Strawbery Banke Museum

One of my favorite spots in Portsmouth! Spent several hours here by myself last summer and have been dying to return. It's just across the street from the Gov. John Langdon House and there are tons of restaurants and parking nearby. Some hotels in town will also offer complementary tickets, so check with the front desk where you're staying. The property itself is a history lover's dream, and there's something for everyone. Whether you're into naval history, horticulture, colonial architecture, barrel making, or just life over the past 200 years, there's a building for you. There are also reenactors in several buildings who are extremely nice and knowledgable, as well as staff who lead some educational demonstrations (I learned how to operate a loom). The barrel making building has a man there who is a real cooper and you can watch him actually making barrels. One of my favorite stops, though, was the victory garden where they have a few chickens! Note that there is no cover when walking between buildings, so I recommend bringing an umbrella. Some buildings are accessible, but be aware that the buildings are old so there are some more narrow/steep stairs. Overall, I highly recommend. You'll be entertained for hours and come away with a lot of great stories!

The Strawbery Banke Museum is a 10-minute walk from Downtown, Portsmouth. It sits on 10 acres of land and is dedicated to preserving the 300-year-old local history of the Puddle Dock neighborhood.

It was the first settlement on the bank of the Piscataqua River, and tours incorporate original historic houses on their original foundations. You’ll also find costumed role-players, traditional crafts demonstrations, and historical gardens and landscapes.

The museum houses 1,000,000 decorative arts objects, artifacts, documents, photographs, ceramics, glass, metal, wood, bone, shell, seeds, and leather, which archaeologists have found up and down the East Coast.

A visit here is one of the best things to do in Portsmouth NH!