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Gallery Talk: “Benning Wentworth’s Towns in Vermont and New Hampshire” with John Rule

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Jun 16, 2023 | Announcements, Events

Saturday, June 24, 2023 11 a.m. Shaw Research Library   John Rule speaks on “Benning Wentworth’s Towns in Vermont and New Hampshire” as part of the exhibit “The Wentworth Takeover: How One Family Dominated Portsmouth and New Hampshire...

2023 Lecture Series: Before “Live Free or Die”: The Wentworth Oligarchy 1715-1775 with Sandra Rux

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Jun 9, 2023 | Announcements, Events

Wednesday, June 21, 2023 5:30 p.m. Shaw Research Library & Zoom   From April through July in our Randall Gallery, the Athenaeum’s Exhibits Committee features the Wentworth family developed by historian Sandra Rux. As a complement to the exhibition, Ms. Rux...

“Advances in Understanding and Treating Disease in the 19th Century with Lessons That Still Resonate” with Fred Schubert

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Jun 1, 2023 | Announcements, Events

Thursday, June 15, 2023 5:30 p.m. Shaw Research Library   Science educator and Proprietor Dr. Fred Schubert will give a talk on “Advances in Understanding and Treating Disease in the 19th Century with Lessons That Still Resonate.” In 1800, the world...

Author Tom Curren’s “All Join Hands” Book Talk with Proprietor Peter Randall

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | May 17, 2023 | Announcements, Events, Library

Thursday, May 25, 2023 5: 30 p.m. Sawtelle Reading Room   Join Peter Randall, publisher and photographer, in conversation with author Tom Curren about his new book All Join Hands: Dudley Laufman & the New England Country Dance Tradition. All Join Hands is a...

2023 Lecture Series: An Abundance of Cod: Fueling the New World with Ann Beattie

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | May 5, 2023 | Announcements, Events

Wednesday, May 17, 2023 5:30 p.m. Shaw Research Library   In her talk May 17 on An Abundance of Cod: Fueling the New World, Ann Beattie will take you a step back in time to the early 17th century when Europeans began to sail to the New World and carry home tales...

2023 Lecture Series: The Life, Near-Death, and Revival of Wood Island Station with Sam Reid

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Apr 14, 2023 | Announcements, Events

Wednesday, April 19, 2023 5:30 p.m. Shaw Research Library   Proprietor Sam Reid will give a talk entitled The Life, Near-Death, and Revival of Wood Island Station. The Wood Island Life Saving Station sits on a small island next to the Maine/New Hampshire border...
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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

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5:30 PM - Franklin Club
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5:00 PM - Opening Reception for "The Red Light District: Vice in Portsmouth, NH, at the Turn of the 20th Century"
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1:30 PM - 1805 Building Tour
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Franklin Club
Franklin Club
July 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
Opening Reception for "The Red Light District: Vice in Portsmouth, NH, at the Turn of the 20th Century"
Opening Reception for "The Red Light District: Vice in Portsmouth, NH, at the Turn of the 20th Century"
July 10, 2026    
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Art Round Town
  • Exhibit Events
Exhibits, Randall Gallery, Red Light District
Join us for Portsmouth's Art 'Round Town featuring our latest exhibit "The Red Light District: Vice in Portsmouth, NH, at the Turn of the 20th [...]
More Info
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
July 11, 2026    
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Building Tours
1805 Building, Building Tours, Library Room, Sawtelle Reading Room
Come view our 200+ year-old historic membership library. This 45-minute tour takes you through spaces usually reserved for our members. The tour will start at [...]
More Info
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
July 18, 2026    
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Building Tours
1805 Building, Building Tours, Library Room, Sawtelle Reading Room
Come view our 200+ year-old historic membership library. This 45-minute tour takes you through spaces usually reserved for our members. The tour will start at [...]
More Info
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
July 30, 2026    
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
$0.00 - $10.00
Portsmouth Athenaeum
  • Building Tours
1805 Building, Building Tours, Library Room, Sawtelle Reading Room
Come view our 200+ year-old historic membership library. This 45-minute tour takes you through spaces usually reserved for our members. The tour will start at [...]
More Info Book Now!
Events on July 1, 2026
Franklin Club
Franklin Club
1 Jul 26
Portsmouth
Events on July 10, 2026
Opening Reception for "The Red Light District: Vice in Portsmouth, NH, at the Turn of the 20th Century"
Opening Reception for "The Red Light District: Vice in Portsmouth, NH, at the Turn of the 20th Century"
10 Jul 26
Portsmouth
Events on July 11, 2026
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
11 Jul 26
Portsmouth
Events on July 18, 2026
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
18 Jul 26
Portsmouth
Events on July 30, 2026
1805 Building Tour
1805 Building Tour
30 Jul 26
Portsmouth

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

 

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

 

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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.

 

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Portsmouth Athenaeum
P.O. Box 366
Portsmouth, NH 03802
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