About Us
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.
Upcoming Events
War and Belonging: Black Soldiers of Portsmouth
Sankofa Scholar & Tour Guide: Bob Sheppard
Join Sankofa Scholar Bob Sheppard, son of a Tuskegee Airman, for a powerful new walking tour exploring the legacy of Black military service from the Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War era.
Walk the streets of Portsmouth as you uncover the story of Prince Whipple, who fought for freedom during the American Revolution; hear about the imprisonment of Harvey and Daniels at the Navy Yard during the Vietnam War; and learn about Rosary Cooper’s vital contributions on the home front during World War II.
Led by a guide with a personal legacy of military service, this story-driven tour invites you to reflect on the meaning of service, sacrifice, and belonging.
Be among the first to experience this new tour—reserve your spot today.
Meeting Place: BHTNH Headquarters, 222 Court St, Portsmouth, NH
Ain't She A Woman: Let Me Tell You Her Story
Sankofa Scholar & Tour Guide: Valerie Fagin
Can you imagine the hustle and bustle of a prosperous colonial seaport town?
Step into that world on this engaging walking tour that centers on the lives of African-born and African American women who shaped Portsmouth across generations.
Through powerful storytelling, you’ll encounter women who, despite enslavement and systemic racism, fought for justice, defied a sitting U.S. president, and educated generations of children—leaving a lasting mark on this community.
Walk the streets where their lives unfolded, hear their stories, and celebrate the resilience, courage, and determination revealed in our shared seacoast his/herstory.
Join the tour and experience the stories of women who helped shape Portsmouth
Meeting Place: BHTNH Headquarters | 222 Court Street, Portsmouth, NH.
Not a Slave, yet not Free: Harriet E. Wilson and the Abolition Movement
Sankofa Scholar & Tour Guide: David Nelson
Town: Milford, NH
Long before her name became known in literary history, Harriet E. Wilson was navigating life in the small town of Milford, New Hampshire.
Wilson, the first known African American to publish a novel on the North American continent, transformed the pain and injustice of her early life into Our Nig (1859), a groundbreaking work that challenged the belief that racism and exploitation were confined to the South.
Born free but bound to indentured servitude until age 18, Harriet endured a childhood marked by labor, instability, and exclusion. This moving tour traces the places connected to her life as a child-servant, young mother, widow, and writer—revealing the experiences that shaped her voice and legacy.
Along the way, you’ll learn about Harriet’s only son, George, whose tragic death in a poorhouse reflected the harsh realities she struggled to overcome. You’ll also discover how Wilson later reinvented herself as a Spiritualist and public lecturer, earning a living by telling her story on her own terms.
Beginning in downtown Milford, the tour concludes at the Harriet Wilson Memorial—the first life-size public statue in New Hampshire dedicated to commemorating a Black person.
This is more than a literary history. It is the story of a woman who refused to disappear.
Meeting Place: The Oval in Milford, NH.
Tours
Tour 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.
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
Explore
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Marker Sites
Visit Black history marker sites throughout New Hampshire.
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NH Black History Stories
Read about little known historic figures from New Hampshire's African American community.
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Educational Resources
Engage with materials for educators, students, and families to facilitate learning about Black history.
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.
Preserve Black History in New Hampshire