Moffatt-Ladd House & Garden
4.6(92)google
4.2(10)yelp
Date SpotIndoorOutdoorGuided TourEducationalHistoric Building
Overview
The Moffatt-Ladd House, also known as the William Whipple House, is a historic house museum and National Historic Landmark in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. The 1763 Georgian house was the home of William Whipple (1730–1785), a Founding Father, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and Revolutionary War general. The house is now owned by the National Society of Colonial Dames in New Hampshire, and is open to the public.
Practical Info
Mon10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tue10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
WedClosed
Thu10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Fri10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sat10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeSummer (June to August) is spectacular as the mansion's famous tiered English country garden, featuring a 300-foot formal grass aisle and centuries-old heirloom damask roses, is in full bloom. Book a weekday guided tour at 11:00 AM; strong morning sun floods the magnificent hand-carved Georgian grand staircase and rare 1820 Parisian panoramic wallpapers beautifully.
Getting ThereNestled in the heart of downtown Portsmouth at 154 Market Street. Driving requires using municipal facilities: off I-95 Exit 7, follow Market Street south into the shopping grid. The mansion frontage features no public driveway; utilize the high-capacity, secure Hanover Street municipal paid parking garage situated just a 2-minute walk away.
Travel Tips
- This 18th-century Georgian mansion operates exclusively via scheduled guided tours; weekday slots are limited and require a 48-hour digital booking.
- The historic terraced gardens feature unpolished stone steps that become slick with moss post-rain; maintain center footing and avoid unfenced edges.
Photo Tips
Photo Rules
- To preserve the rare imported antique wallpaper and carved wood installations, touching surfaces is illegal and indoor flash photography is banned.
Reviews
Positive
- This Georgian-style historic mansion is visually stunning, preserving a wealth of original period furniture and extremely rare early French wallpapers.
- The English terraced garden behind the house is picture-perfect, featuring century-old trees and manicured florals, offering a quiet oasis in the city.
- The tour guides are top-notch, delivering not just the family history but also an objective narrative about the enslaved people and servants who lived here.
- The historic site is meticulously maintained and restored with clear interpretive markers, making history buffs feel it is fully worth the admission.
Heads up
- The site restricts indoor visits to scheduled guided tours only, meaning visitors cannot freely wander the mansion at their own pace.
- Photography and videography are strictly prohibited inside the house, which is quite disappointing for modern travelers wishing to capture memories.
- The historic building features multiple staircases and no elevator, rendering the upper floors completely inaccessible to wheelchair users.
- The opening hours are quite short and highly seasonal (typically summer to early autumn), making it easy for off-season travelers to miss it.