Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion State Historic Site
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 New Hampshire — The 42-room mansion of Benning Wentworth — New Hampshire’s first Royal Governor (1741-1766) who got insanely rich granting land across the colony! The mansion contains the oldest lilac bushes in America (planted 1750!) and Wentworth married his 20-year-old maid at age 71.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | New Hampshire |
About Wentworth-Coolidge
Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion State Historic Site in Portsmouth preserves the 40-room waterfront mansion of Benning Wentworth — New Hampshire’s first royal governor (1741-1766). Wentworth governed for 25 years — the longest tenure of any colonial governor. He controversially granted himself vast tracts of land, including most of what became Vermont. The mansion’s lilac collection, planted in the 1750s, is among the oldest in North America.
Things to Do
Touring the 40-room colonial mansion, viewing the 1750s lilacs (bloom in May), walking the waterfront grounds, attending art exhibits, and learning about colonial governance and land speculation.
Getting There
Located on Little Harbor Road in Portsmouth — one of America’s most walkable small cities, with 400 years of history. The mansion’s 1750s lilacs bloom in late May — an annual event. Strawbery Banke Museum (10 minutes), the historic waterfront, and world-class restaurants make Portsmouth a complete destination. One hour from Boston.
History & Ecology
Governor Wentworth’s political career ended abruptly when he married his 24-year-old housekeeper, scandalizing colonial New Hampshire society. His tenure was marked by massive land grants — he personally named and granted over 200 towns in New Hampshire and Vermont, often naming them after British nobility. The mansion’s waterfront location on Little Harbor made it strategically important during the colonial era.
Insider Tips
Royal Governor’s mansion: Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion (1750s) is one of the finest surviving colonial mansions in America — 40+ rooms overlooking Little Harbor in Portsmouth. Pro tip: The mansion’s lilac trees are among the oldest in America — planted in the 1750s, they still bloom every May. Council chamber: Royal Governor Benning Wentworth conducted colonial business from this mansion — issuing land grants that shaped New Hampshire and Vermont.
Best Time to Visit
May: Lilac bloom — 250+ year-old lilacs. Summer: Full mansion tours. Fall: Harbor views and foliage. Year-round: Grounds accessible.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old are the lilacs?
The lilac trees at Wentworth-Coolidge are believed to have been planted around 1750 — making them among the oldest living lilacs in North America. Governor Wentworth likely imported them from England. The trees still bloom abundantly every May. The annual Lilac Festival celebrates these 270+ year-old plants — a living connection to colonial America.
📍 Visit Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion State Historic Site
Discover America’s best state parks!
Wildlife & Nature
Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion State Historic Site — in Portsmouth — preserves the 1750 mansion of Benning Wentworth, the first Royal Governor of New Hampshire (1741-1767). The 42-room mansion — sprawling along the shore of Little Harbor — is the oldest surviving governors’ mansion in the United States. The property’s gardens contain New Hampshire’s oldest known lilac bushes (planted c. 1750). Osprey fish from harbor perches. Great egrets wade in the tidal cove.
Nearby Attractions
Portsmouth — adjacent — has Strawbery Banke Museum, the historic downtown, and the Portsmouth Harbor Trail. Prescott Park — in Portsmouth — has gardens and arts festivals. New Castle — 2 miles east — has Fort Constitution. Odiorne Point State Park — 3 miles south.
