Portsmouth Historical Society

Yoga on the Lawn
2025-07-10 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-07-17 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-07-24 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-07-31 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-08-07 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-08-14 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

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

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!

March 2026"Betty & Barney" Preview Party Member EventMarch 26, 2026 5:30 pm April 2026"Betty & Barney" Curator TourApril 3, 2026 5:30 pm May 2026"Betty & Barney" Curator TourMay 1, 2026 12:00 pm

Family Day: Colonial Field Day
2025-07-12 10:00 - 12:00 | John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Join us for historic lawn games
Put down your screens, step back in time and join us for a morning of old-fashioned yard games! From bag races to Game of Graces, embrace the simplicity and timeless joy found in playing outside with family and friends.
Thank you to our sponsor Newburyport Bank for making this program FREE for everyone.
No registration is required.

ASL-supported Walking Tour
2025-07-12 14:30 - 16:00 | 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.

Along the Waterfront Walking Tour
2025-07-16 14:30 - 16:30, 2025-07-23 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.

Adopt an Artifact Object Showcase
2025-07-16 17:30 - 19:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Join us for this special showcase featuring items in our 2025 Adopt an Artifact
Now in its third year, Adopt an Artifact offers you a unique opportunity to engage with our collection and directly support our 2026 exhibition, “Revolutionary Portsmouth,” at the John Paul Jones House. Presented on the nation’s 250th anniversary, this exhibition will explore the lives of Portsmouth.
Join our Curator and Collections Manager for an insider’s look at our collection and the compelling stories these objects represent. From everyday belongings to historically significant pieces, each artifact offers a glimpse into the choices, challenges, and identities of Portsmouth’s 18th-century residents.

What is Adopt an Artifact?
Learn more about this event and learn how your support can make a direct impact on our museum exhibition for 2026.

Learn more about Adopt an Artifact

RSVP for the Object Showcase
This event is free and open to the public.
RSVP is recommended.
Adopt an Artifact is available for a limited time– help us bring history to life!

RSVP via email

Loyalist to Liberty Walking Tour
2025-07-18 14:30 - 16:00, 2025-08-01 14:30 - 16:00, 2025-08-15 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.

Lessons from the Preservation Trades
2025-07-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Learn about the crafts that are central to the future of our built heritage

RSVP to Lessons from the Preservation Trades!

About the Presenter

Judy Hayward is executive director of Historic Windsor, Inc., and the Preservation Education Institute in Windsor, Vermont. She is the education director for the Traditional Building Conference Series and develops and moderates its distance education programs as well. She served on Historic New England’s Advisory Council. Judy sits on Windsor’s Design Review Commission, a Certified Local Government. She currently serves on the board of the New England Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art. For more than 40 years, she has developed preservation skills training programs for building professionals and written specialized curricula and learning materials on topics including fire safety and historic preservation and accessibility for people with disabilities and historic preservation. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Valparaiso University, a master’s degree in public administration from the University of New Hampshire and a Certificate in Educational Technology from Marlboro College Graduate and Professional School. She writes a blog and a column, Materials and Methods, periodically for Traditional Building.

LGBTQ+ Walking Tour
2025-07-20 14:30 - 16:00, 2025-08-17 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.

Read it and Eat: Celebrating Women Chefs
2025-07-21 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! Celebrating Women Chefs

FAQs

How many people should my dish serve?
We usually have 15-20 people at each Read It and Eat event, however each of those individuals will all be making a dish! If your recipe serves 4-6, that should be more than enough. People tend to take small portions so they can try everything.

Will alcohol be served? Can I use it in a recipe?
Per the conditions of our liquor license with the city, we do not serve alcohol at these events, and guests cannot bring alcohol to drink. However, dishes with cooked alcohol are perfectly fine to bring.

How are food allergies handled?
We do ask people to provide us with a list of ingredients in their dishes, but this is a potluck-style dinner with dishes all laid out together on a long table and served family-style. Dishes are prepared at individuals’ homes and cross-contamination cannot be ruled out.

Are non-alcoholic drinks provided?
Yes! In addition to water and seltzer, we provide fun mocktails for everyone to enjoy!

Can I plug in my crock pot?
Unfortunately, we do not have enough outlets to accommodate crock pots or other electrical equipment. Dishes must come ready to be served.

Family Day: Sculpture
2025-07-26 11:00 - 14:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Get inspired by the sculpture in our gallery!

RSVP to Sculpture! (our July Family Day)

Thank you to our event sponsor:

Lecture: Public Art in Portsmouth
2025-07-29 17:30 - 18:30 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Did you know there are FOUR pieces of public art by Cabot Lyford in Portsmouth? Join us and learn more!

Register for the Public Art Lecture

About the Presenters

Chris Dwyer
M. Christine “Chris” Dwyer is co-owner and Senior Vice President of RMC Research, a national education consulting firm based in Portsmouth since 1985 where she has specialized in literacy, early childhood policy and school improvement as well as research in arts and culture. She served seven terms on the Portsmouth City Council, where she played key roles in major civic projects: co-chairing the Middle School renovation, leading the Prescott Park master plan, and fundraising for the African Burying Ground. Chris has been a prominent advocate and leader in arts and culture—founding chair of Art‑Speak, chair of the NH State Council on the Arts, Board president of the Currier Museum of Art and the Portsmouth Music Hall. She currently co-chairs Portsmouth’s Public Art Review Committee.

Ernie Greenslade
Ernestine “Ernie” Greenslade is co-chair of the Portsmouth Public Art Review Committee (PARC), which was established in 2023 to champion high-quality public art for the city and advise on public art-related topics. Always a lover of art, Ernie became involved with public art after retiring three years ago from her career in community college marketing and public relations. As chair of the PNH400 Legacy Committee, Ernie and her small committee provided leadership for the creation of a maritime-themed sculpture garden in Bohenko Gateway Park, which was unveiled as part of the 2023 anniversary celebration. A resident of Portsmouth since 1984, Ernie loves her city and can’t imagine living anywhere else. She has served on the Prescott Park Board of Directors and as chair of the Portsmouth Public Library Board of Trustees.

Gerry Ward
Gerald W. R. Ward, PhD, is the curator of the Portsmouth Historical Society and editor of the Portsmouth Marine Society Press. He is also the Katharine Lane Weems Senior Curator of American Decorative Arts and Sculpture Emeritus at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and has contributed to many publications on American art and material culture as an author or editor. He is currently a Visiting Lecturer at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston and is serving his seventh term as a State Representative in New Hampshire.

Daily Walking Tours (May–October)
2025-08-01 - 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.

Art Round Town
2025-08-01 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.
In addition to being open until 8 pm, our August ART will feature live music performed by Julia Lane, artist Cabot Lyford’s daughter, at 12pm and 5:30pm!
Julia Lyford Lane, daughter of sculptor Cabot Lyford, is an award-winning player of the Celtic Harp. She has performed with her husband, Fred Gosbee, as the duo Castlebay for 30 years throughout the Eastern US, British Isles, Ireland, and Scotland. In addition to his musical expertise, Gosbee is a skilled luthier, having designed and built Celtic harps, guitars, and lutes. Several years ago, Cabot Lyford gifted the couple with a carved female figurehead to be placed on the pillar of one of Gosbee’s harps. Lyford passed away in 2016 before Fred could design and build a harp big enough to accommodate the sculpture. This past spring, coinciding with what would have been Cabot’s 100th birthday, the harp was completed and, after settling into its final form, is ready to be played in honor of the sculptor.

Join Julia for a short presentation at both noon and 5:30pm about the instrument and then listen as she brings it to life playing music as people enjoy a spectrum of art from Cabot’s extraordinary career.

Add the 12:00 pm curator tour to your calendar

Don’t forget about our free curator tours!

March 2026"Betty & Barney" Preview Party Member EventMarch 26, 2026 5:30 pm April 2026"Betty & Barney" Curator TourApril 3, 2026 5:30 pm May 2026"Betty & Barney" Curator TourMay 1, 2026 12:00 pm

Twilight Tour
2025-08-08 16:00 - 20:00 | John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States

Family Day: Whale Tales
2025-08-09 11:00 - 12:00 | John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 03801, United States
Splash into fun with our August Family Day!
Please register in advance so we can make sure we have enough materials for our hands-on activities.

RSVP to Whale Tales

Thank you to our event partner:

Thank you to our event sponsor:

"Cabot’s Menagerie" Exhibition Tour
2025-08-10 13:00 - 14:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
“Cabot’s Menagerie” Exhibition Tour
Sunday, August 10, 1–2 pm
Join Thaddeus Lyford as he leads a special tour through Winds of Change, highlighting the role animals played in his father’s artwork. From whales and mermaids to chickens and seabirds, Cabot Lyford’s creatures—both mythical and local—reflect his deep connection to the Seacoast landscape and his love of literature, nature, and the ocean. Through stone, watercolor, and mixed media, these works reveal how Lyford used animal forms to celebrate beauty, spark humor, and deliver powerful messages about environmental stewardship.
Free with admission.

Learn more about the exhibition

Women of Portsmouth Walking Tour
2025-08-13 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.

Chance Poetry: Workshop Pt. 1
2025-08-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Portsmouth Historical Society at 10 Middle Street, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH, 01801, United States
Experiment with the written word in our two-part poetry workshop this August!

Register for the poetry workshop

About the Workshop Leader:

Sarah Robbitts-Terry
Our very own Outreach Director, Sarah Robbitts-Terry will lead this poetry workshop. She received her undergraduate degree in creative writing from Columbia University and her masters of fine arts in poetry from the University of New Hampshire, and has previously published poetry in Strange Horizons, Star*Line, RHINO Poetry, and NonBinary Review, among others.

Example poetry:
