Peirce Island is a historic island owned by the city of

Portsmouth, New Hampshire Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. At the 2020 census it had a population of 21,956. A historic seaport and popular summer tourist destination on the Piscataqua River bordering the state of Maine, Portsmou ...

, and is connected to adjacent outlying Four Tree Island. It is connected to the mainland by the Peirce Island bridge. The islands are open to the public and have views of salt marsh, tidal pools, rocky cliffs, and meadows as well as the

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Founded in 1800, PNS is U.S. Navy's oldest continuo ...

, the South End, three bridges over the

Piscataqua River The Piscataqua River (Abenaki: ''Pskehtekwis'') is a tidal river forming the boundary of the U.S. states of New Hampshire and Maine from its origin at the confluence of the Salmon Falls River and Cochecho River. The drainage basin of the river ...

, the "back channel", and a small island toward

New Castle, New Hampshire New Castle is a New England town, town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,000 at the 2020 census. It is the smallest and easternmost town in New Hampshire, and the only one loc ...

. There is also an outdoor pool, walking paths, playgrounds, and boat launch area. There is a sewer treatment plant on the island. Public amenities include parking, a public boat ramp, walking paths, historical markers, rest room on Four Tree Island only, public pool for summer use, and a small playground. The island is located past the historic

Point of Graves Burial Ground Point of Graves Burial Ground is a small historic cemetery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, dating to the 17th century. It was the final resting place for many of Portsmouth's prominent residents including the Wentworth family, the Vaughan family, t ...

over the Peirce Island bridge. Fort Washington was located on the island. More recently, the area was known as a meeting place for gay paramours. Fort Washington and Fort Sullivan were built in 1775 and were named for

George Washington George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...

and local war hero John Sullivan. Fort Washington was a star-shaped earthwork. Both forts were commanded by Captain

Titus Salter Captain Titus Salter (1722–1798) was an American military commander of militia forces in New Hampshire, a merchant, and a privateer. He helped draw up plans for the defense of Portsmouth. He was a military commander during the American Revolutio ...

(or Salten) during the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...

. They were re-garrisoned in the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It bega ...

and abandoned after that war. The islands were dog friendly until 2016.

References

{{authority control Islands of New Hampshire Portsmouth, New Hampshire Coastal islands of New Hampshire

See also

References