This lecture is a part of the The Making History, Making Change Lecture Series organized by Smithsonian Affiliations as part of the Smithsonian’s Our Shared Future: 250. It is supported in part by the Dreier Family, Johanna and Ken Kim Family, Vaishali Shah Chadha and Family, and Michael Vu & Meridel Bulle-Vu.

Please note: the membership discount is applied in the cart. 

Tuesdays on the Terrace

OUTDOOR SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
Tuesdays, June 16-August 25, 2026, 6-7:30 PM

Relax into summer evenings with live acoustic and Americana-inspired music (and beyond) set among the historic houses and gardens. Guests are asked to bring lawn chairs or blankets to enjoy the performances comfortably.

New! Concerts are from 6-7:30 PM and are rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather, performances will be moved from the Kennebunk Savings Terrace to the lecture hall in the Lawrence J. Yerdon Visitors Center. Please note that indoor seating is limited.

A Daily Admission ticket is needed to attend this tour.

Save $2 on all daily admission options when you purchase online in advance. Online prices already include the $2 discount. No promo-code needed.

Join one of the Museum’s knowledgeable Landscape Horticulturists on a journey through time in the historic landscape and gardens at Strawbery Banke. 

Wander through thoughtfully curated gardens and discover botanical wonders, each with its own story. Learn about the plants that have thrived in these landscapes for generations and the historical significance the landscape holds within the context of the Museum's rich heritage.

Expert guides will teach you about the careful stewardship and maintenance that goes into preserving the Strawbery Banke living collection. Gain insights into traditional gardening techniques and how they have evolved, blending seamlessly with modern practices to ensure the gardens' continued vitality and their ability to share the stories of the people who lived within them.

Strawbery Banke Members receive discount on tickets (no promo code needed).  Members must sign in to receive their discount. Member tickets are listed at the same price as non-member tickets. The discount will be applied in the cart. If you are having difficulty purchasing tickets please contact 603.241.1644

You must have a General Museum Admission ticket to attend this tour.

Save $2 on all General Museum Admission options when you purchase online in advance. Online prices already include the $2 discount. No promo-code needed.

In this 60-minute guided tour, visit three historic Portsmouth homes to explore how the American Revolution and its legacy shaped daily life. Begin at Pitt Tavern in 1777, to learn how civilians during the Revolution grappled with questions of loyalty and debated the meaning of independence and equality. Next, at the Rider-Wood House in 1826, see how life unfolded in a new nation facing the challenge of living up to the Revolution’s promises. Conclude at the Goodwin Mansion in 1870 to discover how the Revolution continued to shape American life long after its end.

Each house presents a window into how Portsmouth residents experienced and remembered the Revolution, demonstrating that the struggle for freedom extended beyond battlefields into daily life.

Join an expert guide and explore three centuries of New England History. This 90-minute guided tour highlights four historic homes, each offering a unique glimpse into Portsmouth’s past. Limited to 15 participants per tour.

• Goodwin Mansion (1870): Experience the elegance of Ichabod and Sarah Goodwin’s home during a time of social and industrial change.

• Shapiro House (1919): See how Jewish immigrants Sarah and Abraham Shapiro built a new life, shaping Portsmouth’s growing immigrant community.

• Pitt Tavern (1777): Learn about the Stavers family and what it took to keep a tavern running in Revolutionary-War era America. 

• Abbott House & Store (1940s): Discover how widow Bertha Abbott, a widow, welcomed neighbors with the help of local high schooler Leslie Clough during World War II.

The Revolutionary Portsmouth Lecture Series is a collaborative program between Strawbery Banke Museum and Portsmouth Historical Society, presented in conjunction with each organization’s 2026 exhibition, Revolutionary Portsmouth. Through a series of engaging talks, historians and scholars explore the people, events, and everyday experiences that shaped Portsmouth during the American Revolution and its lasting legacy.

Lectures rotate between Strawbery Banke Museum and Portsmouth Historical Society. Please note the location for each program when registering.

Member Prices are valid for Strawbery Banke and Portsmouth Historical Society Members.

Join us for light refreshments—wine, nonalcoholic drinks, and cookies—and the chance to mingle with fellow supporters starting at 5:30 PM. At 6 PM, hear from Linnea Grim, President and CEO, Thomas W. Haas Endowed Chair, as she reflects on the past fiscal year and shares an inside look at the exciting programs, initiatives, and priorities shaping the future of Strawbery Banke. Be among the first to learn what’s ahead—and discover meaningful ways to stay engaged and make an impact.

Click "Show Individual Events" to see the list of available camps.

This registration is for the "Big Watch" portion of Flag Day. Registration is not required to attend any other Flag Day activities.

FLAG DAY SCHEDULE:

• 12:00 pm – Flag Day ceremony begins on the Museum-side of Marcy Street across from the Liberty Pole

• 12:30 pm – Children’s craft activity in the Lawrence J. Yerdon Visitors Center’s Classroom

• 1:00 pm – "Big Watch" screening in the Visitors Center’s Lecture Hall

• 1:30–2:30 pm – Civics panel discussion in the Visitors Center’s Lecture Hall

Big Watch programs are made possible by a partnership between New Hampshire Humanities and New Hampshire PBS, with support from Cogswell Benevolent Trust. Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation; and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils in collaboration with local partners. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage.

This course is intended to offer students in the fields of archaeology, anthropology, history, or related fields, hands-on training in field and lab methodology. This year, we are pleased to be working with the Association for Rollinsford Culture and History and Dr. Tad Baker. Research will focus on recovering archaeological resources at the site of the c. 1701 Col. Paul Wentworth in Rollinsford, NH. Field trips, tours by experts, and required readings on historical archaeology will introduce students to various areas of historic specialization. This summer the museum offers a field session as well as a lab session. Students may choose either or both (the field session is not a pre-requisite for the lab session).

During the Field Session, students are trained in archaeological field techniques and learn to identify historic artifacts. This field school places a special emphasis on public archaeology and interpretation. Students will lead tours for visitors daily, and are expected to offer interpretation of the site and the excavation activity.

During the Lab Session, students work in the Carter Collections Center laboratory at Strawbery Banke Museum to gain experience in processing, identifying, and cataloging artifacts recovered from the Wentworth site. Students are expected to prepare a blog post or interpretive panel to describe artifacts to museum visitors.

Springfest tickets are valid for both Saturday and Sunday.

Strawbery Banke Members must sign in to receive their discount. Member discounts will be applied in the cart. If you are having difficulty purchasing tickets, please contact  603.473.4814