Portsmouth Historical Society's John Paul Jones House
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IndoorEducationalHistoric BuildingMilitary
Overview
The John Paul Jones House is a historic house at 43 Middle Street in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Now a historic house museum and a National Historic Landmark, it is where American Revolutionary War naval hero John Paul Jones, resided from 1781 to 1782 when it was operated as a boarding house. He also lived in a home in Fredericksburg, Virginia, on Caroline Street, owned by his brother.
Practical Info
Every day10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration1-2 hours
Best TimeBest visited Thursday through Monday right at 11:00 AM opening from May to October. Housed inside a gorgeous 1758 Gambrel-roofed Georgian manor where the American Revolutionary naval hero rented rooms, early morning hours grant you quiet galleries to examine rare historic naval cutlasses, colonial textiles, and maritime logbooks under crisp, clear morning sunbeams.
Getting ThereSituated in the historic downtown grid corner at 43 Middle Street, Portsmouth. Driving is simple: off I-95 Exit 7, follow Market Street south, and curve right into Middle Street at the State Street junction. The yellow historic landmark sits bounded by extensive free 2-hour parallel public street parking spaces along the frontage and adjacent side streets.
Travel Tips
- The historic structure enforces a zero-liquids security policy; bottled water, coffee, open snacks, and wet wipes are banned past the threshold.
- No private parking infrastructure exists at the property; tourists must rely on municipal street meters which cap completely on weekday afternoons.
- Built in 1758, the interior wood frames lack acoustic dampening; silencing all mobile devices is required, and loud speech or selfie poles are barred.
Reviews
Positive
- For those interested in the American Revolutionary War and naval history, the artifact collection is authentic and brings you close to the naval hero's legacy.
- Operated by the Portsmouth Historical Society, the passionate staff and volunteer docents share many lesser-known, vivid historical anecdotes.
- Located in the heart of downtown, the exterior is a beautifully classic yellow wooden house with clear historical markers, perfect for a walking history tour.
- The ticket includes comprehensive exhibitions on local history beyond just naval affairs, covering the community evolution of Portsmouth at a fair price.
Heads up
- The historic interior is quite dimly lit and lacks modern air conditioning to protect artifacts, making it hot and stuffy on summer afternoons.
- The exhibits rely heavily on traditional text, images, and glass display cases, lacking modern interactive multimedia, which can bore young children.
- Its downtown location means the mansion has no dedicated parking lot; visitors must hunt for expensive and time-limited metered street parking.
- The staircases are narrow and there are uneven thresholds throughout the house, making it very inaccessible for wheelchair users.