Portsmouth historic sites 2024 Twilight Tour to celebrate 'Flames of Revolution'

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Historic Sites Associates announces the return of their annual Twilight Tour on Friday, Aug. 9, from 4-8 p.m. This year’s theme, “Flames of Revolution,” pays homage to the events that led to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which the United States will celebrate with its 250th anniversary in 2026.

The event will showcase several participating sites, each offering unique insights into the city’s rich history. Tickets are priced at $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under in advance. Prices rise to $25 for adults and $12 for children on the day of the event. Tickets can be purchased at PortsmouthHistoric.org/events.

"The Twilight Tour celebrates our local heritage and invites visitors to explore Portsmouth's pivotal role in shaping our nation's history, said Stephanie Rohwer Hewson, PHSA president and site manager at the Warner House. “As we approach the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, it’s crucial to remember and honor the revolutionary spirit that ignited our quest for freedom. This event provides a unique opportunity to connect with the past and reflect on the enduring impact of those revolutionary flames."

Attendees of the Twilight Tour can explore interiors, gardens, and grounds, and enjoy special programs at each participating site. All proceeds from the event will support ongoing cooperative efforts among PHSA member organizations.

Highlights include:

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• Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, 222 Court Street:Explore 'Gordon's Back: Delusions and Context,' an interactive exhibition by Boston artist Nadroj Nina Holmes, debuting in New Hampshire. Holmes's work, rooted in the living history of Black liberation movements, reimagines the historical figure Gordon, also known as Whipped Peter, transforming his image from a symbol of chattel slavery into a thought-provoking representation of present-day discourse.
• The Gundalow Company, Prescott Park on Water Street:Experience a river cruise aboard an 1880s Gundalow reproduction and learn about the region’s maritime heritage. With a Twilight Tour ticket, book any regular Harbor or Sunset Sail on the Gundalow in Portsmouth, NH at half price.
• Historic New England’s Governor John Langdon House, 143 Pleasant Street:Explore the home and learn about the revolutionary spirit and patriotic actions of John Langdon, a three-term governor of New Hampshire, a Revolutionary leader, and a signer of the United States Constitution.
• Historic New England’s Rundlet-May House, 364 Middle Street:Tour the first floor and explore the revolutionary technologies and sumptuous decor of the Rundlet-May family’s showhouse.
• Historic New England’s Jackson House, 76 Northwest Street:Explore the oldest surviving English timber frame home in New Hampshire and learn how the site inspired a groundbreaking historic preservation philosophy.
• Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden, 154 Market Street:Visit this Georgian mansion built in 1763 by the Moffatt family, which later became home to a signer of the Declaration of Independence and two signers of the 1779 Petition of Freedom.
• Portsmouth Historical Society’s John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle Street:Tour the John Paul Jones House to explore the crucial decisions American colonists faced regarding liberty, independence, and democracy, with Revolutionary-era artifacts, including those related to Washington, Lafayette, George III, and John Paul Jones, on display.
• Strawbery Banke Museum’s William Pitt Tavern, 14 Hancock Street:Explore the William Pitt Tavern, the colonial tavern built in 1766 by John Stavers, which was a key stop for the Flying Stage Coach between Portsmouth and Boston, and a gathering place for both Patriots and Loyalists.
• Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion, 375 Little Harbor Road:Discover this mid-eighteenth-century home of Royal Governor Benning Wentworth, where Wentworth’s widow entertained George Washington for tea in 1789.
• Wentworth-Gardner House, 50 Mechanic Street:Visit what is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture, and the former home of the influential Wentworth Family, including John Wentworth, the colony's last royal governor.
• The Warner House, 150 Daniel Street:Explore the first floor, where tours will highlight the Loyalist side of the American Revolution, offering insights into what Jonathan Warner, a member of the Royal Council, thought about the unrest in Portsmouth in the years leading up to the Revolution.

Each Twilight Tour ticket grants admission to all participating sites on the evening of the event. Tickets remain valid for the remainder of the 2024 season for admission to most sites, allowing flexibility for attendees unable to attend on August 9th. Note that Historic New England offers a $1 discount on ticket prices for those who present a Twilight Tour ticket upon arrival to the Langdon, Jackson House, and Rundlet-May Houses through mid-October.

The self-guided tour permits visits to sites in any order, with most located within walking distance in downtown Portsmouth. Transportation and parking are the responsibility of ticket holders.

Proceeds from the Twilight Tour support the collaborative programming efforts of PHSA, celebrating its 77th year of promoting public history initiatives.