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Strawbery Banke Museum

By Antique Homes Magazine Staff Share:

Image Credit: strawberybanke.org

Strawbery Banke Museum

14 Hancock Street

Portsmouth New Hampshire 03801

The Historic Houses :

Strawbery Banke is unique among outdoor history museums in presenting a complete neighborhood’s evolution over 300+ years, with most of the 37 historic buildings on their original foundations. These structures link visitors to the people who lived on the Portsmouth waterfront from 1695 to 1954.
Strawbery Banke Museum began as a “save our history” effort by the citizens of Portsmouth. In the late 1950s, Puddle Dock, an area of dilapidated homes near the Piscataqua River was targeted for urban renewal. All the “substandard” homes in Puddle Dock — some of which dated back to the 1600s — were to to torn down and replaced with modern buildings. That was until city librarian Dorothy Vaughn addressed the Portsmouth Rotary Club one day in 1957.

That day Vaughn “laid it on the line” for the Rotary Club, telling them that every time one of the old houses was torn or an antique piece of Portsmouth furniture shipped out of town, the city was losing its past. The Rotary Club was galvanized into action, and while Puddle Dock did undergo urban renewal, much of it has been saved as a historic museum.

Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond

Location: Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond, 14 Hancock Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 03801
WEATHER DEPENDENT — Check Facebook for updates!

Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock Pond at Strawbery Banke Museum brings people together to enjoy traditional New England outdoor ice skating.

The rink offers daily public skating, adaptive ice time, private rink rentals, skating lessons, and pick-up pond hockey on a professionally maintained ice surface supported by a chilling system and Zamboni.

Ice skate rentals, training aids, and skate sharpening services are also available.

Whether you’re interested in the history of the Puddle Dock neighborhood, the historic houses, or the museum’s gardens and historic landscapes, click on the link below for a virtual tour that will transport you to this historic waterfront neighborhood.

Link for Virtual tour: https://www.strawberybanke.org/virtual-tour.cfm

Video Overview of Strawbery Banke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uAe5CGgk8I&feature=em-upload_owner

Strawbery Banke has a virtual classroom: https://strawberybankemuseum.wordpress.com

Programs for Homeschoolers and Remote Learners: https://strawberybankemuseum.wordpress.com/history-at-home/?ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_4_3_2020_7_59_COPY_01)&mc_cid=9f038c2719&mc_eid=72c611c719#Homedays

Events: https://www.strawberybanke.org/calendar

Link to the Historic Houses: http://www.strawberybanke.org/houses/historic-houses.cfm

Link to the website: https://www.strawberybanke.org

Image Credits: strawberybanke.org unless otherwise noted

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