Lilac Festival Returns May 26, 10 am – 3 pm
This beloved Seacoast event features a wide array of activities for children & families, lilac enthusiasts, and history buffs. Children will love building fairy houses with Tracy Kane, creating
art projects, searching the grounds on a treasure hunt, visiting an alpaca petting zoo, and more! We will also have guest lectures by lilac experts, a silent auction, tours of the Mansion, and sales of many lilac varieties, including plants descended from our 250 year old lilacs, the oldest in the United States.
Artists participating in a plein air event will be onsite during the Festival, capturing the Site’s gorgeous seaside views, lush green lawns, and century old lilacs. Their work will be featured in the onsite gallery. Ample parking is available on site and on Little Harbor road. Guests are invited to use various means of transportation, including walking, bicycles, kayaks, and canoes.
Admission is free.
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Frank Shapleigh’s “House Portrait” Returns Home to the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion
Commissioner & Coolidge descendant Daphne McDonald stand with the picture her mother donated
Painted c. 1875, the “house portrait” by Frank Shapleigh shows the Mansion in the light of early dawn as a memento of his visit to the Mansion. It is one of Shapleigh’s few works of the Seacoast, as he spent much of his time painting White Mountain landscapes. This remarkable piece was left to the State of NH by Betsy Baybutt, John Templeman Coolidge’s granddaughter. The Commission is thrilled that this work of art has finally been returned to it’s rightful place at the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion.
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Little Harbor Trail Open
The new walking path is finished! Be sure to go for a stroll on this 1.5 mile waterside path that connects the Wentworth-Coolidge Grounds, Creek Farm, and Portsmouth Conservation Land. Free parking & trail access are available at the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion.
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The Wentworth-Coolidge Commission works to help the State preserve, improve, and promote the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion and State Historic Site. The tireless efforts of this group of volunteers appointed by the Governor of New Hampshire ensure that this Portsmouth treasure will be enjoyed for generations to come.
