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
Celebratory Bus Tour Honoring America's 250th!
Sankofa Scholars & Tour Guides: Barbara Rimkunas & Barbara Ward
Towns: Portsmouth, Newmarket & Exeter, NH
Bus Tour Cost: $55
Join the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, in partnership with the Independence Museum and the Exeter Historical Society, for a moving, immersive exploration of New Hampshire’s Black Revolutionary War history.
The morning begins in Portsmouth with an opening ceremony and a musket salute, grounding us in the revolutionary moment when ideas of liberty and independence were proclaimed—but not yet extended to all. From there, participants will board a guided bus tour that traces the lives and legacies of Black patriots, including Prince Whipple of Portsmouth, Wentworth Cheswell of Newmarket, and E. Jude Hall of Exeter.
Guests will also visit the American Independence Museum for lunch and a special exhibition exploring New Hampshire’s role in the struggle for independence—while reflecting on whose freedom was won, and whose remained unfinished.
Meeting Place: Goodwin Park, Portsmouth, NH, at 10:00 AM
** This tour is part of the 2026 Juneteenth Celebrations and is limited to 30 people. **
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
Kittery's Black Yankees
Sankofa Scholars & Tour Guides: Wanda Dorlean and Erika Varga
Town: Kittery, ME
This tour describes how Africans and their descendants, residents of a northern Atlantic port town, used their resilience and cultural traditions of mutual aid to establish one of Maine's earliest African American communities. You will hear stories about enslaved and freed people living here from colonial times and "Black Yankees" of the modern era, a history often ignored and rarely identified with the heritage of New England.
Meeting Place: Parking Lot of Lil's Cafe | 7 Wallingford Square, Downtown Kittery, ME.
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