History of Portsmouth
Portsmouth, the largest coastal city in the state of New Hampshire, is home to over 20,000 people and a very rich history. Much of the city is made up of preserved 17th century buildings.
Before pilgrims arrived in America, the Piscataqua Indians inhabited what is now Portsmouth. A strong river mouth was an excellent place for the Indians to fish, and the sides of the river were saturated with strawberries. In 1630, ten years after the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts, a boat was sent up the coast of the Atlantic and stopped at the lush grounds of the Piscataqua River. The first settlement was named Strawberry Banke to pay homage to the fruit growing along the river banks.
The Piscataqua River was an ideal canal for logging and merchant ships to travel between the areas of inland New Hampshire and settlements along the Atlantic Coast. Over time, Portsmouth grew as a hub for these passing ships. The city was renamed Portsmouth after Portsmouth, England due to the similarities between the cities. Puritans, looking for refuge, came from all over and set up house in Portsmouth.
During the Revolutionary War, Portsmouth was a stop on Paul Revere’s famous trip to let residents know that the British were coming. However, it was not host to a battle: English ships moved north to what is now Portland, Maine. Nevertheless, the port grew in popularity for ships passing by and was a home for many wealthy Americans. Several houses in the center of the city have been converted to museums that display the rich owners’ estates.
Throughout the 19th century, Portsmouth enjoyed its image of a successful port city. However, the industrial revolution changed the economic climate in the city. Many inland cities saw the arrivals of manufacturing plants and Portsmouth no longer became necessary to the transport of goods. In addition, shipbuilding, which was a large part of the city’s economy, was moved to the non-coastal cities that could handle faster production. As a result, Portsmouth took a hit. Another blow was issued with the invention of steamships, which Portsmouth didn’t have the expertise to build. Luckily, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which was established in 1808 was able to survive and is still open today.
In addition to the Naval Shipyard, Pease Air Force Base was built to increase the military presence in Portsmouth in 1956. It was a frequently used base until 1991, when funding for the military in the United States was vastly decreased. The closing of Pease was initially thought to be a problem, but the city’s industries readjusted. Today, Portsmouth is an excellent tourist destination and location for high-tech companies.
Economy of Portsmouth
Big employers in Portsmouth were initially military in nature, considering the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Pease Air Force Base were both in the vicinity. In earlier years, many believed Portsmouth was a rather unattractive city to visit. When Pease Air Force Base closed, the city went through a significant revitalization. Market Street became a popular spot for unique retail stores and restaurants. Strawberry Bank is right nearby, so visitors to Portsmouth have a number of places to spend money in a small area.
Although Pease Air Force Base closed, the facilities remain intact and have been used to make up a new aircraft stop called Pease International Tradeport. This new development has about 150 businesses and thousands of employees. The runway is used by many regional airlines. Along the outside of the Tradeport is a section of land made up of many high-tech businesses, including Lonza Biologics, which is a major employer in pPortsmouth.
Although much of Portsmouth’s recognition around New Hampshire is based on its tourism and large shipyard, its roots as a port along the Atlantic Ocean still remain. Plenty of goods including building material and scrap metal are imported and exported from Portsmouth. Although it’s far from being the biggest port on the US side of the Atlantic, Portsmouth manages about five million tons of cargo per year.
Portsmouth Attractions
Portsmouth has one of the longest recorded histories in the state of New Hampshire. Many tourists visit Portsmouth to visit Strawberry Banke, a settlement formed in 1630. The stretch of land contains many of the houses that were built for the settlement, some of which have converted to museums devoted to the display of how the first visitors lived. Like other New England port cities, Portsmouth is the home to a very old lighthouse. Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse was built in 1771 and offers tours between May and September.
Just north of Strawberry Banke is Market Square. A plethora of unique shops, hip restaurants and prominent firms populate the area around Market Street. Further inland, the Fox Run Mall and shopping outlets in neighboring Kittery Maine are excellent places to find good sale items.
Those interested in learning about Portsmouth’s deep naval associations can explore the USS Albacore, a grounded submarine that was used for testing. Inside are authentic instruments and living quarters to observe and tour through.
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