Living here in Portsmouth New Hampshire offers an abundance of history and places to view that historical background Portsmouth and the Seacoast is so rich with. Just about everywhere you look, you can find all kinds of things to do here that make history so interesting. Growing up, I had no interest in anything to do with history at all, but I can tell you much of it fascinates me now.
And I am so lucky to live here in such a fabulous place called Portsmouth NH that's so alive with history!!
One of those great places that showcases some of the history here in Portsmouth is the USS Albacore Park, just a few steps from downtown, and very easy to get to from the major highways.
The USS Albacore was placed in retirement in September 1972 at the Naval Base in Philadelphia. One of our former city councilors had a dream of bringing the Albacore home to her birth-port of Portsmouth NH. Many others here in this area agreed, and after MOUNDS of paperwork and a few years of work and meetings, this park began to become a reality.
In April of 1984, the USS Albacore was towed up the Piscataqua River, making its way to what would become its final berth. Much thought and planning went into how to get the submarine across a railroad bridge and a 4-lane road. Finally a plan was put into place, which included dismantling the bridge and cutting through the road. The 1,200 ton submarine was floated, at high tide of course, into position in the concrete cradle where she now rests permanently.
I remember when this was being done, and you could go down and watch the work they did taking the railroad bridge apart, and where they cut the road open. They had to wait for just the perfect tide to float the Albacore across an amazing system of locks so she could be settled down where she is now. That was BIG news around here, and it was something to see!
I have driven by this park countless times since it was opened for visitors in August of 1986. I finally actually went and toured this park and the Memorial Garden this past weekend. What a special place it is, and one I highly recommend taking in if you're in the area, or if you live here.
Tours of the USS Albacore are available, and you can also learn much about the making of the submarine and its role in history by listening to the various audio narrations at different stands in the park. The Visitors Center has all kinds of information on the Albacore as well as other interesting items and memorabilia on the military and the local area.
The Albacore's Memorial Garden is very touching to visit. There are a number of memorial monuments and markers, a beautiful black granite dolphin carving which symbolizes submarine service, and granite benches that have been dedicated to submariners who lost their lives and to Rear Admiral Richard Kane.
This Memorial Garden commemorates submarines and their crew members that were lost during the Cold War and during World War II.
The garden is a quiet and introspective testament to those who've gone before us in the name of their country. Many thanks to all those who these monuments and markers are dedicated to for what they gave for all of us.
These are some of the beautiful and touching memorials you'll find in the Memorial Garden at the Albacore Park
Portsmouth is a fabulous place to visit and it's an even better place to call HOME!! This beautiful park is just one of the many reasons those of us who live here love it here.
If you're thinking about making Portsmouth or any of the beautiful surrounding towns in New Hampshire or Southern Maine your new home, I'm happy to show you around this great area and to help you find your next home.
Loving this area as much as I do just makes my job helping others make this their home so enjoyable and so much fun! Let me know how I can help YOU!
Here are additional posts on the area that will show you just how great life is here in the NH Seacoast areas:
An Historical Portsmouth NH Weekend with FOUR Tall Ships!!
Portsmouth NH ~ Summer Seacoast Scene in July
Tall Ships are Coming to Portsmouth New Hampshire!!
Portsmouth NH - Happy 30th Anniversary for Market Square Day!
Fly DIRECTLY into Portsmouth New Hampshire!!
Portsmouth's Pet Pooch Park
Portsmouth New Hampshire - "Portsmouth Lights on Friday Nights"
Portsmouth New Hampshire - Loving Life in Portsmouth!
Portsmouth New Hampshire - Music, Theater, Arts, and More!
Portsmouth New Hampshire Tidbits
Scrumptious Seafood Adventure
Seacoast Theaters - It's SHOWtime on the Seacoast
Seacoast Area Towns Information:
Hampton Beach New Hampshire - Sand Sculpture Contest
AT HOME in New Castle New Hampshire
AT HOME in Greenland New Hampshire
AT HOME in Stratham New Hampshire
AT HOME in Newmarket New Hampshire
AT HOME in North Hampton New Hampshire
AT HOME in Hampton New Hampshire
AT HOME in Dover New Hampshire
AT HOME in Rye New Hampshire
Exeter New Hampshire - History and Charm Galore!!
Fun Things to Know About New Hampshire:
Summer Seacoast Scene in July
June in New Hampshire ~ Fun Things To Do Around the State
New Hampshire - May's Fun Stuff Around the State
April Adventures Around New Hampshire!
February Fun Around New Hampshire!
New Hampshire Naturally
New Hampshire Nuggets
New Hampshire Made Delights!!
Be sure to take my Community Tour for some beautiful picture tours of this great area and around the state!
Ann Cummings, New Hampshire & Maine Broker
RE/MAX Coast to Coast
Portsmouth NH
ann@anncummings.com
888-349-5678 x 3839
Servicing the Coastal Areas of NH & Southern Maine 
Post a comment
Temporarily disabled — coming soon!
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
Powered by the ActiveRain Real Estate Network
© 2008 ActiveRain Corp. All Rights Reserved
You always have some good info and content going on with your localism posts as well as some grand history! Love it!
Thanks Ann! I LOVE the history that abounds on the east coast. This is where our forefathers settled and there is so much of them still around. I was born, raised and lived all my life no further away from the Pacific Ocean than 500 miles. I never got to the east coast until about 10 years ago, when we did a tour of NY and the NE states. It was too short a time...someday we'll be back! Did go to VA/DC last year another (east coast) area surrounded in history. Thanks for sharing all this info.
Cool post Ann. I've never been there...Yet its so close. I'll have to make a point of getting there.
Hi Sally - thanks for reading and for those really nice comments! I'm glad you enjoyed this post!
Hi Mary - There is SO much history around here! Of course, being New England, it's mighty hard to not be around it. And it's easy to really fall in love with most of it, even if one didn't like or appreciate history growing up - I'm proof of that!! I hope you do get back to New England, and WHEN you do, you'll have to let us know so we can meet up with you. Thanks so much for reading and for your comments!
Ann
Hi Monika - Thanks for reading! I had driven by that park all these years and had never stopped there until a few days ago, and I live right here!! I just wonder how many others who live right here just have never stopped in as well.......it was really very interesting to me and Bear. Bear had been there with his kids but he still saw things that day with me that he hadn't seen the other times he'd been there. You and Jay should stop in there next time you're in the area.
The Memorial Garden is quite a tribute to those who'd lost their lives on submarines - so much history in that one small park. My pictures just do not do this park justice at all.....
Ann
Another gem of a post Ann - coastal towns are my favorite and their history can be so rich. I am sure anyone reading your posts would get a complete tour of NH.
Hi Ines - thanks for reading, especially since I know you're leaving for vacation tomorrow morning! I love coastal towns, too, and especially the one I live in. There are so many great towns here in New Hampshire and New England that are just so full of history. And of course, I'm just a tad bit partial to this one, Portsmouth!
Thanks for your comments - very much appreciated!
Ann
Ann - I love the memorial gardens! You never hear specifically about those who lost their lives in a submarine - only what you see in the moveies.
Hi Paula - thanks for reading! When we were in the Memorial Garden, reading all the names and tributes on each of those memorials and monuments, we couldn't help our eyes watering up on us. Each of those is in tribute to submarines lost that were based out of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard - the words on them really grab ahold of you and make you realize how very much those before us really gave. I grew up in the military (Air Force) and have a deep appreciation of all branches of the military and all those who serve, and the sacrifices made.
Ann
Ann I love it when you take me back; I remember the Albacore! I wasn't in the area until 1973 but I did see it. I love Portsmouth.
Ann...I love that place . We took my son and his cub scout troop there when they were small. The boys had a Blast!
Ann, great looking post and nice touch of history! Thanks for the post!
Hi Carol - I'm glad you found this post and enjoyed it! I didn't realize you were here in Portsmouth before - it's certainly changed alot since then, even more beautiful now! If you ever get back here, one - you'll have to let me know so we can meet up, and two - you'll have to go visit this park, especially since you remember the Alabacore.
Thanks so much for your comment!!! Very much appreciated.
Ann
Hi Joan - it is a great small park to visit. Did you tour the inside of the sub? I didn't go inside the afternoon I was there, but would really like to go through it the next time I'm there.
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Ann
Hi David - I'm glad you enjoyed this post, and I really appreciate your comments. Portsmouth is just full of all kinds of history - come for a visit if you love history. I guarantee you'll leave with having had a great visit.
Ann