Strawbery Banke Museum Portsmouth NH

Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth NH

(Aka Strawberry Bank)

Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, NH is one of New Hampshire’s oldest historical sites. Strawberry Banke is an outdoor museum, it’s history dates back to the early 1600’s. In 1630 the area was chosen by English settler Captain Walter Neal and it was named Strawbery Banke. Strawberry Banke got it’s name from the strawberry bushes that lined the Piscataqua River. Strawberry Banke is New Hampshire’s oldest neighborhood and features 42 buildings, the oldest of which dates back to 1693. Strawbery Banke has had numerous excavation projects and archeologists have unearthed approximately 700,000 artifacts from the site. Some of these artifacts are on display.

In 1653 Strawbery Banke was renamed Portsmouth. Strawberry Banke, also known as the Puddle Dock later readopted it’s historical name and has been preserved as an outdoor museum since 1965. The buildings, land and people do a great job of keeping the history alive. Some of the buildings are used as shops for artisans that provide traditional products and services from it’s early history. Ten of the houses in the outdoor museum are used to show how homes were furnished during it’s time period and are open to the public. Tours are also given by the staff who are also in traditional clothing, giving this old little neighborhood the feel that you have stepped back 300+ years. You will certainly leave this historic site with a  new appreciation for our early NH settlers.

Strawbery Banke is normally open from May 1 – October 31. There are special groups rates available if you’re interested in bringing a group of people or for a school field trip. Strawbery Banke Museum can also provide space for corporate events, weddings and wedding receptions. Contact Strawbery Banke for more info at 603-433-1100 | Website.

Strawbery Banke also offers kid programs like: Scouting, School programs, home school programs, summer camps, and garden crafts.

Strawbery Banke is often misspelled as Strawberry Bank, Strawberre Bank and Strawberrie Bank. Many people also confuse it’s location and think Strawbery Banke is located in Maine. Strawberry Banke Museum is in fact located in Portsmouth, NH which is across the Piscataqua River from Maine.

Strawbery Banke is in a congested area of Portsmouth. It is best to use your GPS to get to the parking area. The GPS Coordinates for Strawbery Banke are: N43° 04.521′ | W070° 45.187′

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