Odiorne Point

The historic piece of land at Odiorne Point was used by native peoples for centuries, as well as by early fishermen, before permanent European settlement in 1623. Originally called Rendezvous Point, the Odiorne family settled there in the later 1600s, and after the Revolution, the name was changed to reflect that. This family formed the core of a small farming community at the north end of town, hemmed in by the sea, the river, and the salt marsh. By the 1800s, more well-to-do folks had discovered the point and increasingly more substantial homes were built. Nations, communities, and families were transformed forever by the Second World War, and most of the homes were razed to make way for military fortification to protect the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. After the war, the area was abandoned until the struggle for its use began between the state of NH, UNH, private proposals, and the "Friends of Odiorne Point." The latter group persevered, and we are grateful for their efforts. The modest Sugden House marine outreach program of the 1970s finally became the Seacoast Science Center in 1992.