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“Pretty Halcyon Days: On the Beach with Ogden Nash”

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Oct 12, 2017 | Announcements, Events

Wednesday, October 18, 2017 Fall Lecture Series:  Pontine Theatre, “Pretty Halcyon Days: On The Beach with Ogden Nash” 7 p.m. in the Research Library. Ogden Nash, Portsmouth Athenaeum Proprietor, spent his summers on Little Boar’s Head in North...

Gallery Talk on “Treasures of the Athenaeum, Part IV”

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Oct 5, 2017 | Announcements, Events, Exhibits

Saturday, October 7, 2017 11 a.m. Join Curator Richard Candee to learn how the Athenaeum became what it is today as he focuses on key elements from his exhibit “Treasures of the Athenaeum Part IV: Renewal, Growth, and a Public Research Library, 1980 –...

Treasures of the Athenaeum Part IV, 1980-2017: Renewal, Growth & A Public Research Library

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Sep 20, 2017 | Announcements, Events, Exhibits

The current exhibit “Treasures of the Athenaeum Part IV, 1980-2017: Renewal, Growth & A Public Research Library” opened Sept. 15 in the Randall Gallery at 9 Market Square.  Curator, Richard Candee will give a talk on this exhibit on Saturday, October...

Athenaeum Cruise on the Piscataqua Gundalow

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Sep 13, 2017 | Announcements, Events

On Saturday, September 16th, from 2 to 4 pm, there will be a wonderful opportunity to see Portsmouth the way it was viewed by many of its residents for the city’s first 300 years…from the water. The non-profit Gundalow Company has offered the Portsmouth Athenauem the...

Author John Lillard Talk on War Games

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Aug 29, 2017 | Announcements, Events

Join Author John Lillard Friday, September 8, 2017 for a talk on his new Book Playing War: Wargaming and U.S. Navy Preparations for World War II.  The book explores Wargaming at the Naval War College during the 20s and 30s, and how it helped the Navy prepare for the...

Unseen Witness: Sarah Farmer & The Portsmouth Peace Treaty–Book Signing!

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Aug 27, 2017 | Announcements, Events

Did an Unseen Woman Really Witness the Signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty? New historical research unveiled. . . . Join us to celebrate the anniversary of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty on Saturday, September 2nd with a short talk by author Anne Gordon Perry, whose...
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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
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
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M
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2
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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14
15
16
17
18
19
20
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1:30 PM - Members Only History Tour
22
23
24
25
26
5:30 PM - The 20th Century, Part II: Key Developments in Science and Technology Continue to Reshape Our World and Our Lives
27
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 Event Series
  • Discussions
2026 Current Event Series, Shaw Research Library, World Affairs Council
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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HOURS

Shaw Research Library
Tuesdays – Saturdays
1 to 4 p.m.
and by appointment

 

Randall Gallery
Tuesdays – Saturdays
1 to 4 p.m.
Latest Exhibit

 

Sawtelle Reading Room

Some Saturdays
1 to 4 p.m.
Calendar of Events
(volunteer-dependent)

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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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Located at 6-9 Market Square, Portsmouth, NH.
(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.

 

MAILING ADDRESS:
Portsmouth Athenaeum
P.O. Box 366
Portsmouth, NH 03802
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