Using New Hampshire's History to Connect Communities
The stories we haven’t heard shape the connections we’re missing. Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire brings those stories to life, helping us uncover a more complete and truthful history. From walking tours led by our expert Sankofa Scholars to interactive events and self-guided explorations, every experience inspires understanding, belonging, and action. Join us in creating bonds of understanding for stronger, more inclusive communities.
Sobering and eye-opening, the Black Heritage Trail forces us to question those we have traditionally considered heroes, and to elevate those who have been marginalized instead.
Programs
More Than Just a Trail
Black New England Conference
Juneteenth Celebration
Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks Series
Frederick Douglas Statewide Readings
The Black Matter is Life Poetry Series
Spring Symposium
Upcoming Events
Port of Entry: Boys and Girls for Sale
Tour Guide: Nur Shoop
Navigate the streets of Portsmouth and gain a news perspective on a history often left untold.
Led by our high school Sankofa Scholars, this powerful walking tour centers the lives of enslaved children—boys and girls whose youth did not protect them from being bought, sold, or forced into labor.
As you visit the waterfront, wharves, and auction sites connected to the Atlantic Slave Trade, you’ll hear stories that reveal how young many were when their lives were defined by exploitation—traded for “cash or good lumber” and forced to serve in homes, on docks, and at sea.
What makes this experience especially moving is who tells the story. Our youth guides bring forward the voices of children from the past, creating a powerful connection across generations and inviting deeper reflection on freedom, humanity, and responsibility.
This is not just a history lesson—it is a shared moment of truth-telling, led by the next generation.
Meeting Place: BHTNH Headquarters | 222 Court Street, Portsmouth, NH.
Meet Jack Staines, a “Black Jack” in Historic Old Portsmouth
Sankofa Scholar & Tour Guide: Garrett Walker
Step onto Portsmouth’s waterfront and into the world of Black mariners who found both opportunity and uncertainty on the open sea.
Between 1740 and 1865, seafaring offered one of the few paths to independence for Black men, both enslaved and free. Some were forced into labor aboard ships, while others seized the chance to earn wages, travel the world, and claim a measure of freedom beyond the constraints of life on land.
On this immersive walking tour, you’ll encounter the story of Jack Staines, a Black mariner whose life intersected with one of the most remarkable freedom stories in American history—his wife, Ona Judge Staines, who escaped enslavement by George and Martha Washington.
As you move through Portsmouth’s historic streets and along its waterfront, you’ll experience the city through the eyes of those who lived between land and sea, navigating danger, opportunity, and the constant question of freedom. This is a story of risk, resilience, and the search for independence in a world that offered few safe harbors.
Join the tour and discover how the sea shaped the lives of Portsmouth’s Black mariners.
Meeting Place: BHTNH Headquarters | 222 Court Street, Portsmouth, NH.
Lives Bound Together: The Washingtons & Ona Marie Judge in NH
Sankofa Scholar & Tour Guide: Sonya Arroyo
This tour follows the extraordinary story of Ona Marie Judge, a young woman enslaved by George and Martha Washington who made the courageous decision to free herself rather than remain in bondage to America’s First Family.
In the spring of 1796, Ona left the Washingtons’ executive mansion in Philadelphia with help from the city’s free Black community. She journeyed north to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she would build a new life amid the constant threat of capture.
As you walk through Portsmouth’s historic streets, you’ll trace Ona’s path to freedom, beginning at the harbor where she arrived and continuing through the neighborhoods and homes connected to some of the nation’s most prominent families.
Along the way, you will learn about the President's relentless efforts to capture her, and explore the networks of resistance, courage, and community that helped sustain her freedom.
Meeting Place: BHTNH Headquarters | 222 Court Street, Portsmouth, NH.
Tours
Visit Historic Sites
Sankofa Scholar Guided Walking Tours
Discover the real, unbiased history with one of our signature guided tours conducted by a well-trained, experienced guide.
Self-Guided Tours
Take a self-guided audio tour to learn about Portsmouth’s Black heritage, right on your phone.
Expanded Walking Tours
Expanded walking tours extend beyond Portsmouth to historic locations across New England.
Virtual Tours
Experience New Hampshire's Black history from the comfort of your home.
Private Tours
Looking for a more personalized experience? Request a guided tour for your group.
Explore
Marker Sites
Visit Black history marker sites throughout New Hampshire.
NH Black History Stories
Read about little known historic figures from New Hampshire's African American community.
Educational Resources
Engage with materials for educators, students, and families to facilitate learning about Black history.
Preserve Black History in New Hampshire