Settled in 1623 about two miles from the mouth of the Piscataqua river, Portsmouth is the country's third oldest city. Having served as the capitol of colonial New Hampshire, a military training area, host to some of America's most revered politicians and statesmen, and home to New Hampshire's Colonial legislature, Portsmouth's history is deep and complex.

Drawn by the region's fish and timber, and the deep-water port, the earliest colonists decided to settle along the west bank of the Piscataqua. They called their newly settled town Strawbery Banke, named for the thick growth of wild berries that grew on the bank of the river. In the first few years of its existence, the tiny colony grew and flourished. In 1641, along with the other New Hampshire towns of Dover, Hampton, and Exeter, the town was swallowed by the growing Massachusetts Bay Colony. In 1653 Strawbery Banke petitioned the Massachusetts General Court for permission to change its name to Portsmouth. The request was granted.

Many of the members of the Massachusets Bay Colony who began coming to Portsmouth had deep experience in trade, were good leaders, and had access to capital. Consequently, Portsmouth ceased to be the small, self-sufficient community it had always been, and quickly became one of the most important commercial centers of colonial America. In 1679, New Hampshire was taken away from Massachusetts and made a royal colony.

During the Eighteenth-century, trade became the most important facet of Portsmouth's economy, providing the capital for the building of mansions, houses, wharves, and warehouses, many of which you can still see downtown. Additionally, Portsmouth's citizenry was of a very cosmopolitan nature, having strolled the streets of Boston and New York, and visited far-off cities such as London, Lisbon, Cadiz, and Barcelona. As a result, while society ran the gamut from common to polite, each neighborhood included members of every social stratum. People of all classes lived and worked alongside one another. This Eighteenth-century, enlightened social integration is one of the roots of Portsmouth's contemporary progressive nature.

The Nineteenth-century brought enormous changes to Portsmouth. Because of President Thomas Jefferson's general embargo on foreign trade in 1807 and the War of 1812, trade in Portsmouth came virtually to a standstill. However, rather than merely weathering the bad economic times, Portsmouth decided to shift its economy from trade to shipbuilding and manufacturing. However, while it enjoyed renown as one of the great shipbuilding communities in America, Portsmouth's economy did not significantly improve.

In 1905, the Treaty of Portsmouth was signed at the Navy Yard to end the Russo-Japanese war, reviving Portsmouth's national recognition. The Navy Yard became a key element in Portsmouth's economy, providing employment for many residents, and was a site for extensive submarine design and construction. Additionally, Portsmouth continued to be well-known for its inclusive nature, boasting a thriving ethnic community with immigrants from Sweden, Germany, Ukraine, Russia, Ireland, and Scotland, among other places. This rich social fabric contributed greatly to the Portsmouth of today.

Also in the early Twentieth-century, there arose an interest in the preservation of Portsmouth's historic areas, spawning two very important projects: Prescott Park and the Strawbery Banke Museum. In the 1930's, two local residents, Josie and Sarah Prescott, felt that something needed to be done about the sordid nature of certain parts of Portsmouth. So, the sisters purchased the waterfront property that was home to the bordellos, saloons, and crumbling, abandoned warehouses, and created a public park. This park now features extensive flower gardens, demonstration beds, and is the host to the annual Prescott Park Arts Festival. However, the movement to preserve and beautify Portsmouth was far from over.

In 1957, a Portsmouth librarian named Dorothy M. Vaughan gave a stirring speech to the local Rotary Club. In her address she explained that the destruction of the oldest areas of Portsmouth was working irreparable damage on the town - Portsmouth was losing its sense of history and its connection to the past. Greatly inspired by her words, a committee of dedicated citizens was formed to see what could be done to save Portsmouth's heritage. The result of their efforts was the Strawbery Banke Museum, a private, not-for-profit educational institution, dedicated to the preservation of Portsmouth's colonial history.

Strolling the streets of present day Portsmouth, one cannot help but notice the many by-products of the area's rich and dynamic history - cultural diversity, strong economy, and progressive nature. We at Case Strategy, privileged to be part of such a marvelous town, are grateful for those who have committed themselves to preserving Portsmouth's history. Because of the hard work of such enthusiastic preservers as the Prescotts, Ms. Vaughan, and their successors, modern-day residents are provided an exciting and gracious community in which to live.

Check out some areas of local and historic interest:

• Portsmouth Children’s Museum – www.childrens-museum.org
• Sandy Point Discovery Museum – www.greatbay.org
• Seacoast Science Center – www.seacentr.org
• Strawbery Banke – www.strawberybanke.org