Wentworth-Gardner House, Georgian residential museum in Portsmouth, United States
The Wentworth-Gardner House is a Georgian residence in Portsmouth with a balanced facade of five bays, smooth wooden siding, and stone-like corner details that show craftsmanship and wealth. Inside, rooms feature carved mantels, decorative plasterwork, and imported furnishings from the colonial era.
A wealthy merchant built this house in 1760 as a wedding gift for his son, making it one of Portsmouth's finest homes of that era. The residence survived into modern times and became a symbol of colonial prosperity in New Hampshire.
The southeast parlor displays carved woodwork with Corinthian details, while handblocked wallpaper from a Paris company decorates the dining room. These rooms reflect the refinement of the family who lived here.
The house is located on Mechanic Street in the downtown area and is open during the warmer half of the year on limited days. Plan your visit ahead of time since tours are guided and schedules can vary with the seasons.
A major New York museum bought the property in 1918 wanting to move it to the city, but local preservation efforts stopped that plan. The house remained in Portsmouth and became a testament to how communities can save their architectural treasures.
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