Portsmouth NH: All About Portsmouth New Hampshire

Portsmouth NH: All About Portsmouth

The City of Portsmouth New Hampshire is located in Rockingham County in the state of New Hampshire. Portsmouth NH is the 4th largest city in the state of New Hampshire. The population is approximately 21,000.

Portsmouth NH is rich in history and popular with tourists to the state. There are many events in Portsmouth that tend to draw large crowds to the historic downtown area, like musicals and plays in the well-known Prescott Park which sits on the edge of the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth New Hampshire.

Portsmouth NH is home to Pease International Trade Port, which was formally an Air Force Base, now converted to a civilian airport with commercial office space in the nearby buildings.

Portsmouth NH is also home to the famous Strawbery Banke Museum, a restored neighborhood detailing the earliest settlers of Portsmouth. Strawbery Banke got it’s name from the abundance of wild strawberries growing in the area.

Portsmouth NH Hotels & Inns

There are many cute Hotels and Inns to stay at while visiting Portsmouth. Check out our list of Hotels, Inns and Bed & Breakfast advertisers to find a Portsmouth NH accommodation. We also have a list of Oceanfront Vacation Rentals. Check this list of NH Seacoast Vacation Packages.

Portsmouth NH Restaurants

Dining in the Portsmouth NH region offer many different types of restaurants, not just seafood restaurants! Everything from Mexican and Chinese to fine dining in some of the most prestigious restaurants in the state. Portsmouth also offers a number a bars and pubs.

Portsmouth Harbor

Portsmouth Harbor is a busy waterway that separates New Hampshire and Maine. Portsmouth Harbor is a place that you will certainly want to check out when you come to New Hampshire… It is full of interesting history! If you are going to visit Portsmouth NH, make sure you don’t leave until your wander around the shores of Portsmouth Harbor. Portsmouth Harbor offers cruise tours, some of which will even take you out to the Isles of Shoals. These guided cruises usually offer a narrated trip through the harbor, detailing the forts, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, some of the local businesses, US Coast Guard Station, the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, which is said to be a haunted lighthouse in New Hampshire (investigated by Ghost Hunters in October 2008. The Ghost Hunters episode aired on December 10, 2009 on the Sci Fi Channel). Ghost Hunters also investigated the Keeper’s House and Fort Constitution in Newcastle NH along the Portsmouth Harbor.

Check out the Portsmouth Harbor webcam!

Portsmouth Harbor is also home to the annual Tall Ships Festival located on Market St. at the State Pier. A great way to spend the weekend and learn more about the old tall ships!

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is located on Jamaica Island on the Maine/New Hampshire border. The island is 278 acres and is owned by the state of Maine. The island was originally five separated islands that were joined together and used for collecting wild berries and drying fish. Fort Sullivan was built in 1775 to supplement Fort William and Mary as well as Fort McClary during the Revolution and the war of 1812.  In 1908, the First was blasted away and the Portsmouth Naval Prison was built.  There were over 1,600 prisoners from the Battle of Santiago de Cuba that were held from July through September of 1898.  A marine camp was built just north of the naval prison.  Currently there Naval Shipyard has 62 buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.