at 386 State Street, Portsmouth NH this years walk will be led by The Leftist Marching Band.
This walk is hosted by The Seacoast African American Cultural Center.

African Drumming at the Burial Ground
Wednesday, June 19, 11:00 AMFREE
The day opens with a soul-stirring Call to Gather by the Akwaaba Ensemble, followed by a tribute to the ancestors led by Rev. Robert Thompson, Director Emeritus of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.
The ceremony continues with a rededication of the Memorial by Assistant Mayor Joanna Kelley, and the unveiling of our new Sankofa Augmented Reality (AR) Outdoor Museum Experience—an immersive digital storytelling initiative that brings history to life through your smartphone.
Presented by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire

See more related Juneteenth events!

Yoga on the Lawn
2025-06-26 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-07-03 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-07-10 12:00 - 13:00 | John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Register for Yoge on the Lawn!

Meet the Instructors:

Chetana Parmar

Chetana knows what it means to feel you belong and feel connected to where you call hOMe. A dedicated yoga practice grounds and brings her hOMe and is a ritual that forms her daily life. She truly believes in yoga being accessible to all, being open and inclusive to every body and every one and coming to your yoga mat should never be a barrier. Her practices are always guided by intuition and she adapts for those that sheI is leading. She also writes her own meditations and is available on the Insight Timer app.
She is an Advanced registered yoga teacher E-RYT500, through Yoga Alliance and continue to learn and grow in my teaching and practice. She lead practices and workshops in power, flow, restorative, yin, meditation, The Power of She (menopause and yoga), yoga nidra as well as sound baths with crystal and Tibetan bowls healing and offer Reiki throughout.

Follow

Michelle Gonzales Verdi

Michelle’s yoga journey began as a child in military base housing alongside her mom during a yoga broadcast on PBS. Realizing her need to move, Michelle’s parents enrolled her in dance at a young age, which sparked her love of movement. She studied ballet, tap, and jazz for more than twenty years. Upon entering the corporate world, sheneeded something to burn off stress. One day during a long run after work, she remembered standing in the living room lifting her arms next to her mom doing yoga. Eventually, her practice led her to Ashtanga Yoga with Kimberly Dahlmann at Yoga East, where she deepened her personal understanding of yoga and began teaching.
Michelle is trained in and teaches Ashtanga, Yin, Pranayama, and Pilates. Additionally, she studies Yoga Philosophy, Iyengar Yoga, and meditation. Michelle teaches yoga at Yoga East in Kittery, Maine, and is a teacher and volunteer at Yoga in
Action throughout the Seacoast.

Museum Closed- Fourth of July
2025-07-04 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Portsmouth Historical Society Closed 7/4
Both the John Paul Jones House and the museum galleries located at 10 Middle Street will be closed on Friday, July 4 for Independence Day. We will reopen the next day, July 5.

ASL-Supported Walking Tour
2025-07-06 10:30 - 12:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Daily Walking Tours
American Sign Language Interpretation provided by JLL Interpreters
Sunday, July 6 at 10:30 am andSaturday, July 12 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.

Art Round Town
2025-07-11 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. every First Friday for Art ‘Round Town!
Free admission all day long.
Visit our most recent exhibition, “Cabot Lyford: Winds of Change” and view highlights from our permanent collection in our “Past & Present” exhibition.

Add the 12:00 pm curator tour to your calendar

Don’t forget about our free curator tours!

June 2026Curator Tour "Revolutionary Portsmouth"June 5, 2026 12:00 pm Curator Tour “Revolutionary Portsmouth”June 5, 2026 5:30 pm July 2026"Betty & Barney" Curator TourJuly 3, 2026 12:00 pm
