Ain't She a Woman: Let Me Tell You Her Story

Women Who Shaped Portsmouth History Walking Tour

Step into the bustling world of Portsmouth as a prosperous colonial seaport town during this 90 minute guided walking tour. Led by Sankofa Scholar and Tour Guide Valerie Fagin, the experience explores the lives of African born and African American women who helped shape Portsmouth across generations. Through the streets and stories of the city, discover a deeper perspective on its shared history.

The tour introduces women whose lives were shaped by difficult circumstances including enslavement and systemic racism. Despite these challenges, they showed remarkable strength and determination while building lives and contributing to their communities. Their experiences reveal important chapters of Portsmouth history that continue to influence how the city understands its past.

Through engaging storytelling, discover women who fought for justice, challenged powerful figures, and helped educate generations of children. Their actions demonstrate the courage required to create change and make a lasting difference within a community. Each story offers another perspective on the people who contributed to the development of Portsmouth and the wider seacoast region.

Walk the streets where these women lived, worked, and made their contributions while learning about their resilience and achievements. The experience celebrates their courage and determination while bringing their stories into the present. The tour leaves from the office at 2 pm, with guests asked to arrive 10 minutes before departure. Tours operate rain or shine.