YOU ARE HERE
Welcome to the independent history portal for Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and the seacoast region. This new website contains hundreds of my best features from decades of web, newspaper, and magazine columns, plus guest posts, bonus content, and fresh new blogs. “America’s Smallest Seacoast” (sm) is only 18 miles long, but rich in history, arts, and culture. Brought to you with no paywalls, no jittery video ads, no pop-ups or subscription fees. How do I do it? You tell your friends, buy my books, become an annual sponsor, and visit my advertisers. Now let’s get going.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J. DENNIS ROBINSON is a former educator and creative service provider. He is the author of 20 books and a couple of thousand published articles. He hasn’t had a boss since 1982. Dennis lives by the swirling Piscataqua River within sight of Maine. He has a mortgage, but no pets, and not enough plants.
A LITTLE BACKGROUND
This new history portal is the offspring of SeacoastNH.com, which launched on January 1, 1997 with the late great Tim Dubque. The plucky little site grew and grew, but never earned a nickel. Back at the dawn of the Internet, it was attracting millions of unique visitors annually. We were alive before Google and Facebook in the dawning days of dial-up. Remember the dot-com bubble? We survived it. But the original software grew cranky and smelly, and our connections began to fray. Portsmouth no longer resembles 1977, and neither do we. It was time, after 30 years, for the next software generation to take over. Getting here took six months of all-nighters. Hoping to hit 1,000 original blogs this year; already over the halfway hump. We have three more history sections on the drawing board, a possible newsletter, and a zillion more story ideas for you. So again, spread the word.
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MEET OUR SPONSORS
Seacoast Science Center
Seacoast Science Center is a non-profit marine science education organization located within Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, New Hampshire.
Portsmouth Athenaeum
Membership libraries were first created in the 18th century for the mutual edification of their members and to elevate the educational resources available in the community.
Piscataqua Savings Bank
Piscataqua Savings Bank has proudly served the Seacoast since 1877, prioritizing our customers and our community.
The Music Hall
In 1878, The Music Hall opened its doors as a Vaudeville theater, bringing a fresh cultural vibrancy to the city of Portsmouth.
NH Humanities
New Hampshire Humanities connects people and ideas by funding and supporting statewide programs that inspire curiosity, foster civil dialogue, and explore big questions.
Wentworth by the Sea
Since 1874, Wentworth by the Sea’s iconic facade and towering turrets have welcomed guests to the island of New Castle near Portsmouth. This 150-year-old New Hampshire resort has famously hosted presidents and dignitaries, and it continues its tradition today as a serene space for weekend getaways, corporate conferences, and celebrations of all kinds.
Strawbery Banke Museum
Strawbery Banke Museum tells the story of the neighborhood called Puddle Dock. Today Strawbery Banke is unique among outdoor history museums, sharing change over time in the same waterfront neighborhood.
Portsmouth Historical Society
Founded in 1917, the Portsmouth Historical Society opened the John Paul Jones House as a museum in 1920. In addition to enjoying the museum, visitors can join a walking tour, browse the gift shop, or take part in one of their many public programs.