Today features one of my favorite shots of the Portsmouth Athenaeum.  This shot of Market Square was taken just in front of Breaking New Grounds at the corners of Market Street and Congress Street.  Go visit the building sometime on a Thursday afternoon – it’s easily one of the coolest places in town, when you walk in you can simply feel the seacoast history in the room.  The reading room is just inside the large rounded doorframe, and you instantly feel as though you’re back in the 1700s or so, with gigantic paintings of historic figures adorning the wall and cool flooring & carpentry throughout.

I hope to do an indoor shoot in the near future and share some of the beauty with all the readers here!

There is a unique exhibit at The Portsmouth Athenaeum, the beautiful and historic downtown building, Treasures of the American Independence Museum.  The North Church can be seen in the reflection on the 2nd story window. Don’t recognize the building? Head over to a previous post HERE, which shows the building head-on.

I’d never been to the Athenaeum and have wanted to stop in for quite a while, so after getting my morning coffee and seeing the sign out on the sidewalk I decided to go stroll upstairs.  The exhibit is on the top floor with some rustic exposed beams on the ceiling, adjacent to the research room (basically a library). There is a portrait of George Washington, a copy of the Declaration of Independence, some old rifles and a few other portraits and documents. If you like history – head over to check it out.

Night falls fast these days, here the sun disappears behind the Athenaeum and the buildings on Congress Street with a dimly lit lamppost filling out the scene.

The intersection of Market Street and Congress Street in Portsmouth is easily one of the busiest within city limits.  During the summer months, people can be found getting their caffeine fix on the patios of Breaking New Grounds, Popovers, and Starbucks.  With the new stop sign at the end of Daniel Street, things have gotten more interesting this spring.  The jewelers across the street from each other have been there as long as I can remember coming to Portsmouth to visit.  I just love the color of Alie’s doorway.

Full size here:  FLICKR