Two recent January storms caused extensive damage to the base of the historic Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse and an adjacent 1903 oil house. The storms hit almost back to back on Jan. 10 and Jan. 13 and threw around huge slabs of the lighthouse’s base — which dates back to 1804 — like they were “grains of sand,” according to Jeremy D’Entremont, …

Portsmouth Harbor Light and its station surroundings, suffered some of the most extensive damage of any lighthouse along the coasts of New Hampshire and Maine during the two recent January 2024 storms. (An article about it in the Portsmouth Herald by Jeff McMenemy) Read More »

In the storm of January 12-13, the third of three storms in one week, there was significant damage at Portsmouth Harbor Light Station. The base of the lighthouse was severely impacted, as was the 1903 oil house. The storm also knocked down a sea wall adjacent to the old wall of Fort Constitution. We are …

January 13, 2024 storm causes significant damage at Portsmouth Harbor Light Station Read More »

Just a quick update to all our friends. As you may have heard, the memorable storm of December 23, 2022, destroyed the wooden walkway that provided access to Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse. Discussions are underway and we are very hopeful that we will be able to make an announcement soon about the rebuilding of the walkway. …

Just a quick update to all our friends Read More »

Strong winds, high water and crashing waves during the storm on December 23, 2022, tore up and washed away a large portion of the walkway at the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse. The 84-foot wooden walkway enables visitors to walk from the shore to the lighthouse. The stairs from the walkway down to the oil house are …

December 2022 storm causes major damage to the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse walkway. Read More »

Well protected and seldom frozen over, the harbor of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, near the mouth of the Piscataqua River, was one of the busiest ports of colonial America. The town of New Castle, once known as Great Island, was long a thriving fishing village, and it was the first capital of the province of New …

“The Light at Fort Point: A History of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse 1771-2021” – Now on sale! Read More »

In 2003, when she was 101 years old, Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses named Connie Small the organization’s honorary chairperson. Connie was the wife of the station’s last keeper, Elson Small, and at the age of 85 she wrote one of the classics of lighthouse-related literature, The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife. The book has been reprinted …

New edition of “The Lighthouse Keeper’s Wife” by Connie Small now on sale! Read More »