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Trustee Emeritus Award for Excellence in the Stewardship of Historic Sites
In November
2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation presented this
prestigious award to
The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America "for acquiring,
restoring, and interpreting a collection of historic properties that offer
invaluable opportunities to experience the rich variety of America's
heritage."
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NSCDA in
New Hampshire Museum Property |
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MOFFATT-LADD HOUSE AND GARDEN
(1763)
Address:
154 Market Street, Portsmouth,
NH 03801
Telephone:
(603) 436-8221
Open:
About June 15 through October
15,
Monday through Saturday:
11:00 a.m.--5:00 p.m. (last tour is at 4:30 p.m.)
Sunday: 1:00
p.m.--5:00 p.m. (last tour is at 4:30 p.m.)
Group tours by appointment.
School tours by appointment.
Directions:
From I-95, driving north, take
Exit 7 (Market Street), turn right at end of ramp. The Moffatt-Ladd
House is one block past the Sheraton Hotel.
(From I-95, driving south, turn
left at end of ramp.)
To park in the city parking garage,
pass the Moffatt-Ladd House and turn right on Hanover Street.
Website:
http://www.moffattladd.org
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Photograph by of Erik Kvalsvik |
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This elegant three-story mansion
was completed in 1763 by a crew hired by Captain John Moffatt. Captain Moffatt
was a merchant-trader
in New England's tall pine trees which were used for masts on English sailing ships.
He also traded in
molasses and rum from the West Indies, and in luxury goods for the prosperous
residents of Portsmouth. The front of the house overlooks the family
wharf on the year-round harbor of the Piscataqua River.
Inventories of the house contents
in 1768 and 1786 survive to help in the furnishing of many of the rooms.
The house experienced relatively few changes to its structure over the
years because of the continuous residence of one family, including William
Whipple, son-in-law of Captain John Moffatt who built the house.
In 1911, descendants of the first residents entrusted the house and grounds
to The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of
New Hampshire, who own and operate the property today.
Of interest are original family
furnishings, many pieces of furniture made in the Portsmouth area, a captain's
walk on the roof, finely-carved details throughout, and examples of rare
hall and chamber wallpapers.
The present form of the Moffatt-Ladd garden
was designed by Alexander Hamilton Ladd in the mid-19th Century. His daily
records reveal that some of his plants were from the gardens of his mother
and grandmother. The English damask rose was planted in 1768 by Mrs.
Samuel Moffatt. The enormous horse chestnut tree, which is about 80
feet tall and 20 feet in circumference, was planted in 1776 by William
Whipple upon his return from Philadelphia where he had just signed the
Declaration of Independence. Known as the Tree of Independence, it
was selected in the Year 2000 as The Millennium Landmark Tree for the State
of New Hampshire.
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
ACCREDITED: NSCDA MUSEUM
PROPERTIES |
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