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The city will celebrate and commemorate historic homes, neighborhoods, wharves and the Great Fire of 1811 during the fifth annual Newburyport Preservation Week, May 14 through May 22. (Continued below with entire scheudle and link)

Activities spanning nine days will feature something for all ages and interests, including walking and biking tours through neighborhoods steeped in history, a tour of a stately private home, expert panel discussion, and presentations on historic renovations and sites, historic photo slide shows, an opportunity to explore Ould Newbury Fire Museum and the annual Historic Preservation Awards.
The Newburyport Preservation Trust, an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization, was formed to raise public awareness and to advocate for local historic preservation. Newburyport Preservation Week is presented in partnership with Historic New England and the Custom House Maritime Museum and is supported in part by a Newburyport Cultural Council grant.

Activities are open to the public, and most are free. Here is the schedule of events:

Saturday, May 14

Opening Event: Newburyport Up From the Ashes — After the Great Fire 1811-2011, noon to 1 p.m., Newburyport Public Library Program Room, 94 State St.: Newburyport Preservation Trust and Planning Board member and historical architecture enthusiast Bonnie Sontag discusses the Great Fire of 1811 and The Brick Act, which is responsible for the masonry and granite structures downtown today; free.

Walk Newburyport, 1 to 3:30 p.m., from Newburyport Library: Newburyport Preservation Trust member and architect Greg Colling leads a walking tour, pointing out different architectural styles in the historic South End and within a few blocks of the city center; free.

Vintage Baseball, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, 5 Little's Lane, Newbury: Historic New England presents the Essex Base Ball Club versus the Brooklyn Atlantics, Mudville Base Ball Club and Ipswich Brewers; $5, members free; weather permitting, call 978-462-2634.

All Fired Up! Newburyport Chamber Music Concert, 6:30 p.m., reception, 8 p.m., concert; Henry Learned House, 190 High St.: Eighteenth century chamber music concert in the home's 1803 carriage house, featuring violinist Ellen DePasquale; fundraiser for Newburyport Preservation Trust; tickets $45;

Sunday, May 15

Blazing the Path to Preservation Bike Tour, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., from Riverside Cycle at The Tannery, Water and Federal streets: Bicycling enthusiast and Newburyport Preservation Trust member James Shanley leads a bicycle tour of the North End; pack a picnic lunch; free.

Vintage Baseball, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm: Historic New England presents the Essex Base Ball Club versus the Lynn Live Oaks and Bristol Blues; $5, members free; weather permitting, call 978-462-2634.

Wharves of Northern New England, 3 to 5 p.m., seminar, 5 p.m., reception; Custom House Maritime Museum, 25 Water St.: Referencing remains of pre-Revolutionary wharves in Portsmouth, N.H., Charlestown, Salem and recent discoveries in Newburyport, Mitchell Mulholland of UMass Amherst Archaeological Services and Bill Harris, historic preservation advocate and Newburyport Preservation Trust member, explain how archaeologists and historians interpret these historic structures and waterfront development; free.

Powder Houses: They're Explosive, 7 p.m. Newburyport Library: Newburyport Preservation Trust members and Powder House Restoration Committee co-chairmen Tom Kolterjahn and Karen Holt look at the styles and history of Essex County powder houses, including three in Newburyport, and the keepers who charged with overseeing them; free.

Tuesday, May 17

Hot Preservation: Inside and Out, 7 p.m., Belleville Church Parish Hall, 300 High St.: Historic New England's preservation planner Sally Zimmerman and preservation carpenter David Webb lead a panel discussion on preservation and rehabilitation options for historic homes.

Friday, May 20

Flickers of the Past: The Joshua Wentworth House, 7 p.m., Custom House Maritime Museum: Architect and Newburyport Preservation Trust member Linda Miller highlights the restoration of the deteriorated 1770 Joshua Wentworth House in Portsmouth at Strawbery Banke. A rum fest reception with tastings of rum provided by Ryan & Wood Distillery of Gloucester, plus wine and other refreshments, follows; admission $10.

Tales and Ales, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Swett-Ilsley House Tavern, 4 High Road, Newbury: Enjoy traditional local brews and a hearty tavern dinner while hearing tales of sword fights, scandalous romances and bloody brawls from Newbury's storied past in what was once Swett's Tavern. Presented by Historic New England; admission $30 members,$50 nonmembers; registration required by calling 978-462-2634.

Saturday, May 21

Anatomy of a Fireplace, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm: Masonry expert Richard Irons gives a behind-the-scenes exploration of the heart of the 17th century house — the chimney. Presented by Historic New England; admission $25 members, $35 nonmembers; morning refreshments included; optional box lunch $10; registration required by calling 978-462-2634..

Sparks of History House Tour, 3 to 5 p.m., 63 High St., Newburyport: Tour one of the stately Federal period homes along the ridge on High Street and learn the historical context of their imposing presence in early 19th century Newburyport; free.

Tales and Ales, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., Swett-Ilsley House Tavern: Enjoy traditional local brews and tavern dinner while hearing tales of Newbury's storied past; presented by Historic New England; admission $30 members, $50 nonmembers; registration required by calling 978-462-2634.

Sunday, May 22

Firehouses and Fire Trucks: Ould Newbury Fire Museum, 0 Morgan Ave. and Upper Green on High Road, Newbury: Examine firefighting memorabilia and learn about firefighting in centuries past through the collections of 34-year veteran Newburyport firefighter Stan Dixon, whose memorabilia includes 19th century fire buckets, helmets, speaking horns, records and documents, hand tubs and 1840s man-powered fire engines.

The Glowing Results: 2011 Preservation Awards, 4:30 to 5 p.m.: Phoenix Room, 19 Inn St., third floor, Newburyport: Newburyport Preservation Trust's Preservation Awards recognize winners in categories such as Stewardship; Exterior Restoration; Interior Restoration; Sensitive Addition to a Historic Structure; Historic Landscape Restoration; Historic Sensitive Contractor/Builder and Sustainable Historic Structure; photo slide show of fires and firefighting in Newburyport over the past two centuries presented by Robert M. Currier at 5:15 and 5:45 p.m.; plus closing reception at 6; free

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