Africans have contributed to the economic and cultural fabric of New Hampshire since the 1600s. More than 700 Blacks lived in Portsmouth by the time of the Revolution, many of them caught up as chattel in the lucrative Northern slave market while others were part of a marginalized community of free people.
As a major colonial center of commerce, Portsmouth has a high concentration of sites connected to New Hampshire’s slave trade. However, the state’s Black history does not stop at the seaport but extends to every corner of the Granite State.
Tours offered by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire explore this rich and often neglected history. The stories our Sankofa Scholars have uncovered and share with visitors illustrate how the earliest Africans in American were commitment to self-determination, service, and building community. This nuanced and shared history continues to shape our collective present and future.
The BHTNH series of themed guided tours every Saturday afternoon from May through October offers an opportunity to visualize and share a truer more inclusive history of the state. Learn this history, connect to ancestors and ancestral roots, or simply explore and see for yourself the intricately woven cultural cloth that is New Hampshire.
Tours are 90-minute. Maximum of 25 people per tour.
Sankofa Scholar Guides
Discover the real, unbiased history with one of our signature guided tours conducted by a well-trained, experienced guide who has developed key strategies for sharing and interpreting conflicting histories. Our Sankofa Scholars bring to life the stories of African Americans for whom the Granite State is home.
Private, School & Group Tours
Visiting as a Group? The BHTNHN offers several group tour options.
Sankofa Step-On Bus Tour: Seacoast New Hampshire and Maine
Brief stops may be included. Rates vary, depending on group size and itinerary.
Sankofa North Star Tour: select sites in NH, Maine and/or Vermont
Transportation and Rates: TBA
Visiting Sankofa Armchair Tour
A multi-media experience for special audiences, including those for whom distance and/or time make it impractical to visit the sites. Rate includes mileage allowance for presenter.
Specially Designed Tours
If you are planning a workshop or professional development program, we would love to be a part of it! We are able to design any of our tours for presentation to businesses or to teachers to meet your needs. Please inquire for details.
Please complete this form to request a group booking. Your booking will not be complete until you receive a confirmation email from our Tour Coordinator.
For more information, click here.