Pros: The Museums of Old York was the place I least wanted to visit, but ended up being one of my…read moremost enjoyable. Walking into history with informative displays. Expect to spend at least half a day exploring the different sites and attending tours. Cons: N/A

Great visit. Every employee was a pleasure to talk to. The gift shop has a nice selection. The…read morelittle cafe on site has snacks and cold beverages. This was an actual neighborhood saved from demolititon. Each home is set up for a specific period in time up to the 1950's. I really enjoyed the WWII grocery store. The docent there had lots of very interesting information about grocery shopping during wartime. All together a good experience we would repeat. We left midway through to have lunch nearby and returned to complete the circuit. One of the houses is in an unrestored condition. A blacksmith was on hand during our visit too in his workshop. Private dirt parking lot, clean public restrooms in two locations. Most buildings are not ADA accessible if I remember correctly due to their age, but some are ground level entrance. Pathways throughout are wide, compact dirt or gravel.

This review is for the Thanksgiving-specific tour they give in November which I'm sure is quite…read moredifferent than their in-season tour, but it was fantastic. It was 90 minutes and covered 4 of the houses ranging from a Revolutionary-era tavern serving a local Thanksgiving to a WWII era general store operating on rations gretted by an in character store owner. Despite the bitter cold outside, the houses were decently warm. Our tour guide was fantastic. He answered all questions thoroughly, and we were able to look through the available rooms at our own pace. The tour covered both Thanksgivings through time and also a bit on the history of the museum, how it came to be, and who the people were who lived there. It was well worth visiting again when I can go on a regular tour, but they also have a Christmas light stroll that sounds intriguing. There is a decent-sized parking lot, but it is shared with other businesses, so I recommend coming to an earlier tour to ensure availability. The visitor's center is pretty big with restrooms, snacks for purchase, and a small gift shop. Right now, there is also an ice-skating rink adjacent to the center if you have time. The tour had a few kids on it, and they seemed pretty interested in the presentation. If you love historical sites and even just unique experiences, this is a cool museum to visit.

A fun and interesting way to spend some time in Portsmouth. I visited town during off-season and…read morethis was one of the few tourist attractions still open. Touring the actual sub can be done in 20-30 min. If you're claustrophobic, the first couple areas are tight but it soon opens up. If you have mobility issues, it'll be tough to maneuver. This doesn't take away from my experience but something to consider for others. The attached museum/gift shop is nice and packs in a lot. It's a one time visit for me but glad I went.

This was an amazing experience!! We went on a whim and as someone who knows nothing about…read moresubmarines, I learned so much and it was super engaging. The self guided tour has little speakers with buttons along the way that tells you all about how the ship works and amazing stories from the crew! The inside museum was really cool as well!! There's a periscope inside that you can move around and look all around the area surrounding the building! A documentary about the ship plays on loop inside as well. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful, and they were excited to talk about the submarine! The prices are 1000% worth it and I would totally do this again if I was in the area. They have tons of memorabilia to look at and gifts to buy as well! We will be back!!

If you are a history buff, you have to check out the Portsmouth Athenaeum! The front door is…read moresomewhat hidden but if you walk a little bit up the block from Starbucks you'll find it. Couple flights of stairs or an elevator and you find yourself in the middle of a pretty neat research library. We went to the North End History exhibit and it was super-informative and very interesting. Lots of neat old photos and details about parts of Portsmouth we drive by on a regular basis without realizing their historical significance. Ask for James, ask a few questions, and sit back and laugh as he takes the history of the area and wraps it up in funny and memorable stories and anecdotes. Just a note - finish your food and coffee before visiting. There are some incredibly old books in this place and you don't want to spill!

When I wandered into the Portsmouth Athenaeum I had a Belle from Beauty and the Beast moment. The…read morelibrary is not as grand as Beast's, but there is something magical about being around really, really old books and stuff. We met a man who was working (or was he just hanging out? not sure) there and was nice enough to give us a special tour of the place! He was so knowledgeable about the history of Portsmouth and was so passionate about the town. I saw some really neat artifacts here, including whale vertebrae...which totally made me squeal in excitement. Just take a visit to the Portsmouth Athenaeum and strike up a conversation. You never know what you will discover!

Was not able to go inside the house but glad we were able to enjoy the small garden they had…read moreoutside by the streets and had good viewing of the house. One way to see a historic house for free when youre around the area.

Truly fantastic tour and a must-see while in Portsmouth! We came here because it was raining and we…read morewere seeking an inside thing to do, but it ended up being one of the BEST places we stopped while in Portsmouth. The tour was 1 hour, and they accept both cash or card for admission. It went through each family member that lived in the house, including one of their notable slaves (and later domestic servant), Prince Whipple, who wrote a petition to New Hampshire in 1779 asking to end slavery in the state. Each room included antique furniture and other interesting things to look at. After the tour we explored the garden which was very peaceful. The Moffatt-Ladd House is truly a hidden gem in the heart of Portsmouth. Definitely a must see while you're here.