The name 'Strawbery Banke' was the original 1630 name for Portsmouth, derived from the wild berries found by early English settlers.
The museum grounds include the Sherburne House, which retains its original 1695 timber frame construction.
The site hosts an outdoor ice-skating rink, Labrie Family Skate at Puddle Dock, during the winter months.
Archaeologists have recovered over a million artifacts from the site, ranging from Native American tools to 20th-century household debris.
The museum grounds feature a variety of heirloom gardens, including an 18th-century vegetable garden and a Victorian-era kitchen garden.
The Shapiro House illustrates the experience of Russian-Jewish immigrants who lived in the neighborhood during the early 20th century.
The museum maintains an active boat shop focused on traditional New England wooden boat building techniques.
Strawbery Banke Museum is a 10-acre outdoor history museum situated in the historic Puddle Dock neighborhood of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The site preserves over 300 years of American history by maintaining original structures on their historic foundations rather than relocating them. Visitors explore furnished houses, craft shops, and heirloom gardens that demonstrate architectural and lifestyle evolution from the late 17th to the mid-20th century. The museum employs costumed role-players who interpret the lives of former residents from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. It serves as an active archaeological site where ongoing excavations continue to reveal data about early colonial settlement. The Puddle Dock area, which was once an inlet, remains a central feature of the landscape layout. The museum is currently fully operational as of July 2026.
The view of the historic Puddle Dock houses from the central pathways, especially with the colonial-era gardens in the foreground.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the site features unpaved paths and historic floorboards.
Check the museum's events calendar for traditional craft demonstrations, which rotate throughout the season.
Allow extra time to walk to the nearby waterfront Prescott Park, which is adjacent to the museum property.
Do not rush through the interiors; the historical context provided by the interpreters is essential to understanding the significance of each home.
Open seasonally from May through October; limited programming and winter-specific activities available from November through March.
Refrain from touching artifacts or furniture; stay on marked paths to protect historic garden beds.
