Explore
Visit Us
The museum at the corner of East Main and Union in Portsmouth, Rhode Island was established in 1938.
Upcoming Events
We host a variety of events throughout the year, including presentations from local authors and tours of local landmarks.
Trolley Tour of Historic Portsmouth
Valley Inn Restaurant | 2221 West Main Road Portsmouth, Rhode Island 02871Join us on Saturday, October 19th for an afternoon of Portsmouth history as we travel through the historic roads of Portsmouth.The tour is $75 per person. Meet us at the Valley Inn…
Aquidneck Island Trolleys
Portsmouth Historical Society | 870 E Main Rd Portsmouth, RI 02871Fresh off our own historic trolley tour, Portsmouth Town Historian Jim Garman will present a lecture on the history of Aquidneck Island trolleys. The first electric trolley line was constructed…
‘The Cursed Sect’: Quakers in Portsmouth During the Colonial Period
Portsmouth Friends Church | 11 Middle Road Portsmouth, Rhode Island 02871Join Stephen Luce on Saturday, November 16th at 1 PM to learn more about the history of the Portsmouth Friends. The Society of Friends, or Quakers as they are more commonly…
2024 Annual Meeting
Portsmouth Historical Society | 870 E Main Rd Portsmouth, RI 02871We hope to see you at our annual meeting and holiday gathering on Thursday, December 5th at 6 PM. We will review accomplishments and events from 2024 and highlight plans…
Benefits of Membership
Becoming a member is easy. You can renew online or by mail.
VIP Admission
Your annual membership includes:
- Admission to our museum
- Admission to all Society events
- Two research appointments
- And more!
Special Discounts
Save 10% or more in Society's gift shop! Become a member today and shop our collection of books, postcards and specially curated reproductions from the Society's archives!
Time Traveler’s Membership
Your PHS Membership includes membership in the national Time Traveler’s network. Enjoy exclusive benefits and privileges at museums and historical sites nationwide.
Visit the Time Traveler's website for more info.
Our Car Tour
Take a cruise through historic Portsmouth, Rhode Island taking in the sights from the "good ol' days". This tour starts at the Old Stone Bridge and ends at Greenvale.
The interactive map below showcases the best route for this tour, with directions to each historic landmark. Click or tap on the markers for more details.
Explore Our Collections
We are open for research!
The Society maintains a broad collection of items that document Portsmouth’s social, religious, political, medical, military, archeological and agricultural heritage. The Society also maintains a collection of general items pertaining to the history of the United States as a whole, as this was an additional focus of the Society’s mission when the Society was first formed.
Thank you to our
Circle Members
These members contributed at or above the Anne Hutchinson Circle giving level during our last fiscal year. These members have gone above and beyond in showing their support for our cause of preserving Portsmouth's history for future generations! Thank you!
Support Our Mission
Your support will help us in our mission to Preserve, Protect, and Promote Portsmouth history. Stewardship of our rich history is the legacy that will provide a lasting impact on our citizens and preserve the unique character of our town.
