Museums and Galleries in Portsmouth

Few small cities pack as much history into a walkable downtown as Portsmouth, and the museums in Portsmouth NH are the best way to see it up close. Portsmouth is a historic seaport on the Piscataqua River, which forms the border with Maine. The town was incorporated in 1653 and became a city in 1849, and its streets still hold houses built by merchants, sea captains and a royal governor. Add a nonprofit library and gallery on Market Square and a contemporary arts space, and you have enough for a full weekend.

Late May is an ideal time to start exploring. Several of the historic house museums operate seasonally, gardens are coming into bloom, and the downtown is pleasant to walk before the peak summer crowds. Check each museum's website for current hours and tour schedules before you go.

A Quick History Lesson

According to the city's history, the first European to explore and write about the area was Martin Pring in 1603. The west bank of the harbor was settled by European colonists in 1630 and named Strawbery Banke, after the wild strawberries growing there. Fishing, lumber and shipbuilding were the principal businesses, and the port prospered from trade. The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, established in 1800 as the first federal navy yard, sits across the river on Seavey's Island in Kittery, Maine.

That long run of wealth from the sea is why Portsmouth has so many fine early houses, and why so many of them are now museums.

Strawbery Banke Museum

Strawbery Banke Museum takes its name from the original 1630 settlement. The museum offers exhibits and guided tours that explore local history and heritage, and it is the natural first stop for anyone new to the city. Plan to spend a good part of a day here, and wear comfortable shoes.

Historic House Museums

The Warner House

The Warner House, at 150 Daniel St., was built between 1716 and 1718 for Capt. Archibald Macpheadris. It is considered the oldest urban brick house in northern New England and one of the finest early-Georgian brick houses in the region. Its walls are 15 inches thick and laid in Flemish bond, and the museum says its four colonial wall murals are considered the oldest extant in the country. The house was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960. It is open seasonally.

The Moffatt-Ladd House and Garden

The Moffatt-Ladd House and Garden has operated as a museum since 1912 and is a National Historic Landmark. John Adams called it "the grandest house in Portsmouth." The museum interprets the lives of the free and enslaved people who lived there, and its garden is a highlight in late spring and summer.

The John Paul Jones House

The John Paul Jones House is run by the Portsmouth Historical Society. The house was built in 1758 by Hopestill Cheswell, a successful African American housewright, for Capt. Gregory Purcell. After Purcell's death his widow took in boarders, and the naval hero John Paul Jones rented a room there in 1781 and 1782 while he supervised construction of the ship America. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1972. The Historical Society also offers exhibitions and walking tours.

The Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion

The Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion stands on the water at 375 Little Harbor Road, about two miles southeast of downtown. It was the home, offices and working farm of Benning Wentworth, who became New Hampshire's royal governor in 1741 when the province's governorship was separated from that of Massachusetts Bay. The site is a New Hampshire state park and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1968. Guided tours run seasonally, and the harbor-side grounds make a lovely place to linger.

Libraries, Archives and Galleries

The Portsmouth Athenaeum

The Portsmouth Athenaeum, at 9 Market Square, is an independent membership library, gallery and museum. It was incorporated in 1817, and its Federal-style building dates to 1805. The collection includes manuscripts, rare books, photographs and artworks related to local history and genealogy. The Athenaeum says its research library and gallery are open to the public, so you do not need to be a member to visit.

3S Artspace

3S Artspace is an alternative, multidisciplinary arts organization that hosts gallery exhibitions and workshops. It is a good counterpoint to the colonial house museums and a way to see what contemporary artists in the Seacoast are making.

Planning Your Museum Day

• Start downtown. Market Square is the center of the walkable downtown, and the Athenaeum, the Warner House and the Moffatt-Ladd House are close together.
• Check seasonal schedules. Several house museums open seasonally and offer guided tours. Confirm times on each museum's website.
• Leave time for gardens. Late spring is a good time to see the gardens at the historic houses.
• Drive or bike to Little Harbor. The Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion is outside downtown, so plan transportation.
• Pair museums with a meal. Cafes, restaurants and shops surround Market Square, so you can break up your day easily.
• Visit more than once. Rotating exhibitions at the Athenaeum and 3S Artspace mean there is often something new.

Suggested One-Day Itinerary

Begin with a morning at Strawbery Banke to get the big picture of the city's early history. After lunch near Market Square, visit the Warner House and the Moffatt-Ladd House, both a short walk away. Stop at the Athenaeum for its gallery, then finish the afternoon with a drive out to Little Harbor and the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion. If you have a second day, add the John Paul Jones House and an exhibition at 3S Artspace.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best museums in Portsmouth NH?

Strawbery Banke Museum, the Warner House, the Moffatt-Ladd House and Garden, the John Paul Jones House and the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion are among the city's best-known historic sites. The Portsmouth Athenaeum and 3S Artspace add gallery exhibitions.

Are Portsmouth museums open year-round?

Not all of them. Several historic house museums are open seasonally. Check each museum's website before visiting.

Where did Strawbery Banke get its name?

Colonists who settled the west bank of the harbor in 1630 named it after the many wild strawberries growing there.

Is the Portsmouth Athenaeum open to non-members?

Yes. The Athenaeum says its research library and gallery are open to the public.

How far is the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion from downtown?

It is about two miles southeast of the center of Portsmouth, on Little Harbor.

Final Thoughts

Portsmouth rewards slow exploring. A morning in a colonial house, an afternoon among rare books on Market Square and an evening walk along the waterfront make a classic Seacoast day. Use this guide as a starting point and browse the directory for more Portsmouth arts and history listings.

Sources

• Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Wikipedia (Piscataqua River; 1653 town and 1849 city incorporation; Martin Pring; Strawbery Banke name; Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; Market Square): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth,_New_Hampshire
• Warner House (Portsmouth, New Hampshire), Wikipedia (1716-1718; oldest urban brick house in northern New England; Flemish bond; NHL 1960): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_House_(Portsmouth,_New_Hampshire)
• John Paul Jones House, Wikipedia (1758; Hopestill Cheswell; Purcell; 1781-1782; NHL 1972): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Jones_House
• Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion, Wikipedia (375 Little Harbor Road; Benning Wentworth; 1741; state park; NHL 1968): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wentworth-Coolidge_Mansion
• Portsmouth Athenaeum, Wikipedia (incorporated 1817; 1805 building; collections): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portsmouth_Athenaeum
• Museum websites: strawberybanke.org, warnerhouse.org (Macpheadris; murals; seasonal), moffattladd.org (museum since 1912; NHL; John Adams quote; free and enslaved inhabitants), portsmouthhistory.org, wentworthcoolidge.org, portsmouthathenaeum.org (9 Market Square; open to the public), 3sarts.org