Some future historians from the 2nd grade at Highland Charter School in Warren came to visit. The Goodwife (Schoolteacher) talked to them about attending a one-room schoolhouse and they got to ring the old schoolbell. Spending time in the Old Town Hall helped them learn about Portsmouth’s agricultural past and they enjoyed our collection in […]
The Portsmouth Historical Society Museum hosted a remembrance ceremony of the tragic event. On Sunday, October 23, 1983, at about 6:20 a.m., a yellow Mercedes stake-bed truck crashed into the lobby of the barracks of the 1st Battalion 8th Marines before the driver detonated a suicide bomb. The bomb was the equivalent of about 12,000
Oct 23, 2023 – 40th Anniversary of Beirut Marine Barracks Bombing Remembered Read More »
NY Times Best Selling Author to Lecture of the War Between the Colonists and Native Americans NY Times bestselling author Michael Tougias gave a presentation on the war between the Colonists and Native Americans in 1675-76 at the Portsmouth Historical Society on October 19th. Tougias is the author of the acclaimed Until I Have No
Aquidneck Island has been subjected to a number of devastating hurricanes since colonial days. Over 70 people heard Town Historian Jim Garman talk about what it was like in the aftermath of the ‘38 and ‘54 hurricanes on the 85th anniversary of the 1938 hurricane. This lecture included numerous photographs showing the serious damage done to
Sept 21, 2023 – Jim Garman Talks About Hurricanes Read More »
September 10, 2023. The Portsmouth Historical Society sponsored a Family Fun Day at the Museum. The free event included a ’living history’ display in the Society’s 1725 “Southermost” Schoolhouse as well as colonial games with prizes. They met Schoolmaster James Preston who served as the first teacher and lived in the cellar of the school
September 10, 2023 – Family Fun Day at the Museum Read More »
The Society joined the Sakonnet Coastal Bike & Stroll where families, children, and people of all ages and abilities to walk and bike along beautiful Park Ave and The Hummocks in Portsmouth, RI… and to enjoy this 2-mile expanse of coastal road free from motor vehicles. Participants enjoyed the beauty of Island Park and The
September 9, 2023 – PHS Supports Bike and Stroll Event Read More »
Aug 16, 2023 Glen Manor House Celebrates 100 years with a Family-Friendly Open House Over 150 guests celebrated the anniversary of Glen Manor House. They enjoyed live music by local favorite Deja Vu! Food trucks were on site (think Mexican, pizza and Ben & Jerry’s) and many brought a picnic. An exceptional talk on
August 16, 2023 – Glen Manor House Celebrates 100 Years Read More »
William Ellery Channing, the famous early 19th Century Unitarian preacher from Newport and Boston whose liberal philosophy inspired transcendentalists like Emerson and Thoreau, loved his family farm in Portsmouth more than any other place. Throughout his life, he spent entire summers at Oakland Farm, later purchased by the Vanderbilts. Sundays would invariably find him preaching
August 6th,2023 – Lecture on William Ellery Channing Read More »
July 20, 2023 Lecture by Jim Garman ” Steamboats on Narragansett Bay and the Sakonnet River” 70 people attended the lecture at the museun hall. The entire museum was open to visitors and all enjoyed a reception following the lecture. In the 19th Century steam-boating on the Bay and the River was a popular means
June 11 and 25, 2023 -Historical Society Museum Displays Special Flags The Portsmouth Historical Society museum and grounds opened on June 11tha and 25th to display two flags from the Society’s collection to celebrate Flag Day. On display was the Society’s oldest flag that has 13 five-pointed stars. According to the family, the flag came
June 11 and 25, 2023 -Historical Society Museum Displays Special Flags Read More »
