The Strawberry Banke Museum in Portsmouth offers a look back at New Hampshire's history, but its future may be in jeopardy as rising sea levels submerge historic properties and homes. The museum uses new technology to help protect and preserve the property. The Pankey Museum has collaborated with researchers from the University of New Hampshire to monitor groundwater since 2012. Last year, sensors were installed that allow researchers to track water levels in real time. “All the mortar was actually deteriorating due to water getting into the basement,” said Michael Rother, a researcher at the United Nations. As sea levels rise, groundwater also rises, and this damages the original structure of centuries-old houses. The availability of data not only documents changing sea levels, but helps the museum prepare to be more resilient in the future. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play << “The frequency of impacts, how high the water is, the type of water,” said Rodney Rowland, director of facilities and environmental stability at Strawberry Bank. “From that, we can custom-design the flexibility or adaptation we need to do for that building.” Due to sea level rise, the Strawberry Bank Museum is trying to find new ways to preserve and protect its historic buildings. The foundation of one of the buildings has been replaced, which museum officials said is difficult to do. “Climate change, specifically sea level rise, completely changes that language,” Rowland said. Usually, the museum avoids changing anything about the original. buildings, but officials said that if they wanted to see these homes live for another century, change was the only option. “That's not an option anymore,” Roland said. "We will lose some of our history in order to preserve the rest. It's a given."
The Strawberry Banke Museum in Portsmouth offers a look back at New Hampshire's history, but its future may be in jeopardy as rising sea levels submerge historic properties and homes.
The museum uses new technology to help protect and preserve the property.
The Strawberry Banke Museum has partnered with researchers from the University of New Hampshire to monitor groundwater since 2012. Last year, sensors were installed that allow researchers to track water levels in real time.
“We can see the foundation around us, and you can see where the mortar was already deteriorating because of the water coming into the basement,” said Michael Routier, a researcher at the United Nations.
As sea levels rise, groundwater also rises, damaging the original structure of centuries-old homes. The availability of data not only documents changing sea levels, but helps the museum prepare to be more resilient in the future.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Apps <
“The frequency of impacts, how high the water is, what type of water it is,” said Rodney Rowland, director of facilities and environmental stability at Strawberry Bank. “From that, we can design the flexibility or adaptation that we need to do for that building.”
Due to sea level rise, the Strawberry Banke Museum is trying to find new ways to preserve and protect its historic buildings. The foundation of one of the buildings was replaced, which museum officials said was a difficult decision to make.
“Climate change, specifically sea level rise, completely changes that language,” Rowland said.
Normally, the museum avoids changing anything about the original buildings, but officials said that if they want to see these homes live for another century, change is the only option.
“That's not an option anymore,” Roland said. “We will lose some of our history in order to preserve the rest. It's a given.”
