Reinventing Portsmouth

PRE-SALE:   Book signing Wednesday, December 10, 2025 5:30pm at Portsmouth Historical Society Free and open to the public

Reinventing Portsmouth, a compelling new publication that expands on the Portsmouth Historical Society’s 2023 exhibition and sheds light on the pivotal decades that reshaped our city. Although Portsmouth avoided the most sweeping effects of urban renewal, the loss of several working-class immigrant neighborhoods sparked a powerful wave of community action that fueled a renaissance in arts, culture, and historic preservation, and set the stage for the Market Square we know today. Through vivid firsthand accounts and expert perspectives, curated and authored by former City Planning Director Bob Thoresen, Reinventing Portsmouth reveals how this transformative era continues to shape our community, offering fresh insight into the city’s past, present, and future.