Mark Wentworth House, historic house in Portsmouth, New Hampshire
The Mark Wentworth House is a mansion built in 1763 on Pleasant Street in Portsmouth, designed in the Georgian style with fine wooden finishes and a symmetrical five-section facade. The structure features a hip roof, decorative cornice with modillions, and well-preserved interior elements including fireplaces and original wallpaper with paper-mâché borders imported in 1774.
The house was built in 1763 by merchant Henry Appleton and soon passed to Mark Hunking Wentworth, whose son John became Royal Governor of New Hampshire in 1767. After John's departure at the start of the American Revolution, the property changed ownership several times until Ebenezer Wentworth repurchased it in 1810.
The house is named after Mark Wentworth, a later owner who transformed it in the early 1900s into a place of care. This reflects how Portsmouth's prominent families used their homes and resources to serve their community over time.
The house is located near downtown Portsmouth and is easily accessible on foot to view its historic exterior. Those interested in tours or more details should contact Wentworth Senior Living, which may offer visits depending on availability.
Bullet holes still visible in the mantel of the front sitting room mark periods of unrest in the house's past. The Museum Room displays a rare piece of imported red-flocked wallpaper with paper-mâché borders from 1774, reflecting the elegance once enjoyed by the original residents.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
