The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire grew from the work of the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail which was founded in 1995 in
Portsmouth.[1] The group's mission is to foster understanding and appreciation of
African American history and culture, with the aim of creating more inclusive communities. They offer learning opportunities throughout the year including outreach to schools, guided and self-guided tours, mobile programs, lectures, and workshops.
History
After the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail was first established in the 1990s, it eventually included 24 sites within the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.[2][3] The trail began in an effort to make the history of black people visible to residents and visitors to Portsmouth.[4] As of 2024, there are markers in ten additional towns and cities in
New Hampshire and two markers in
Kittery, Maine. These markers were added as part of a Mapping Untold Stories program to share the rich history of Black people in New Hampshire.[5]
The first official tour outside of Portsmouth was in the town of
Hancock, in western New Hampshire where Jack Ware, a formerly enslaved man, lived in the 1700s. [6]
Historic markers
A selection of markers along the Black Heritage Trail of NH are listed here. Unless noted otherwise, sites are in the state of New Hampshire.