History Has a Water Problem: How Strawbery Banke Museum is Adapting

How do you preserve the past when the future is getting wetter?

Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is facing this question as rising seas, coastal storms and changing rainfall increase the risk of flooding and water damage to its historic buildings.

On this episode of Time and Tide, hosts Brian Yurasits and Erik Chapman head to Portsmouth’s historic Puddle Dock to learn how Strawbery Banke is preparing for these changes.

First, Rodney Rowland, the museum’s Director of Environmental Sustainability, shares the history of the neighborhood and explains how this museum is using monitoring, planning, and nature-based solutions to build resilience. What lessons can we learn from the past as we try to protect this same history from a wetter future?

Next, volunteer Tamara Henderson takes us on a tour to explore rain gardens as a natural solution for stormwater management.

This is part one of a two-part episode about a group of people trying to preserve history in New Hampshire, while at the same time looking ahead at a flooded future. On our next episode, we speak with an architect and contractor working with Strawbery Banke and find out what it takes to actually build a better future in a port city.

Full episode transcript is available below.

Guest Speakers:

Rodney Rowland, Director of Environmental Sustainability, Strawbery Banke

Tamara Henderson, Volunteer, Strawbery Banke

Hosted by: Brian Yurasits, Science Communication Specialist, New Hampshire Sea Grant

Co-hosted by: Erik Chapman, Director, New Hampshire Sea Grant and UNH School of Marine Science and Ocean Engineering