Strawbery Banke, Open-air museum in Portsmouth, United States
Strawbery Banke is an open-air museum in Portsmouth that displays more than 40 historic buildings from the colonial period through the 19th century across roughly 10 acres. The houses remain on their original sites and recreate an old waterfront neighborhood where several eras coexist side by side.
The settlement began in 1630 as a British colony on the shore of the Piscataqua River and took its name from the wild strawberries growing along the riverbank. The neighborhood grew quickly into a trading center for shipbuilding and fishing before narrowly escaping demolition in the 20th century.
Artisans in period clothing demonstrate old techniques such as cooperage, textile work, and blacksmithing inside original workshops. These demonstrations take place year-round and offer insight into the daily work of former residents.
The visit is best done on foot, as paths between buildings are short and well marked. In winter the ice rink at Puddle Dock Pond opens while most houses remain accessible only during warmer months.
Each garden grows only plants that match the period of its accompanying house, from colonial herbs to Victorian ornamental species. Some visitors spend hours comparing these historic plots and tracking changes in gardening practice over time.
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