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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 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 LECTURE SERIES: Trading on the Gundalow with Ed Caylor

by Portsmouth Athenaeum | Sep 13, 2023 | Announcements, Events

Wednesday, September 20, 2023 5:30 p.m. Shaw Research Library & Zoom   The Athenaeum lecture series, Portsmouth, NH: Evolution 1623-2023 Part 2, continues with with Ed Caylor’s talk, Trading on the Gundalow. For more than 200 years, gundalows sparked the...

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...

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...
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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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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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