Portsmouth Historical Society

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Portsmouth Historical Society

The Portsmouth Historical Society is a non-profit devoted to the preservation of Portsmouth history

The Portsmouth Historical Society has worked to preserve the Christian Union Church (1865) as its headquarters and museum by using grants from the Champlin Foundations. The cataloging of items and the creation of exhibits using the various artifacts collected over the past 60 years is an ongoing process. The Southermost School (1725) was moved to the Portsmouth Historical Society site in 1952. It

has been entered on the National Register of Historic Places. The Old Town Hall (c. 1850) was moved to the Portsmouth Historical Society site in 1975. The Board of Directors meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Portsmouth Historical Society Museum. The Portsmouth Historical Society:
Provides programs of interest about Portsmouth to the public;
Has provided assistance with genealogical searches and property identification;
Has provided tours of various historical sites;

06/18/2026

“Jefferson, the Declaration, and American Freedom”

🗓 June 25 | ⏰ 6:30 PM
📍 Portsmouth Historical Society
Historian Fred Zilian explores the origins of the Declaration of Independence, why Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write it, and its lasting impact.
The talk also dives into the meaning of “freedom” — how it has evolved, how Americans interpret it today, and the tensions it creates with other core values.
A thought-provoking discussion you won’t want to miss!
Free & open to the public (donations welcome)
870 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI
Fully accessible
Part of the Portsmouth 250th Celebration

06/17/2026

Elizabeth Barnett Anthony Wilkey shown at 3 years of age and as a Rhode Island School of Design student in the early 20's. A long time Portsmouth art teacher, Elizabeth was the designer of the town seal.

PH3-22
2024.3.1

06/15/2026

🧬 Pocasset Legacies: A Deeper Experience of Home Through All Lines Geneaology

Imagine standing on a patch of ground just a half-mile from your house, knowing your 8th great-grandfather cleared that very land in 1638… or realizing the church you’ve always loved has been part of your family’s spiritual home since the 1840s.
This special lecture explores how tracing your all-lines genealogy back to Portsmouth’s founding families can completely transform the way you experience Aquidneck Island. Turn isolated historical facts into a rich, personal tapestry of stories that span centuries — where family names, streets, ponds, valleys, and gravestones suddenly come alive with meaning.

Whether you’re a longtime island resident or a descendant of early Portsmouth families, you’re invited to this free lecture!

📍 Portsmouth Historical Society
🗓️ Sunday, June 28 at 1:00 PM
Presenter: Christopher Barker, a 12th-generation Aquidneck Island resident who has identified more than 70 direct 17th-century ancestors in the area. With 30 years of research experience and deep expertise in local and diaspora family histories, Christopher volunteers with the Portsmouth Historical Society helping others discover their roots.
If you have any of these early local surnames in your tree, we especially want to hear from you!
Anthony · Aspinwall · Barker · Baulston · Borden · Briggs · Brownell · Carder · Clarke · Coddington · Coggeshall · Cooke · Cornell · Durfee · Easton · Fish · Freeborn · Gorton · Hall · Havens · Hazard · Lawton · Mott · Peckham · Potter · Sanford · Sherman · Slocum · Tripp · and many more.
Come connect with the past, meet fellow researchers, and help build a shared community genealogy database for future generations.

This event is free — donations and memberships to the Portsmouth Historical Society are welcome but not required.

Hope to see you there! Bring your questions, your family stories, and your curiosity. 👏

06/11/2026

The Portsmouth Historical Society Museum reopens for the 2026 season on Sunday, June 14!

Join us on the second and fourth Sundays of each month from 2:00–4:00 PM through September 13.

Explore our 1865 Museum, visit the Southermost Schoolhouse (circa 1725), and tour the Old Town Hall, which features exhibits from our collection of historic farm tools and horse-drawn vehicles.

We look forward to welcoming you back for another season of local history!

06/10/2026

A photo of young Alice Anthony Webb prior to her marriage to Frederick Webb, the co-owner of Cherry & Webb Woman's Clothing Store founded in 1895. To the right, is a photo of Alice out sailing.

From the Hall Collection PH3-15 and PH3-16.

06/09/2026

🚗 New Addition to Our Carriage Collection!

The Portsmouth Historical Society is proud to display this elegant 1906 Standard Oakland Wagon, built by Brewster & Co. Although it resembles a practical farm wagon, it was actually designed as a stylish carriage for wealthy “gentleman farmers.”

The first Oakland Wagon was commissioned by Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt in 1902 for his Oakland Farm. Its popularity led Brewster & Co. to produce additional versions, known as Standard Oakland Wagons, until 1909.

This beautifully crafted vehicle features a folding canvas hood, a rear rumble seat for extra passengers, a brake pedal at the driver’s feet, and even an odometer mounted at the rear—a reminder of the innovation and craftsmanship of the era.

The wagon was recently transferred to the Portsmouth Historical Society as a gift from the Preservation Society of Newport County and is now part of our permanent collection. Come visit when we open for the season on June 14th from 2:00 - 4:00 PM.

06/06/2026

Finding a new home!
This Portland Cutter sleigh, which offers side-by-side seating for two passengers, is painted in the Vanderbilt colors-maroon, bright red, and black- that were used on their sporting vehicles. Built by Studebaker in 1900 provided winter transport for the Vanderbilt family in Newport and Portsmouth.

The sleigh will be on view in the Old Town Hall when we open for the season on June 14th from 2:00 - 4:00 PM.

A gift from the Preservation Society of Newport County.

06/04/2026

“Jefferson, the Declaration, and American Freedom” – A Talk by Fred Zilian

Join the Portsmouth Historical Society on June 25th at 6:30 PM for an engaging lecture exploring the origins and meaning of one of America’s founding documents.
This presentation will examine the historical context behind the Declaration of Independence, the selection of Thomas Jefferson as its primary author, and the process of its composition. It will also explore the document’s significance at the time of its creation.
The talk will then turn to the concept of “freedom”—its enduring presence in American life, how its meaning has evolved throughout history, and the tensions it creates with other national values and principles. Attendees will be invited to reflect on the deeper questions that the idea of freedom continues to raise today.
Fred Zilian, Ph.D., is a retired Army infantry officer and longtime educator who taught history and ethics at Portsmouth Abbey School and Salve Regina University. He is the author of From Confrontation to Cooperation and a frequent lecturer, writer, and historical interpreter, including a one-man performance as Abraham Lincoln.
This talk is free and open to the public although donations are welcome. The Portsmouth Historical Society is located at 870 East Main Road and is handicapped accessible.

06/03/2026

Don’t miss this moving and unforgettable evening of history brought to life.

Join us on June 10 at 6:30 PM at the Portsmouth Historical Society for Women of ’76—a powerful solo performance by Rita Parisi of Waterfall Productions.
Through vivid storytelling and rich costume, you’ll meet the remarkable women who witnessed—and shaped—the Revolution:
• Baroness Frederika von Riedesel
• Prudence Wright
• Nancy Hart
• Mary Katharine Goddard
• Mary Gould Almy
Their stories—patriot and loyalist alike—reveal a deeper, more complex history you won’t find in textbooks.
🎭 Free & open to the public (donations welcome)
📍 870 East Main Road, Portsmouth, RI
♿ Fully accessible

Part of the Portsmouth 250th Celebration

06/01/2026

This painted vegetable cart is in it's new home at the Portsmouth Historical Society. It likely belonged to Cornelius Vanderbilt II (father of Alfred (Oakland Farm) and Reginald (Sandy Point Farm) and is painted the Vanderbilt family livery color, maroon. It was produced by the Newport company Achilles Stevens, probably between 1880-1900. Vegetable carts were used to transport produce and groceries and likely used to deliver to the kitchens at the Vanderbilt family estates in Newport and Portsmouth. Come visit when we open for the season on June 14th from 2:00 - 4:00 PM.

Our thanks to the Preservation Society of Newport County.

Address

870 E Main Road
Portsmouth, RI
02871

Telephone

(401) 683-9178

Website

http://portsmouthhistorical.org/

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