PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth Historic Sites Associates (PHSA) presents its annual Twilight Tour on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, from 4 to 8 p.m. In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, the self-guided tour invites visitors to explore Portsmouth’s historic places and encounter the people, events, and ideas connected to the nation’s founding and evolving story.

Historic sites across Portsmouth will open for a special evening of tours, exhibitions, programs, and after-hours access to historic interiors, gardens, and grounds.

Advance tickets are $25 for adults and $12 for children. Day-of tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children. Tickets and event details are available at PortsmouthHistoric.org/events.

“As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, the Twilight Tour offers a meaningful opportunity to explore Portsmouth’s place within the broader American story,” said Stephanie Rohwer Hewson, PHSA president and site manager at the Warner House. “Each participating organization brings a different perspective, inviting visitors to consider the people, choices, and experiences that influenced Portsmouth and the nation.”

Participating sites include:

• Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, 222 Court St.:
  Visit the small exhibition "Threads of Freedom:  African Textile Traditions, Women's Labor, and the Story of Betty and Ona." Enjoy the new commemorative mural of Ona Judge installed this past May.
   

• Historic New England’s Langdon House, 143 Pleasant St.:
  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 St.:
  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 St.:
  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 St.:
  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 Athenaeum, 9 Market St.:
  Connect with a centuries-old tradition of learning at the Portsmouth Athenæum, a membership library open to all who seek knowledge and community. With more than 40,000 volumes, extensive local archives, exhibitions, and public programs, the Athenæum encourages reflection on the past and its relevance today.
   

• Portsmouth Historical Society’s John Paul Jones House, 43 Middle St.:
  Tour "Revolutionary Portsmouth" to explore the turbulent years of the 1760s and 1770s, and the many questions and choices our citizens faced at the time. Patriot or Loyalist? Liberty for whom? See how the Revolution and our "founding fathers"  have been remembered in popular culture produced during the Centennial and Bicentennial eras. 
   

• Strawbery Banke Museum’s William Pitt Tavern, 416 Court St., Portsmouth, NH:
  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. Pitt Tavern is the only Strawbery Banke building open on 8/14. Complimentary parking for Twilight Tour attendees visiting Strawbery Banke is available in the Museum’s main parking lot at 14 Hancock Street during the event.
   

• The Warner House, 150 Daniel St.:
  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.
   

• Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion, 375 Little Harbor Road:
  Discover the mid-eighteenth-century home of Royal Governor Benning Wentworth, where George Washington stopped briefly during his 1789 visit to Portsmouth.
   

• Wentworth-Gardner House, 50 Mechanic St.:
  Visit one of the finest surviving examples of Georgian architecture and the former home of the influential Wentworth, Nichols, and Gardner families. 

Each Twilight Tour ticket grants admission to all participating sites during the evening. Tickets also remain valid for the remainder of the 2026 season for admission to most participating sites, providing additional flexibility for guests who are unable to visit every location during the event. Additional restrictions or admission policies may apply at select sites.  Please check www.PortsmouthHistoric.org/events for details. 

The self-guided format allows guests to visit participating locations in any order, with most sites located within walking distance of one another in downtown Portsmouth. Transportation and parking are the responsibility of ticket holders.

Proceeds from the Twilight Tour support the collaborative programming and public history efforts of PHSA member organizations.

About Portsmouth Historic Sites Associates

Founded in 1947, Portsmouth Historic Sites Associates is a consortium of public history organizations dedicated to preserving local history and bringing enriching programs to the community. Member organizations include the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, Gundalow Company, Historic New England, Moffatt-Ladd House and Garden, Portsmouth Athenaeum, Strawbery Banke Museum, Portsmouth Historical Society, USS Albacore Park, Warner House Association, Wentworth-Gardner Association, and the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion.

For tickets, a current list of participating sites, and additional information, visit PortsmouthHistoric.org/events.