The Warner House Association

*Note: ANY DONATION GRANTS OR RENEWS 1 YEAR MEMBERSHIP

 The Warner House Association is a nonprofit that seeks to promote, protect, and preserve the historic brick structure known as The Warner House in downtown Portsmouth, NH. The museum house is open seasonally for guided tours.

It is with great pleasure that I announce all proceeds from NH Gives go towards the main staircase repair!

The projects never stop when trying to keep a majestic house like the Warner House in the condition it deserves! For this particular project, there is a beam in the basement, directly under and supporting the main staircase, that has deteriorated and needs to be replaced.

Luckily, Preservation Timber Framing has agreed to assist with the project. On the heels of the successful cupola repair, we continue to need Preservation Timber Framing's expertise. 

The basement beam must be replaced in such a way as to keep floor and structural support of the main staircase without causing any building shifts that could endanger the murals that go up along the staircase. It is a delicate project, but one that is necessary.

Estimated repair costs are around $25,000. The museum will use part of the annual maintenance budget toward this project, but we need a little more help to get us over the finish line. In addition to NH Gives, we have some community night partnerships with restaurants whose proceeds will go toward this project and we have applied for two grants. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram to stay tuned! 

The Warner House Association's Board of Governor's is doing our best, but we need your help! Anything you can give through NH Gives helps preserve the museum and supports the Seacoast region. Donors are also granted a free 1 year membership to the Association. This gets you our newsletter, free access to visit the Warner House Museum this season (now open for 2026), and free attendance at member events like our History and Soup!

The image to the left shows the primary beam supporting the middle section of the house (which includes the staircase). As you can see there is deterioration and cracking in the beam. The beam is likely hundreds of years old and any replacement will last just as long. This repair, like the cupola repair of last year, is a long lasting solution that helps preserve the house for the next hundred years or more.

Built in the early 1700s, the Warner House was the home of six generations of extended family (spanning over 300 years). New Hampshire's first Royal Colonial Governor lived there for a time. Warner House has hosted famous visitors like Benjamin Franklin and General Lafayette. If you enjoy downtown Portsmouth and maintaining the city's historical charm and vibrancy, please support the Warner House and by extension, the arts, culture, history, and education of New Hampshire.

For more information, please visit our website https://warnerhouse.org/