Portsmouth Historical Society

Portsmouth Historical Society History. Arts. Culture. www.portsmouthhistory.org
www.portsmouthhistoryshop.org/ For further information please call, email, or visit our website.

Portsmouth Historical Society (PHS), founded in 1917, is a tax-exempt 501(c)3 nonprofit devoted to introducing, interpreting and stimulating the study of Portsmouth history and to maintaining collections of historical artifacts and documents. PHS operates two facilities: the John Paul Jones House & Garden, open Memorial Day through Columbus Day; and the Discover Portsmouth Welcome Center, open spring through December 23 daily from 9:30am-5pm.

Our 2025 Annual Report is now online! Check out all that we accomplished over the last year: https://portsmouthhistory.o...
05/30/2026

Our 2025 Annual Report is now online! Check out all that we accomplished over the last year:https://portsmouthhistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2025AnnualReport.pdf

Join us next week (Friday, June 5) at 12:00 pm or 5:30 pm for our Curator Tour “Revolutionary Portsmouth” at the John Pa...
05/29/2026

Join us next week (Friday, June 5) at 12:00 pm or 5:30 pm for our Curator Tour “Revolutionary Portsmouth” at the John Paul Jones House, led by our own Gerry Ward.

Take a closer look at the choices of everyday citizens in Portsmouth during the 1760s and 1770s. Democracy or monarchy? Patriot or a Loyalist? What did the Revolution actually mean for local African Americans, Native Americans, or women? Investigate all this and more.
Add the Curator Tour to the calendar: https://portsmouthhistory.org/event/tour-rev-portsmouth-june/

Last chance for young artists to enter our annual contest!https://portsmouthhistory.org/event/2026-young-artists-contest...
05/26/2026

Last chance for young artists to enter our annual contest!
https://portsmouthhistory.org/event/2026-young-artists-contest/

Calling artists ages 7–18, get inspired by the out-of-this-world history in “Betty & Barney” or the artwork in “Contemporary Currents” and make your own art. Both writing and visual art are welcome. Winners will receive prizes from Art Materials and Nachotta.

Not able to visit in person? Preview the exhibitions from home on our website.

Free to enter. Submissions due by May 31.

Our next Family Day is unlike any other; it's technically a family evening as we wait until the skies darken to learn ab...
05/25/2026

Our next Family Day is unlike any other; it's technically a family evening as we wait until the skies darken to learn about the night sky with the New Hampshire Astronomical Society!

Join us for our Family Evening: Stargazing on Saturday, June 13, at 9pm on the John Paul Jones House lawn. We'll have all the equipment set up and the experts to help identify what you're seeing... if only Betty & Barney Hill had that kind of help when their reported abduction happened. This is a free event, but RSVPs are appreciated.
https://portsmouthhistory.org/event/family-day-stargazing/

05/24/2026

Do you want the house tour?

The John Paul Jones House is open for the season (until October 31) Thursday-Monday from 10am-4pm. We’ll even be open on Memorial Day!

House tours are self-guided with a free audio guide option. While we can take you to the first and second floors, the third floor is closed to public except on our special behind the scenes tours (next one coming up on July 7). See highlights of the museum collection featuring items important to Portsmouth’s history, an exhibition on the Portsmouth Peace Treaty, and our special exhibition, commemorating “Revolutionary Portsmouth.”

Plan your visit using the link in our bio.

Want something different to do when you're next in Portsmouth, have visitors in town, or want to learn more about the na...
05/22/2026

Want something different to do when you're next in Portsmouth, have visitors in town, or want to learn more about the nation's 250th anniversary? Plan a trip to the John Paul Jones House! https://portsmouthhistory.org/jpj/

We are now open for the 2026 season. You can visit Thursday–Monday, 10am–4pm (or by advanced appointment on Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Admission starts at $5 and includes our newest exhibition, "Revolutionary Portsmouth." Learn about the difficult choices that everyday residents had to make during the American Revolution.

Do you know where this terracotta tile is in Portsmouth?Learn about this beautiful architectural detail, the building it...
05/20/2026

Do you know where this terracotta tile is in Portsmouth?

Learn about this beautiful architectural detail, the building it's on, and many other Portsmouth landmarks on our Historic Portsmouth Walking Tour. With over 400 years of history, this charming New Hampshire city has a depth that welcomes visitors and keeps locals learning new things. Historic Portsmouth tours take place daily, May–October at 10:30 am and at 2:30 pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Tours last approximately 90 minutes and start at $15 a person.

Don't forget to listen to our Tour Guide, Karen, to learn a little more about this beautifully decorated tile!
https://portsmouthhistory.org/walking-tours/

With the John Paul Jones House opening for the 2026 season, here's another behind-the-scenes moment.We go to great lengt...
05/18/2026

With the John Paul Jones House opening for the 2026 season, here's another behind-the-scenes moment.

We go to great lengths to create a great visitor experience, and that includes going into the textile closet to record our John Paul Jones House audio guide!

We are excited to expand our audio guide with new recordings related to our upcoming "Revolutionary Portsmouth" exhibition. We are highlighting items from the Revolutionary era and digging deeper into ideas of freedom, independence, and liberty that would have been on the minds of everyday residents.
Learn more about the exhibition:https://portsmouthhistory.org/exhibitions/revolutionary-portsmouth/

Address

10 Middle Street
Portsmouth, NH
03801

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(603) 436-8433

Website

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