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Christmas Holiday

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Dec 21, 2017 | Announcements, Events

Happy Holidays!! For the Christmas Holiday, the Portsmouth Athenaeum will be closed Monday, Christmas Day, December 25, 2017 and Tuesday, December 26, 2017.

Old English and the Language of Beowulf

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Dec 5, 2017 | Announcements, Events

Thursday December 7 5:30 p.m. in the Reading Room Professor Thomas Carnicelli returns with more history of the English tongue. He will speak on “Old English, the Language of Beowulf.” Reservations are requested, since space is limited. Call (603) 431-2538 for...

Great Bay Sailor Holiday Concert

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Nov 30, 2017 | Announcements, Events, Performance

Monday, December 11, 2017 in the Reading Room at 7 p.m. Great Bay Sailor:  The Yuletide Celebration Mark your calendar and plan to join us for a celebration of what we call the hidden sounds of the season.  The GBS Yuletide Repertoire is comprised of songs found in...

Portsmouth Holiday Parade & Christmas Tree Lighting

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Nov 20, 2017 | Announcements, Events

Saturday, December 2 (Rain date: December 3) Tree lighting: 5:30pm • Parade: 6pm Experience this magical event in the heart of downtown Portsmouth. Excitement builds as the community counts down to the lighting of the Portsmouth Christmas tree and the festive fun...

“Show of Shows” Opens December 1, 2017

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Nov 20, 2017 | Announcements, Events, Exhibits, Library

The newest exhibit “Show of Shows” celebrates 21 years of exhibitions in the Randall Gallery.  The opening reception is in the Randall Gallery beginning at 5 p.m.  

John M. Lewis discusses NH Public School Funding

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Nov 20, 2017 | Announcements, Events

Thursday, November 30, 2017 John M. Lewis will speak about NH public school funding in the context of considering the Claremont Litigation and like cases around the country.  This talk will deal with New Hampshire’s struggle to provide sufficient funding to its...
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Recent News

  • July 2026: The Red Light District
  • Exhibit Shines the Red Light on City’s Past
  • Portsmouth Athenæum Chamber Music 2026
  • Athenæum Interim Director
  • A Letter from Tom Hardiman, Keeper and Executive Director

Events Calendar

Today
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3:00 PM - 2025 PACM Series: Balourdet String Quartet
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5:30 PM - Franklin Club
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3
5:00 PM - Art 'Round Town for the exhibit "Portsmouth in the Age of Jonathan Mitchel Sewall"
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5
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9
5:30 PM - The Historical Development of Our Understanding of the Components of Healthful Nutrition with Dr. Fred Schubert
10
11
12
10:00 AM - Portsmouth Athenaeum Book Sale
3:00 PM - 2025 PACM Series: Terra String Quartet
13
14
15
5:30 PM - 2025 Lecture Series: “Art History at the Isles of Shoals” with Douglas Nelson and Sara Morris
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4:30 PM - Athenaeum Tea for New Members
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1
2025 PACM Series: Balourdet String Quartet
2025 PACM Series: Balourdet String Quartet
September 28, 2025    
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
South Church
  • PACM Concert Series
  • Performance & Concert Series
2025 PACM Concert Series, Balourdet String Quartet, Concerts, South Church
Winners of the 2024 Avery Fisher Career Grant and the Cleveland Quartet Award, the Balourdet String Quartet is known for its fearless creativity and tight-knit [...]
More Info
Franklin Club
Franklin Club
October 1, 2025    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Franklin Club
Franklin Club, Sawtelle Reading Room
The Junto, also known as the Leather Apron Club, was a club for mutual improvement established in 1727 by Benjamin Franklin in Philadelphia. The Leather [...]
More Info
Art 'Round Town for the exhibit "Portsmouth in the Age of Jonathan Mitchel Sewall"
Art 'Round Town for the exhibit "Portsmouth in the Age of Jonathan Mitchel Sewall"
October 3, 2025    
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Art Round Town
  • Exhibit Events
Art 'Round Town, Exhibits, Jonathan Mitchel Sewall 1748-1808, Portsmouth in the Age of Jonathan Mitchel Sewall, Randall Gallery
Please join us for Art 'Round Town for our latest exhibit, "Portsmouth in the Age of Jonathan Mitchel Sewall (c.1770-1808)," curated by Nancy Hammond in [...]
More Info
The Historical Development of Our Understanding of the Components of Healthful Nutrition with Dr. Fred Schubert
The Historical Development of Our Understanding of the Components of Healthful Nutrition with Dr. Fred Schubert
October 9, 2025    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Discussions
Proprietors, Shaw Research Library
Several cases are examined that highlight our developing knowledge of dietary needs. The discussion begins in the 18th century, when the scourge of scurvy decimated [...]
More Info
Portsmouth Athenaeum Book Sale
Portsmouth Athenaeum Book Sale
October 12, 2025    
10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum Annex
  • Community Event
Book Sale
170 State Street (next to Temple Israel, look for the garage door) Sunday, October 12th, 10-2:30 No parking in front parking lot off State Street—drop [...]
More Info
2025 PACM Series: Terra String Quartet
2025 PACM Series: Terra String Quartet
October 12, 2025    
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
South Church
  • PACM Concert Series
  • Performance & Concert Series
2025 PACM Concert Series, Concerts, South Church, Terra String Quartet
An internationally acclaimed ensemble, the Terra String Quartet has won top prizes at the Melbourne and Osaka International Chamber Music Competitions and the Fischoff National [...]
More Info
2025 Lecture Series: “Art History at the Isles of Shoals” with Douglas Nelson and Sara Morris
2025 Lecture Series: “Art History at the Isles of Shoals” with Douglas Nelson and Sara Morris
October 15, 2025    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Discussions
  • Lecture Series
2025 Lecture Series: Beauty on the Seacoast and Beyond, Architecture and Gardens, Art Architecture and Gardens, Douglas Nelson, Isles of Shoals, Sara Morris, Shaw Research Library
The Isles of Shoals have drawn creative people ever since poetess Celia Thaxter hosted a celebrated salon on Appledore island, the largest of the Isles. [...]
More Info
Athenaeum Tea for New Members
Athenaeum Tea for New Members
October 19, 2025    
4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Members Events
  • Members Tea
New Members Tea, Proprietors, Sawtelle Reading Room
Please join us for an Athenaeum Tea for New Members from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Sawtelle Reading Room.
More Info
Events on September 28, 2025
2025 PACM Series: Balourdet String Quartet
2025 PACM Series: Balourdet String Quartet
28 Sep 25
Portsmouth
Events on October 1, 2025
Franklin Club
Franklin Club
1 Oct 25
Portsmouth
Events on October 3, 2025
Art 'Round Town for the exhibit "Portsmouth in the Age of Jonathan Mitchel Sewall"
Art 'Round Town for the exhibit "Portsmouth in the Age of Jonathan Mitchel Sewall"
3 Oct 25
Portsmouth
Events on October 9, 2025
The Historical Development of Our Understanding of the Components of Healthful Nutrition with Dr. Fred Schubert
The Historical Development of Our Understanding of the Components of Healthful Nutrition with Dr. Fred Schubert
9 Oct 25
Portsmouth
Events on October 12, 2025
Portsmouth Athenaeum Book Sale
Portsmouth Athenaeum Book Sale
12 Oct 25
Portsmouth
2025 PACM Series: Terra String Quartet
2025 PACM Series: Terra String Quartet
12 Oct 25
Portsmouth
Events on October 15, 2025
2025 Lecture Series: “Art History at the Isles of Shoals” with Douglas Nelson and Sara Morris
2025 Lecture Series: “Art History at the Isles of Shoals” with Douglas Nelson and Sara Morris
15 Oct 25
Portsmouth
Events on October 19, 2025
Athenaeum Tea for New Members
Athenaeum Tea for New Members
19 Oct 25
Portsmouth

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1 to 4 p.m.
and by appointment

 

Randall Gallery
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Latest Exhibit

 

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Calendar of Events
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The Athenæum today continues a long tradition of mutual improvement by maintaining a library of over 40,000 volumes and an archive of materials relating to local history. The Athenæum also sponsors exhibitions, concerts, lectures, and other educational and cultural programs.

 




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(603) 431-2538

 

Public entrance shared with Ireland on the Square. Research Library and Gallery located on third floor.  Please call ahead for elevator access.

 

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Portsmouth Athenaeum
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Portsmouth, NH 03802
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