Strawbery Banke Museum

Nestled in the historic recesses of Portsmouth, Strawbery Banke is one of the city's much favored outdoor museums. Sheltering an ensemble of antiquated buildings, this sprawling museum is like a canvas of living history centered around the lives and times of those who formerly inhabited the neighborhood (Strawbery Banke, or Puddle Dock, is the name of the neighborhood that encompassed this area from 1630 to the 1950s). The courtly Bailey House is one of the many museum's many structures, bearing intermingling of colonial, Federal and Georgian architectural styles. The area was named for the delicious, bright red fruit which grew on the banks of the Piscataqua River. Today, the museum is home to thousands of artifacts, exhibits and activities which further throw light on the rich and flourishing culture which once was. A centerpiece of history, architecture, culture and traditions, Strawbery Banke reminisces the heritage of the erstwhile Puddle Dock neighborhood.