Until 1808, the port town of Portsmouth, founded in 1630 at the mouth of the Piscataqua, was the state capital. A walk round the district of Strawberry Bank with its handsome old houses will introduce visitors to the town's past.
The Portsmouth Athenaeum was established in 1817. It was a library which could only be used by shareholders. The building itself was built for the Fire and Marine Insurance Company, incorporated in 1803. The building today is still used for a private library which has over 300 members.
Hours:
1pm-4pm; Sat:10am-4pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri
Always closed on: New Year's Day (January 1), American Independance Day (July 4), Thanksgiving - USA (4th Thursday, November ), Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Durham (pop. 13,000) was established in 1635. The town features some historic plaques related to the Revolutionary War. Today the town is home to the University of New Hampshire. Durham is located in Strafford County in southeast New Hampshire.
The Durham Historic Museum features a variety of historical items and documents pertaining to the history of the Durham region going all the way back to 1632.
The Isles of Shoals Steamship Company in Portsmouth offers sightseeing cruises of the Isles of Shoals and the Portsmouth Harbor on replicas of 19th century steamships. The boats stop at Star Island, where passengers can hop and explore the island. Various theme cruises are available.
Isles of Shoals Steamship in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Isles of Shoals, New Hampshire.
Address: Isles of Shoals Steampship Company, 315 Market Street, Portsmouth, NH 03802-0311, United States
Phone: 1 (603) 431-5500, Fax: 1 (603) 433-1280
New Castle (pop. 1,000) began as a fishing village near the end of the 17th century. The town features old buildings with narrow streets. It is also the smallest town in New Hampshire, covering less than one square mile.
The remnants of Fort Constitution can be seen just east of the square.
Waves crashing at the Portsmouth Harbor Light in New Castle.
Designed in the 1930s, the Fuller Gardens in North Hampton cover 2 acres and features azaleas, rhododendrons, and wisterias in the Japanese garden. A green house features a variety of tropical plants.
The USS Albacore was a prototype for modern day submarines. It was built in 1952 and used for almost twenty years to test new submarine equipment and devices. A nearby Memorial Garden is dedicated to those killed in the submarine services.
Hours:
May 31 to October 11: 9am-5pm
October 12 to May 30: 9:30am-4pm; Closed: Tue, Wed