Abby Epplett, Historian

Disclaimer: The following article refers to death by suicide. If you live in the United States and you or a loved one are in a suicidal crisis or emotional distress, call 988 or text HELLO to 741741 for help. To learn more, click this link to visit the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) website. During my three-day trip of the Portsmouth, New Hampshire area, I visited Gilman Garrison House , a property of Historic New England (HNE). The rightfully paranoid Gilman family built the structure as a garrison, a fort that served as a living space and a tavern. The year of construction, 1709, is known thank to a test by the Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory in 2005. The owners of the house were equally eccentric and tragic.

During my three-day trip of the Portsmouth, New Hampshire area, I visited the American Independence Museum in Exeter. This classic New England town is about a twenty to thirty minute drive south of Portsmouth on the border with Massachusetts. A charming museum with knowledgeable guides, a fun gift shop, and great branding, the American Independence Museum is a great stop for families who have walked the Freedom Trail through Boston NHP in Boston, Massachusetts; seen the Liberty Bell at Independence Hall NHP in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; or toured Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia.

During my three-day trip of the Portsmouth, New Hampshire area, I walked through nearby Exeter listening to a Historical Walking Tour on izi.TRAVEL , a website and app for self-guided audio tours. This tour is vetted by the Exeter Historical Society and was recorded by local boy scouts and their family members. Additionally, a written transcript beneath the audio player allows Deaf and hearing impaired visitors, or anyone walking through busy downtown Exeter, to enjoy the tour. Stops can be visited in any orders.