The Governor John Langdon House, now managed by Historic New England, is widely considered the finest Georgian mansion in New Hampshire. Langdon built it in 1784 using his considerable wealth from shipbuilding and trade, filling it with craftsmanship that was exceptional even by the standards of prosperous Portsmouth: carved woodwork, a grand staircase, and formal gardens that have been restored to their 18th-century character.
Tours of the interior are offered in summer and early autumn. The house is furnished largely with pieces from the Langdon family period and tells the story of a man who was both a successful merchant and a central participant in American independence. The gardens — formal parterres surrounded by clipped hedges — are open to walk through even when the house is closed.