10-05-2025
Oldest home in New Hampshire is literally older than the country. Here's where it is
Portsmouth has it's fair share of older buildings, and not just because of the Strawberry Banke Museum.
Englishmen first settled the Portsmouth area in 1630, only a decade after the Mayflower has landed in Massachusetts. By 1653, Portsmouth was incorporated into what was then Massachusetts and took Portsmouth as its name.
The oldest building in the state was built not long after that, and it opens for summer tours starting in June.
Interested in visiting? Here's what to know about it.
The oldest building in the Granite State, the Jackson House in Portsmouth dates back to 1664, built by Richard Jackson, a woodworker, farmer, and mariner.
Like houses of a similar age, it's seen its fair share of modifications since it was originally built. Succeeding generations added a lean-to by 1715, along with more additions in the 1700s and 1800s to accommodate different family groups sharing the house at once.
The property remained with the Jackson family for seven generations, until 1924 when it was acquired by William Sumner Appleton, founder of the non-profit Historic New England that maintains the building.
The Jackson House is located at 76 Northwest St., Portsmouth. It's open for tours during the summer on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month from June to October.
The 45-minute guided tours are held from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, and $5 for students and children. Members of Historic New England can attend free.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Oldest building in NH is older than the U.S. Here's where it is
