Portsmouth Historical Society

06/19/2026

Both our museum properties will be closed today, Friday, June 19. We hope you enjoy the celebrations put on in Portsmouth by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire in collaboration with other Seacoast groups.

Start the morning with the Juneteenth Freedom Walk, beginning at 9 am in Kittery's John Paul Jones Park and ending at the African Burying Ground in Portsmouth. Later, at 11 am, you can experience the healing rhythm of the drums as part of a gathering honoring the lives and legacies of those excluded from America’s founding promises.

Learn more on the Black Heritage Trail's website:https://blackheritagetrailnh.org/events/juneteenth-celebration-nh

06/17/2026

Congratulations to Sheila Papetti for her Honorable Mention in the joint "Contemporary Current" exhibition with the New Hampshire Art Association.

This paper sculpture in the form of a woman’s coat is crafted from large-format prints of celestial images derived from NOIRLab. It is an homage to the artist’s Yakut Russian heritage, as well as (in her words) “a meditation on identity, belonging, and human presence within a vast and often unknowable universe.”

The printed imagery suggests “humanity’s enduring impulse to look beyond itself in search of meaning, origin, and connection,” questions embodied in the work’s title and related to the Betty & Barney narrative.

View this and other works at the Portsmouth Historical Society. On display until November 14.

🖼 Sheila Papetti
"Who am I? And why am I here?"
Paper coat

06/16/2026

Congratulations to our Young Artist Contest Winners! These writers, painters, collagers, and 3D creators drew inspiration from the out-of-this-world experiences discussed in the "Betty & Barney" and "Contemporary Currents." Their work is currently on display in our upstairs program space. Let's give them a round of applause!

Thank you to Nahcotta and Blick Art Materials for providing prizes to our talented winners.

06/15/2026

We're Hiring!
🏛️ Preservation Manager
We hope to bring on an expert in the built environment and a passionate community advocate. This is a unique opportunity for a preservation professional to steward historic properties while leading advocacy efforts that shape the future of Portsmouth’s historic landscape. This position is 20 hours a week.

Send this post to someone you know who is perfect for this job or tag them in the comments. https://portsmouthhistory.org/employment/

06/14/2026

It's . In addition to being open all day, you can join us at Strawbery Banke Museum for their annual Flag Day celebrations.

Speaking of things down at the Puddle Dock... have you noticed the Liberty Pole? Citizens of Portsmouth, like other colonists, deeply resented the Stamp Act of 1765, which levied duties on all paper products; they regarded it as an egregious example of "taxation without representation." During one of their many protests, they carried a flag emblazoned "Liberty, Property, and no Stamp." To commemorate that day, January 9, 1766, they placed that flag on Swing-Bridge and renamed the spot Liberty-Bridge.

Learn more about the Liberty Pole and other Revolutionary Era events on our Loyalist to Liberty Walking Tours, taking place on the first and third Fridays of the month at 2:30 pm. https://portsmouthhistory.org/walking-tours/

📷 by Ken Goldman

06/13/2026

Sarah Hart of Portsmouth stitched this sampler at age 10, just about a month before the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, the famous event that we commemorate this year. The daughter of Richard and Marcy (Collings) Hart, Sarah used traditional imagery of Adam and Eve and the Tree of Life, along with several animals, motifs more often found on much earlier samplers. What prompted her to use older imagery on her sampler instead of what was popular at the time?

Sarah went through adolescence during the war and was about 18 when the Treaty of Paris officially ended the conflict in 1783. What was her experience like during those tumultuous times as a child on the home front?

This sampler, along with many others in our collection, is on display at the John Paul Jones House. Plan your visit today!

🧵 Sarah Hart (1765–1842). Sampler. Portsmouth, 1776.
Silk on linen. Gift of Miss Bowen.

06/12/2026

Come celebrate on Sunday, June 14 at Strawbery Banke Museum. Presented in collaboration with the Portsmouth Historical Society and the Association of New Hampshire Historical Societies, the Flag Day Ceremony will start at noon at the historic Liberty Pole on Marcy St.
At 1 p.m., join us in the Lawrence J. Yerdon Visitors Center for a screening of an exclusive excerpt from the documentary "The American Revolution" by Ken Burns followed by a panel discussion.

This is a free event; registration for the screening and panel is recommended as space is limited.

As New Hampshire prepares for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, many members on the NH Heritage Museum Trail are participating in the nationwide “US@250: Big Watch” initiative. Strawbery Banke Museum is one member, as it will celebrate Flag Day on Sunday, June 14 from 12:...

06/11/2026

Happy ! Celebrate by joining one of our LGBTQ+ History Walking Tours and learn about the hidden history of LGBTQ+ clubs, organizations, and people who impacted the NH Seacoast.
https://portsmouthhistory.org/walking-tours/

Tours are led by Tom Kaufold, founder of Seacoast NH LGBT History Project, who adds all sorts of personal insights into how Portsmouth has developed over the years into the welcoming community that it is today.

06/07/2026

Share your love of Portsmouth history with others! Keep learning about over 400 years of fascinating individuals and events, and connect more deeply with the city's beautiful architecture as a part of our excellent team of volunteer walking tour guides!

Our training program will give you everything you need and instill you with confidence to lead groups of tourists and locals alike. Successful guides will be able to commit to regular availability during the season (May–October) and have a love of being outdoors and engaging with others.

Start your volunteer application today: https://portsmouthhistory.org/volunteer/