BHTNH Office and Visitor Center
222 Court Street, Portsmouth NH
In the spring of 2017, BHTNH initiated an earnest, ten-month search for a property in historic downtown Portsmouth to serve as our offices, visitors and interpretive center. In March of 2018 the Board of Directors entered into a purchase and sale agreement for the building at 222 Court Street pictured above. Among the many benefits of this location is the proximity to the African Burial Ground, the location where all tours of the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail conclude.
A fundamental element of our mission is to make Black history in NH visible. 222 Court Street represents a one-time opportunity to purchase an affordable building in the heart of the Black Heritage Trail.
222 Court Street was constructed in 1749 and served as parsonage to the Reverend Arthur Browne, the first Rector of Queen’s Chapel – now St. John’s church. Two “negro males” were enslaved at this property who were bequeathed – one each – to Rev. Browne’s wife and nephew. This story – repeated throughout Portsmouth is central to the city’s earliest African heritage.
