Strawbery Banke Museum: A Journey Through Portsmouth's Past

Strawbery Banke Museum, located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, offers an immersive journey through over 300 years of history. Situated on the site of the original Strawbery Banke settlement, later known as Puddle Dock, the museum preserves and interprets the stories of the people who lived and worked in this waterfront neighborhood from 1695 to 1955. The museum features a collection of meticulously restored buildings, each representing a different era in Portsmouth's past. Visitors can explore elegant mansions, working-class homes, a colonial tavern, and a 1940s corner store. Costumed roleplayers bring history to life, sharing stories and demonstrating traditional crafts. The museum also has heirloom gardens showcasing plants and vegetables from different periods. Strawbery Banke was founded in 1958 to save the city's historical buildings from urban renewal. The museum opened to the public in 1965 and has grown to encompass nearly 10 acres. Today, it is a pillar in the community, welcoming over 100,000 visitors each year. Strawbery Banke tells the story of Puddle Dock, from seasonal gatherings by Indigenous peoples to the present day. Archaeological digs have uncovered pottery, stone tools, and tent holes that demonstrate the presence of the Abenaki people for over 12,000 years. Featured exhibits include the Seacoast African American Cultural Center's 25th-anniversary exhibition and the Walsh House Interactive Exhibit. The Goodwin Mansion, a grand c. 1811 Federal-style home, is one of the few buildings moved to Strawbery Banke due to its historical significance. The Penhallow House, a saltbox house built circa 1750, was a frequent visiting spot for John Paul Jones.