Information about Portsmouth sites and activities
Get acquainted with Portsmouth, NH—a historic seaport city rich in maritime heritage, colonial architecture, and coastal charm. This video provides an overview of some of the remarkable attributes that make Portsmouth such a special destination for our gathering.
Learn about Portsmouth's history, attractions, and waterfront character in this informative overview
A La Carte Portsmouth Experiences: The Portsmouth "Smorgasbord"
Explore Portsmouth at your own pace with these recommended attractions and activities. Perfect for early arrivals, extended stays, or free time between scheduled events.
Langdon House
A National Historic Landmark and exceptional Georgian mansion that George Washington "esteemed the first" in Portsmouth. Features a vast central hall, elaborate carved mantelpieces, a dining room designed by Stanford White, and a 160-foot-long rose and grape arbor.
Historical Significance
John Langdon was a three-term Governor of New Hampshire, a leader during the American Revolutionary War, a signer of the U.S. Constitution, and a friend of George Washington who visited Mr. Landon in 1789. The house was also the home of Black freedman Cyrus Bruce and was connected to Ona Judge, a former slave who escaped the bondage imposed upon her by George and Martha Washington.
Moffatt-Ladd House and Garden
John Adams called this the "grandest house in Portsmouth." Tours interpret American, New Hampshire, and Portsmouth history through five generations of free and enslaved inhabitants from the pre-Revolutionary period until 1912.
Tree of Independence
The garden features a horse chestnut tree planted in 1776 by William Whipple and Prince Whipple to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence which, in 2000, was designated as New Hampshire's Millennium Landmark Tree.
USS Albacore
Built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and launched in 1953, this National Historic Landmark was the first Navy-designed vessel with a true underwater hull. Visitors can explore the control room, engineering spaces, and bunk rooms while learning from historic recordings of the voices of former crew members. On the grounds surrounding the submarine, you can experience the Memorial Garden at Albacore Park and Cabot Lyford's 'Black Dolphin' sculpture.
Record Breaker
In 1966, the USS Albacore set the record as the world's fastest submarine, attaining an underwater speed of nearly 40 mph (34.759 knots). Her motto was "Praenuntius Futuri" (Forerunner of the Future).
Strawbery Banke Museum
An outdoor living history museum featuring historic waterfront homes on their original sites, costumed roleplayers, traditional craft demos, and heirloom gardens. Artifacts span from Indigenous peoples (10,000-12,000 years ago) to English colonists (1623).
Notable Sites
- Governor Goodwin Mansion (1870 life)
- Shapiro House (1919 Jewish immigrant life)
- William Pitt Tavern (1777 Revolutionary War)
Portsmouth Historical Society
Offers video history of the city, rotating art gallery exhibits, gift shop, and walking tours exploring hidden treasures of New Hampshire's seacoast hub. Features unique mix of architecture, specialty shops, and bustling streets in a village-like setting.
Building History
Two Federal Style buildings from 1810: Thomas Morton's private home/grocery store and the Portsmouth Academy school. The combined buildings served as a city library until 2006, and now serves as the home of the Historical Society.
John Paul Jones House
Boarding house where Revolutionary naval war hero John Paul Jones lived from 1781-1782. Built in 1758 for sea captain Gregory Purcell, this stately three-story home is now operated as a museum by the Portsmouth Historical Society.
Naval Hero
John Paul Jones (1747-92), celebrated naval hero of the American Revolution, spent time in Portsmouth in 1777 and 1781-82. During those years, he rented a room in this house while the widow of Gregory Purcell operated it as a boarding house.
Seacoast Science Center & Odiorne State Park
Learn about marine mammals, fish, reefs, seabirds, marine mammal rescue programs, coral gene banking, and coastal habitat restoration. Expansive views of Gulf of Maine, four lighthouses, Isles of Shoals, and southern Maine coast.
Seven Natural Habitats
Includes woodlands, uplands, salt marsh, freshwater and salt ponds, sandy beach, and rocky shore. Features historic WWII Fort Dearborn fortifications, old stone walls, and cellar holes from grand estate years.
Prescott Park
A 10-acre waterfront park featuring formal plantings around various sculptural elements including a massive anchor and two of Cabot Lyford's four sculptures in Portsmouth - "My Mother the Wind" on Four Tree Island and "Fisherman's Luck" known as the "Whale" sculpture. Created by sisters Mary and Josie Prescott, who willed it to the City in 1954 for public enjoyment.
Garden Highlights
Liberty Gardens, beds of annuals, formal plantings, bed of hostas along shaded Mechanic Street edge. "My Mother the Wind" sculpture by Cabot Lyford at Four Tree Island waterfront (free reservation required).
New Castle, New Hampshire
Lovely self-guided car tour of New Hampshire's only town made entirely of islands which are connected to each other by bridges. Being the easternmost and the smallest town by area in the State of New Hampshire, New Castle features picturesque homes and historic sites.
New Castle Sites to Visit
- Fort Constitution State Historic Site - Details
- Fort Stark State Historic Site - Details
- New Castle Historical Society - Old Library Museum, 120 Main Street - Details
- Portsmouth Harbor Light (Fort Point Light) - Not open for tours - Info
- Wentworth-by-the-Sea Hotel (built 1874) - Site of 1905 Russo-Japanese Peace Treaty negotiations - Visit
- New Castle Common - 31-acre recreation area on the Atlantic Ocean
- U.S. Coast Guard Station
Portsmouth Athenaeum
The 200-year old Federal-style library contains more than 40,000 books, but this Portsmouth gem has so much more to offer: Custom House records for the port of Portsmouth during the Revolutionary War, a 1478 Bible, a first-edition paper-bound copy of James Joyce's Ulysses, a model of the ship America (built in Portsmouth for the Royal Navy in 1749), the oldest surviving measured drawing of an American ship (the Elizabeth launched from a Piscataqua River tributary in 1752), plus antique furniture, ship models, bronze statues, and gilt-framed portraits of historical figures.
Historical Treasures
The library looks as it did in the early 1800s when sea captains came to read the daily shipping news and when local leaders and citizens gathered to discuss the affairs of the day. The Cabinet of Curiosities displays a whale's eye and the axe used in the infamous Smuttynose Island Murder. The building includes the Randall Gallery, Shaw Research Library, and the Joseph Sawtelle Reading Room; each are open to tour or settle in and enjoy an historic book.
Cabot Lyford's Sculptures (Prescott Park)
Discover two remarkable granite sculptures by renowned artist Cabot Lyford at Prescott Park. These powerful works of art have become iconic landmarks of Portsmouth's waterfront, capturing the essence of the region's maritime heritage.
Sculptures at Prescott Park
"Whale" - Perhaps Lyford's most iconic Portsmouth work, this magnificent black granite whale sculpture has become a beloved landmark at Prescott Park. The massive form captures the power and beauty of these ocean giants that once filled the waters off Portsmouth's coast.
"My Mother the Wind" - This evocative black granite sculpture graces the waterfront at Four Tree Island in Prescott Park. The piece captures the essence of maritime Portsmouth, where wind and water have shaped the city's character for centuries. (Free reservation required to access Four Tree Island)
About Cabot Lyford: A renowned New Hampshire sculptor whose powerful granite works have become integral to Portsmouth's cultural landscape. His mastery of stone carving brings life to the region's maritime heritage.
Cabot Lyford's Sculptures (Other Locations)
Explore additional remarkable granite sculptures by renowned artist Cabot Lyford scattered throughout Portsmouth. These powerful works showcase his mastery of stone carving and have become cherished landmarks in the community.
Sculpture Locations
"Black Dolphin" - Submariners Memorial Garden, Albacore Park. This striking black granite sculpture honors submariners and stands as a powerful tribute at the Albacore Park memorial garden. The dolphin's sleek form emerges from the dark stone, symbolizing the strength and grace of those who serve beneath the waves.
"Eagle" - Great Bay Community College Campus. Unlike Lyford's other Portsmouth sculptures carved from black granite, "Eagle" is uniquely crafted from white granite. Located on the former Pease Air Force base site, this majestic bird may have been commissioned to honor the base's military heritage.
Note: These sculptures are part of Cabot Lyford's larger body of work celebrating Portsmouth's maritime and military heritage.
Planning Your Visits
Many of these sites require advance reservations, especially for group tours. Please contact venues directly to confirm hours, pricing, and availability for your visit dates. Some locations have special requirements such as U.S. citizenship or physical mobility restrictions.
Transportation
Most sites are within easy walking or short driving distance from downtown Portsmouth. Parking information is provided for each location. Consider coordinating with classmates to share rides and make visits more enjoyable.
Join Us for the Latest Off-Premises Multi-Class Gathering of Exonians
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