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1623: The Untold Story of New Hampshire’s Founding Family by J. Dennis Robinson

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Nov 8, 2023 | Announcements, Events

November 30, 2023 5:30 p.m. Shaw Research Library   Why do we know so little about David and Amias Thompson of Plymouth, England? And why is the little we know so often wrong? Our first European couple “settled” at Rye, NH in 1623. Within five years the Thompsons...

2023 Lecture Series: Water Has a Memory: Sea Level Rise, Our Past, Our Future with Rodney Rowland

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Nov 2, 2023 | Announcements, Events

Wednesday, November 15, 2023 5:30 p.m. Shaw Research Library & Zoom   This year’s series concludes on November 15 when Rodney Rowland presents Water Has a Memory: Sea Level Rise, Our Past, Our Future. Strawbery Banke Museum is confronting the impacts of and...

2023 PACM Concert: ASMI Trio

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Oct 13, 2023 | Announcements, Events, Performance

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29, 3 p.m. ASMI TRIO at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 101 Chapel Street, Portsmouth The Altschuler Summer Music Institute develops musicians of all ages through participation in masterclasses, private lessons, and performances with renowned...

2023 Lecture Series: At Home in Portsmouth, 1750 – 1850, with Jane C. Nylander

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Oct 6, 2023 | Announcements, Events

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 5:30 p.m. Shaw Research Library & Zoom   A long-time student of New England interiors, Jane C. Nylander’s talk on October 18, At Home in Portsmouth, 1750 – 1850 will weave together a host of primary sources to expand our...

2023 PACM Concert: Rasa String Quartet

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Sep 26, 2023 | Announcements, Events, Performance

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 3 p.m. RASA STRING QUARTET at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 101 Chapel Street, Portsmouth Currently in residence at Philips Exeter, Boston-based Rasa String Quartet violinists Maura Shawn Scanlin and Kiyoshi Hayashi, violist Emma Powell, and...

Nancy R. Hammond Book Signing and Talk

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Sep 21, 2023 | Announcements, Events

Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023 5:30 p.m. Shaw Research Library   A presentation and book signing by Proprietor Nancy R. Hammond, whose new book, The Life and Times of Jonathan Mitchel Sewall, 1748-1808, Poet – Lawyer – Patriot, resurrects a forgotten Portsmouth...
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Recent News

  • May 2026: Jewish American Heritage Month
  • April 2026: National Poetry Month
  • On The Road Again, again
  • 2026 Lecture Series: The Spirit of 1776: Revolution, Constitution, Independence
  • March 2026: Smuttynose Island Murders

Events Calendar

Today
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
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3
4
5:30 PM - Franklin Club
5
6
5:00 PM - Opening Reception for "New Hampshire Women Trailblazers"
7
1:30 PM - Members Only History Tour
8
9
10
11
12
5:30 PM - 2026 Current Event Series: "What World Leaders Forget about World Politics"
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1:30 PM - Members Only History Tour
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26
5:30 PM - The 20th Century, Part II: Key Developments in Science and Technology Continue to Reshape Our World and Our Lives
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28
11:00 AM - Make the Most of Your Membership
1:30 PM - Members Only History Tour
29
30
31
1
5:30 PM - Franklin Club
2
3
5:00 PM - Art 'Round Town for "New Hampshire Women Trailblazers"
4
Franklin Club
Franklin Club
March 4, 2026    
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
Opening Reception for "New Hampshire Women Trailblazers"
Opening Reception for "New Hampshire Women Trailblazers"
March 6, 2026    
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Exhibit Events
Exhibits, NH Women Trailblazers, Randall Gallery
The New Hampshire Women Trailblazers exhibit is a tribute to NH women who challenged social, economic, and political barriers. The exhibit will run from Friday, [...]
More Info
Members Only History Tour
Members Only History Tour
March 7, 2026    
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Building Tours
  • Members Events
1805 Building, Building Tours, Library Room, Sawtelle Reading Room
Have you ever wondered about the history of our collections and the historic building? This March, we are offering free guided tours exclusively for our [...]
More Info
2026 Current Event Series: "What World Leaders Forget about World Politics"
2026 Current Event Series: "What World Leaders Forget about World Politics"
March 12, 2026    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Current Events Series
  • Discussions
2026 Current Events Series, Shaw Research Library
Why do even the most powerful leaders make decisions that seem to ignore history, human nature, or hard-earned lessons of the past? What blind spots [...]
More Info
Members Only History Tour
Members Only History Tour
March 21, 2026    
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Building Tours
  • Members Events
1805 Building, Building Tours, Library Room, Sawtelle Reading Room
Have you ever wondered about the history of our collections and the historic building? This March, we are offering free guided tours exclusively for our [...]
More Info
The 20th Century, Part II: Key Developments in Science and Technology Continue to Reshape Our World and Our Lives
The 20th Century, Part II:  Key Developments in Science and Technology Continue to Reshape Our World and Our Lives
March 26, 2026    
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Discussions
Proprietors, Shaw Research Library
Proprietor Fred Schubert discusses selected endeavors in Science and Technology during the period 1950-2000. Surprisingly, in a time of large projects involving thousands of contributors, [...]
More Info
Make the Most of Your Membership
Make the Most of Your Membership
March 28, 2026    
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Members Events
Membership, Orientation
This introduction to the Athenæum and its resources is designed to help new members, prospective members, and generally curious members find what they are looking [...]
More Info
Members Only History Tour
Members Only History Tour
March 28, 2026    
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Building Tours
  • Members Events
1805 Building, Building Tours, Library Room, Sawtelle Reading Room
Have you ever wondered about the history of our collections and the historic building? This March, we are offering free guided tours exclusively for our [...]
More Info
Franklin Club
Franklin Club
April 1, 2026    
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 "New Hampshire Women Trailblazers"
Art 'Round Town for "New Hampshire Women Trailblazers"
April 3, 2026    
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Art Round Town
  • Exhibit Events
Exhibits, NH Women Trailblazers, Randall Gallery
Join us for Portsmouth's Art 'Round Town featuring our latest exhibit "The New Hampshire Women Trailblazers," a tribute to NH women who challenged social, economic, [...]
More Info
Events on March 4, 2026
Franklin Club
Franklin Club
4 Mar 26
Portsmouth
Events on March 6, 2026
Opening Reception for "New Hampshire Women Trailblazers"
Opening Reception for "New Hampshire Women Trailblazers"
6 Mar 26
Portsmouth
Events on March 7, 2026
Members Only History Tour
Members Only History Tour
7 Mar 26
Portsmouth
Events on March 12, 2026
2026 Current Event Series: "What World Leaders Forget about World Politics"
2026 Current Event Series: "What World Leaders Forget about World Politics"
12 Mar 26
Portsmouth
Events on March 21, 2026
Members Only History Tour
Members Only History Tour
21 Mar 26
Portsmouth
Events on March 26, 2026
The 20th Century, Part II:  Key Developments in Science and Technology Continue to Reshape Our World and Our Lives
The 20th Century, Part II: Key Developments in Science and Technology Continue to Reshape Our World and Our Lives
26 Mar 26
Portsmouth
Events on March 28, 2026
Make the Most of Your Membership
Make the Most of Your Membership
28 Mar 26
Portsmouth
Members Only History Tour
Members Only History Tour
28 Mar 26
Portsmouth
Events on April 1, 2026
Franklin Club
Franklin Club
1 Apr 26
Portsmouth
Events on April 3, 2026
Art 'Round Town for "New Hampshire Women Trailblazers"
Art 'Round Town for "New Hampshire Women Trailblazers"
3 Apr 26
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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Some Saturdays
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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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