Take a walk through downtown Portsmouth and, in many places, you'll be amazed at how close to the road the houses are. Then you’ll be amazed at row upon row of colonial-style houses, which somehow transport you back to the time of Paul Revere and the lesser known, but equally important, William Dawes and Samuel Prescott.
If you like where your mind takes you - namely, back to the 17th and 18th centuries - then allow your feet to take you over to Strawbery Banke. (Yes, you read that right.)
Strawbery Banke is more than a state of mind, it’s an actual neighborhood/museum designed to offer a comprehensive look into the experiences of New Hampshire’s first, and subsequent, generations of settlers.
From Strawbery Banke’s Web site: “Experience life from the late 1600s to the 1950s in this neighborhood known as Puddle Dock. The site, known today as Strawbery Banke Museum, offers a glimpse into the everyday lives of everyday people who called this area home for nearly four centuries.
Named by the first settlers in 1630 for the profusion of wild berries found on the shores of the Piscataqua River, Strawbery Banke is rich with history: George Washington, Daniel Webster, John Paul Jones and John Hancock were all guests on this site.
Our friendly lanes will lead you through the centuries of time. Stop at furnished historic houses to experience household changes and continuities; join costumed role-players as they go about their daily lives and celebrate holiday traditions; relax in the shade of award-winning period gardens and experience the connection between inside and outside living spaces; learn the importance of preservation and restoration through the story of how this 10 acre site was saved from urban redevelopment in the 1950s.
Year-round education programs for children, students and adults are offered. Strawbery Banke Museum has an outstanding Museum Shop and information center, as well as an on-site café and outdoor picnic tables.”
When you’re in town, Strawbery Banke museum will be open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
For more information, call (603) 433-1100 or visit www.strawberybanke.org.
The Seacoast area is a marvelous place for learning about our heritage as Americans. It is rich in colonial, Civil War era and Victorian historical sights.
Exeter
Gilman Garrison House (circa 1690): Until the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1763, English settlements in the Northeastern frontier were subject to frequent attacks by Indians and the French. In response to the threat, Gilman Garrison House was built as a fortified structure to protect the valuable sawmills owned by John Gilman. Defense highlights include walls made of massive logs and a portcullis. Open June-Oct. Located at 12 Water Street, Exeter. www.spnea.org/visit/homes/gilman.htm 436-3205.
Hampton
The James House in Hampton has been discovered as a true first period colonial structure. The home built for Benjamin James between 1720 and 1723, near the salt meadows of Drakeside Road, is a time capsule of almost 300 years of history.
Open House is held the third Sunday of the month from May to October from 1 to 4 p.m. during this construction phase.
Group tours can be accommodated at other times. Just let us know in advance by email at info@jameshousemuseum.org
Portsmouth
Gov. John Langdon House (1784): Merchant, shipbuilder and Revolutionary patriot John Langdon built this imposing house during a period when his career was rising in the state senate. By 1803 he had been elected governor of New Hampshire. He served two terms. The house expresses Langdon’s status as Portsmouth’s leading citizen and was praised by President George Washington when he dined here in 1789. Its reception rooms are decorated with elaborate carving in the rococo style. A formal dining room added in 1905 by descendant Elizabeth Langdon leads to a rear garden, rose arbor and evergreen glade.
Located at 143 Pleasant St. Owned and maintained by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Tours on the hour, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission, $6, adults; seniors, $4; children under 12, $3. Call 436-3205.
Jackson House (1664): The oldest house in New Hampshire, Jackson House was built in 1664 and remains the earliest example of plank-frame building construction in New England. The timber-rich Piscataqua region spawned commercial sawmills cutting lumber for export. Abundant local lumber supplies enabled Richard Jackson to sheath his timber-frame house in sawn vertical boards, a new variation on English building practices.
Jackson, a barrel maker and boat builder, located his 25-acre farm on a freshwater creek that gave access to river shipping. His family expanded the original two-room house until 1810, accommodating up to three generations under the same roof. Apple orchards surrounding the house are a last witness to agrarian life along the coast.
Located at 76 Northwest St. Owned and maintained by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July and August. Tours on the hour, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $6, adults; $4, seniors; children under 12, $3. Call 436-3205.
The John Paul Jones House can be found by strolling through Market Square. Located on the corner of Middle and State streets, this one-time boarding house is designed in a traditional manner with a large central staircase dividing the house from front to back. The spacious rooms are filled with interesting 18th century furniture, cookware and accessories, including an authentic wooden leg.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, from May 24 through October 31, 2008. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for students, seniors and AAA members. Children under 14 (with adult), free.
For information, call 603-436-8420.
The Moffatt Ladd House: Located on Market Street, visitors will feel as if they are guests of Samuel Moffatt and his bride, the first inhabitants of the house. Although Portsmouth had no professional architects in 1763, merchant John Moffatt’s interest in architecture provided him with the background necessary to guide master carpenters in the design and creation of the handsomely paneled interior.
In later years, another man of extraordinary talents, Alexander Ladd, put his genius to the "sweet and natural spot" behind the house, the lovely terrace garden. Guests can follow the path over the grass steps through rows of fragrant blossoms.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m., Sunday. Admission is $5, adults and $2.50, children.
Call 436-8221
The Rundlet-May House: Owned and maintained by the Society for the Preservation of Antiquities, this house was built in 1807. It sits on terraces and retains its original 1812 garden layout complete with courtyard. Located at 364 Middle Street.
Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July and August. Tours on the hour, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission: $6, adults; $4, seniors; children under 12, $3. Call 436-3205.
The Wentworth-Gardner House can be reached by walking through Portsmouth’s historic waterfront South End and Prescott Park. Located on Mechanic Street, this Georgian house is known for its exquisite carvings and unusual kitchen. The house was featured on a U.S. postage stamp in April 2000.
It is clear that the fine craftsmen who produced masts and figureheads of Portsmouth’s sailing vessels also turned their hands to interior design. This house, rich in beauty and history, should not be missed.
Hours are 1 to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $5 per person.
For information, call 436-4406.
The Warner House: The finest and the oldest home on the tour, it is located on Daniel Street. This fine example of an early 18th century urban brick residence was among the first in the United States to be designated a Registered National Historic Landmark. The house has remained relatively unchanged with its wide central staircase and wood paneling.
The murals are thought to be the oldest still in place in the United States. Visitors will also find an extensive collection of period furniture and accessories to complement the architectural character of the house.
Hours are Mon-Sat 11-4 and Sun 12-4. House opens for season June 18. Admission is $5, adults, $2.50, 7 to 12 and free to under 7. $1 off for seniors.
For information, call 436-5909.
Maine
South Berwick
Hamilton House (circa 1785): In 1898, Mrs. Emily Tyson and her stepdaughter, Elise, purchased Hamilton House, a grand estate overlooking the Salmon Falls River. The two women spent many years restoring the old home to its original 18th century condition. Interior furnishings — including elegant antiques, painted murals and simple country furniture — create a romantic interpretation of America’s colonial past. Each summer, Hamilton House hosts a summer concert series. Open June-Oct. Located at 40 Vaughan’s Lane, South Berwick, Maine. www.spnea.org/visit/homes/hamilton.htm (207) 384-2454
Sarah Orne Jewett House (1744): The American novelist Sarah Orne Jewett, Author of "The Country of the Pointed Firs" and "The Tory Lover," spent much of her life in this elegant Georgian manor. From her desk on the second floor, Jewett could survey South Berwick’s major intersection. Some authorities conjecture that the view of the town provided the author with much inspiration. The home’s 18th century architecture is complemented by a blend of antiques, old wallpapers and other vintage furnishings. Open June-Oct. Located at 5 Portland Street, South Berwick, Maine. www.spnea.org/visit/homes/jewett.htm (207) 384-2454.
York Harbor
Sayward-Wheeler House (1718) commands a breathtaking view of the scenic York Harbor waterfront. The 18th century mansion is the former home of Jonathan Sayward, a local merchant and civic leader who held Tory, or pro-British, views during the American Revolution. Located at 9 Barrell Lane Ext., York Harbor, Maine. www.spnea.org/visit/homes/sayward.htm (207) 384-2454
