The story
from WikipediaRead it all ↗The first European to explore and write about the area was Martin Pring in 1603. The Piscataqua River is a tidal estuary with a swift current, but forms a good natural harbor. The west bank of the harbor was settled by European colonists in 1630 and named Strawbery Banke, after the many wild strawberries growing there. The village was protected by Fort William and Mary on what is now New Castle Island. Strategically located for trade between upstream industries and mercantile interests abroad, the port prospered. Fishing, lumber and shipbuilding were principal businesses of the region.
Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Timeline
built from the dates on the items belowStart Portsmouth’s collection
The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Portsmouth’s history is told.
0 of 10 decades since 1900 have photos 📦Share a family photoSign in to add one+10Famous people from Portsmouth
See all 38 →Portsmouth, decade by decade
Then & now
When neighbors add old photos, retakes from the same spot appear here side by side.
Historic places
National Register · via WikidataFrom Wikimedia Commons (2) and the National Register (4). Images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.











