How to Visit Strawbery Banke

Strawbery Banke, New Hampshire's first settlement, was founded in 1630 along the shore of the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The settlement thrived throughout the eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth centuries before falling into disrepair in the 1930s and 1940s. A nonprofit organization devoted to salvaging and restoring the buildings that comprise the current-day grounds was formed in 1958. Today, Strawbery Banke is a thriving, interactive living history museum.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Travel to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Portsmouth is served by many excellent state and federal highways as well as Pease International Airport. Portsmouth also has city bus and taxi service.
2. Find the entrance to Strawbery Banke in the heart of the Portsmouth historic district on Hancock Street.
3. Purchase your admission ticket at the visitor center. Self-guided tours are available from May through October. Guided tours are available from late October through April. Strawbery Banke also hosts many special events throughout the year, including Garden Harvest Days in September, Ghosts on the Banke in October and Holiday House Tours in December.
4. Stroll through the many herb, flower and victory gardens that dot the grounds. Bring a lunch and picnic on the grounds if the weather is nice.
5. Visit the various historic houses that represent each distinct period in the history of the settlements evolution, including the Colonial, Victorian, Industrial and Depression-eras.
6. Chat with the museum docents, many of whom are costumed and stay in character as you visit with them and ask them questions about life during the historical period they represent.
7. Visit the gift shop before you leave the grounds. There are many fine history books that you will be hard pressed to find in traditional bookstores, as well as regional food and nautical-themed trinkets.

Tips & Warnings

• The museum is constantly conducting routine maintenance and restoring new buildings on the grounds. Some areas of the grounds may be closed if construction equipment is in use to, for example, restore foundations. Before you go to Strawbery Banke, you should call visitor services to find out what is open so that you are not disappointed.
• Strawbery Banke offers a popular series of summer camp experiences for children. Registration for these events starts in January. The museum also offers many family friendly events throughout the year.