Portsmouth Named Hub City for "Museums for All" Program

As the commemorations of Portsmouth NH’s 400th anniversary heat up with summer events in full swing, Museums for All has named Portsmouth a “Hub City” thanks to its concentration of museums offering free and discounted admissions.

Portsmouth Historical Society and its John Paul Jones House Museum, the three Historic New England house museums in the City, Warner House, and Strawbery Banke Museum are all program participants. In greater Portsmouth, Museums for All participants also include the Seacoast Science Center in Rye and in Dover, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire and the Woodman Institute.

Museums for All is a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) to encourage individuals of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum habits. For a city to reach Hub City status, three or more local organizations must be active participants in the initiative. As part of this program, museums offer free or discounted admission during normal operating hours to those presenting a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, There are Museums for All participants in all fifty states as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In Portsmouth, Strawbery Banke, Warner House and the two Portsmouth Historical Society locations offer free admission for up to four family members including the holder of a SNAP EBT card. The three Historic New England house museums offer discounted admission for EBT card holders of $2 per individual.

In addition to this program, all Portsmouth residents have access to Portsmouth Public Library’s long-running Museums & More service, which offers discounted and free passes to local and regional museums and other attractions.

“ACM is proud to partner with IMLS on this initiative, which has facilitated more than three million visits to date. More than 700 museums of all types show their commitment to access and equity by participating,” said ACM Interim Executive Director Larry Hoffer. “We’re so inspired by museums like those in Portsmouth that maximize their impact by joining Museums for All as part of a unified community effort.”

“We are delighted that Portsmouth is being recognized as a Hub City for the Museums For All program,” said City Manager Karen Conard. “The timing is perfect to provide access to some of our most historic treasures as we celebrate the City’s 400th anniversary, and to underscore our continuing commitment to be the City of the Open Door. It is vital that all individuals and families can take advantage of these cultural amenities, no matter their means.”

"Strawbery Banke Museum is proud to join so many other Portsmouth-based organizations in the Museums for All program," said Linnea Grim, President and CEO, Thomas W. Haas Endowed Chair. "How wonderful it is to be a part of a community that is truly committed to enhancing the accessibility of museums and their offerings to all visitors."

About Museums for All

Museums for All helps expand access to museums and raise public awareness about how museums in the U.S. are reaching their entire communities. For additional information about Museums for All, please visit www.Museums4All.org.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Association of Children’s Museums (ACM)

The Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) champions children’s museums worldwide. With more than 400 members in 50 states and 19 countries, ACM leverages the collective knowledge of children’s museums through convening, sharing, and dissemination. Learn more at www.childrensmuseums.org.

Image: Strawbery Banke Museum [Credit: David J. Murray/ClearEyePhoto.com