Dozen Distinctive Destinations
Portsmouth, NH
Year Listed: 2008
The elegant seaport of Portsmouth, the nation’s third oldest city, is one of the most culturally rich destinations in the country with its mix of historic buildings, sidewalk cafes, great restaurants, art galleries, jazz clubs and distinctive artisans’ boutiques. Radiating out from Portsmouth’s iconic North Church, streets bustle with activity. The town brims with preserved historic sites including seven National Historic Landmarks. From the multitude of grand mansions, including the gabled former lodgings of renowned naval captain John Paul Jones to The Black Heritage Trail, a walking tour that traces the roots of African Americans in New Hampshire, Portsmouth is packed with history. Among the town’s finest historic destinations is Strawbery Banke Museum, named after the earliest Portsmouth settlement. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2008, Strawbery Banke captures 400 years of Portsmouth history through 35 original buildings and historic landscapes and gardens. Significantly, this site was rescued from poorly conceived urban renewal policies of the 1950s. One of New England’s most cherished historic hotels - Wentworth by the Sea - was named to the Trust’s 11 Most Endangered Places List in 1996. This historic structure, which had served a prestigious international audience since 1874, fell on hard times in the 1980s. A coalition of preservationists, community supporters and the non-profit Friends of the Wentworth executed an extensive renovation and today, with its stunning ocean views, this Victorian gem is a member of the National Trust’s Historic Hotels of America, retaining an enduring blend of gracious hospitality and 21st century convenience. "Thanks to a longstanding commitment to historic preservation, Portsmouth, New Hampshire has never forgotten its sense of place," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "With its captivating blend of coastal beauty, historic buildings and lively downtown, there is something for every age and interest to experience." "Portsmouth is a place that is not only defined as a ‘Distinctive Destination’ by history, it is a place that helps define many aspects of the history of our nation, thanks to the blend of preservation and interpretation championed by so many active community groups," said Margeurite Mathews, president of the Portsmouth Historical Society. "Since our earliest days, the Portsmouth Historical Society has been dedicated both to preserving our history and to telling Portsmouth’s stories along with the city’s other historic homes, museums and sites. As we move into 2008 with a new gateway that preserves two historic downtown buildings and provides an interpretive center for visitors, this wonderful recognition by the Trust helps us bring those stories to an ever-wider audience."
