The Story of NH’s Only Seaport

NOTE: Don’t miss the NH CHRONICLE special on our recent book about the history of Strawbery Banke. Airs Friday night on Channel 9 (WMUR-TV) at 7:30 PM. Click for more  

We tell Portsmouth stories. That’s the mission of the Portsmouth Historical Society. Now PHS has taken that mission to the Web with the release of its new brief history of Portsmouth, NH.

This mini-documentary was originally designed to show visitors at the John Paul Jones House museum, home of the historical society in Portsmouth. Created by Atlantic Media, the 15-minute video gives visitors and locals a quick overview of one of the nation’s oldest British colonial settlements and New Hampshire’s only seaport.

Now you can see the entire production online from the comfort of your computer easy chair. The streaming video weaves together the narrative of local historians Stephanie Seacord and J. Dennis Robinson, who offer a quick overview of the city’s sweeping 400-years. Today the city is known for its numerous house museums,its Black Heritage Trail, a dramatic maritime story and a bustling Market Square. And it is within this backdrop of colonial and federal buildings and colorful characters that the modern cultural hotspot evolved. Recently named one of the nation’s "Distinctive Destinations" by the National Trust, Portsmouth offers a rich and complex story in a compact and walkable environment.

The City of Portsmouth has posted the entire film on its web site for easy streaming using RealPlayer. Viewers without this utility can download it from the site (takes 5-10 minutes). The documentary offers an honest but upbeat impression of Portsmouth for the first time in easy-to-digest format.

To access the film, CLICK ON THIS LINK, and then select the item labeled "Welcome to Historic Portsmouth (Portsmouth Historical Society)" from the top of the menu. So microwave some popcorn and check it out today.