PORTSMOUTH — Strawbery Banke Museum, a member of the New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trail, is offering guests behind-the-scenes guided tours that explore early maritime history in New Hampshire on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through October.
“These tours are really exciting,” said Strawbery Banke Museum Executive Director Linnea Grim. “We want guests to step into the past, literally, in a neighborhood that shaped the region’s history.”
On tour, visitors will pass into a historic maritime trade hub, the Puddle Dock neighborhood, and will gain “exclusive access” to the Sherburne House (1695) and the Chase House (1762). Lasting approximately an hour, tours invite guests to pass behind museum barriers and handle reproduction objects.
“It’s an opportunity for guests to ask questions and interact with over 300 years of history while enjoying our vibrant campus,” added Grim.
For New Hampshire Heritage Museum Trial President Jeff Barraclough, these behind-the-scenes guided tours represent the kind of innovative experiences possible throughout The Trail. “These immersive experiences get people interested in history,” he said. “This is an excellent addition to The Trail.”
This year, Strawbery Banke Museum was recognized as one of the top 10 best open air museums in the country by USA Today. In addition to these tours, Grim noted they have recently expanded exhibits on Abenaki history and sea level rise.
“We are also hosting the New England BIPOC Fest on Sunday, Aug. 18, and holding our 36th annual Vintage and Vine event on Thursday, Sept. 12,” she said. “We’re excited to welcome lots of guests this summer and fall.”
For more information about the behind-the-scenes guided tour at Strawbery Banke Museum, visit www.strawberybanke.org.
In addition to Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, member institutions on The Trail are located in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, Merrimack Valley, and Seacoast. To learn more about any member institution, visit www.nhmuseumtrail.org.