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. 

The membership discount is applied in the cart. 

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.

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

This event is made possible by New Hampshire Humanities, in partnership with NHPBS, with additional support provided by Cogswell Benevolent Trust. 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