Do Something Fun: Things To Do Near Hampton Beach

Portsmouth, New Hampshire draws tourists from around the country for its many historical attractions. Begun as an English settlement called Strawberry Banke in 1630, the town soon grew because of the settlement's port industries as well as fishing and lumber. The Strawberry Banke Museum is a 10-acre outdoor history museum located in historic downtown Portsmouth preserving many historical homes. Archaeological research takes place on the site and the artifact collection numbers over 700,000 pieces. The Strawberry Banke Museum's location in a continuously occupied neighborhood makes it unique among other open outdoor museums. Visitors can explore the historic buildings and heritage gardens, listen to stories told by costumed role-players and learn about traditional crafts.

The city's vigorously-debated role as the first place of battle in the American Revolution makes the city a must-see for anyone interested in the era. The city's port was planned to be seized with British troops to reinforce Portsmouth's Fort William and Mary, but Paul Revere rode to the city from Boston and warned them of the enemy's plans. Thanks to Revere's warning, the colonists were able to storm the fort and take much needed supplies and ammunition, which would be valuable in later campaigns such as the Battle of Bunker Hill. Lexington and Concord would not occur for another four months; on April 19, 1775.

One of the leaders in this act of treason against British rule was the Portsmouth merchant and shipbuilder John Langdon. History fans might better recognize John Langdon's name as being a Founding Father, a signer of the United States Constitution or governor of New Hampshire. Tourists are able to visit the Georgian mansion that he had built in Portsmouth, operated today as a museum.

Georgian architecture, in addition to Colonial and Federal styles, is another attraction for tourists. Architecture was a main outlet for the wealth that Portsmouth citizens made from the profitable port industries. After numerous fires tore through the downtown area the buildings were built to withstand fire in the form of large brick Federalist structures.

Tourists can also visit the Wentworth-Gardner House (1760), the Moffatt-Ladd House (1763) and the Tobias Lear House (1740), all Georgian style mansions which are open to the public. The latter was the home of Tobias Lear IV, a shipbuilder who oversaw the construction of John Paul Jones' ship The Ranger, and his son, secretary to George Washington, whom visited the house in 1789.

There is actually a John Paul Jones House located in Portsmouth. The house was constructed in 1758 for sea captain Gregory Purcell and built by African American master housewright Wentworth Cheswell. Purcell allowed Jones to board at the house in 1781 and named the building in his honor. Jones was there to supervise the construction of The Ranger, being built on the neighboring Badger's Island in Kittery, Maine. The only remaining structure dedicated to Jones, the mansion received National Historic Landmark status and now operates as a museum.

On assignment, Captain Isaac Hull also worked out of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 1813. Hull is best known for commanding the USS Constitution, "Old Ironsides," into a lop-sided battle and subsequent defeat of Royal ships in 1812. Hull's assignment placed him in charge of overseeing the construction of the American navy's largest warship and protecting it from the British navy. Named the USS Washington, it was a 74-gun warship that, due to conditions and its large size was not finished until 1814. The only other project of this scope undertaken by the American navy had been in 1782 with the John Paul Jones sloop America. The ship had been built on the nearby Badger's Island and its construction and launch were equally marred with difficulties and delays. Elsewhere in the harbor is the USS Albacore Museum and Park, featuring a decommissioned navy submarine.

Another subject that may interest visitors is the city of Portsmouth's long involvement in the theater. The oldest operating theater in New England and the fourteenth oldest in the U.S. is Portsmouth's Music Hall, a 900-seat theater built in 1878. The theater was recently restored by a non-profit organization and regularly features musical acts, dances, and theatrical productions. The New Hampshire Theatre Project is a non-profit effort founded in 1986 to produce works of all varieties. Both The Pontine Theatre and The Player's Ring Theater focus on presenting new original works from regional artists. For a touch of Hollywood in an old New England town, there are several theaters near Portsmouth, too.

The city of Portsmouth has plenty to interest both history buffs and adventure seekers.

New Hampshire Cinemas Grab Up a Select Niche Take A Break: Things To Do Near Hampton Beach