Explore the connections between Portsmouth and Newburyport - two early American ports linked by family, history, and tragedy.
Join the Museum of Old Newbury for a day-long exploration of the artistic, familial, and maritime links between Newburyport and Portsmouth.
Begin the day at the Cushing House in Newburyport with a snack and a chat with American art specialist Monica Reuss, about two important items in our collection - early 19th century ship portraits painted by Portsmouth artist John Samuel Blunt (1798-1835). We will then depart for Portsmouth for a rare, escorted visit to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNS). Visitors will make their own way from the museum to the USS Albacore Museum in Portsmouth, where we will be picked up by a United States Navy vehicle and driven to the PNS. Transportation to and from Portsmouth is not included with ticket.
As special guests of Joseph Gluckert, Historian of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, we will visit the shipyard cemetery, whose first recorded burial was in 1820. Included are Navy and Marine service men and women, dependents of active military personnel and British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Danish seamen and fliers who lost their lives during WWII. This is followed by a guided tour of the Heritage Center, a museum on the base where we will learn about the tragic sinking of the U.S.S. Thresher, a nuclear submarine that went down 60 years ago with several Newburyport men onboard.
After a break for lunch on your own, our sojourn continues at the Portsmouth Atheneum, a non-profit membership library of over 40,000 volumes and an archive of manuscripts, photographs, objects, and ephemera in the heart of downtown Portsmouth. Executive Director Tom Hardiman will lead us through an exclusive look at some of the highlights of their collection, including more paintings by John Samuel Blunt.
Finally, travel to the 1763 Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden, where we will explore the lives of the people who lived and worked in the house before, during, and after the American Revolution. Hear about enslaved residents' petition for freedom, follow the rise and fall of merchant family fortunes in the volatile 18th century, and see how family conflict shaped the preservation of this National Historic Landmark.
$50, Museum of Old Newbury members only. Limit two tickets per member.
You can join the museum at https://www.newburyhistory.org/membership
If you are unsure if your membership is current, please call the office at 978-462-2681 or email info@newburyhistory.org.
Please note - because of security regulations, registration will close on August 9, and a list will be provided to Navy security. Guests must provide full legal names, addresses, and citizenship status, and provide a valid ID – driver’s license or passport - on the day of the event.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Moffatt-Ladd House, Portsmouth