PORTSMOUTH PEACE TREATY ANNIVERSARY COMMITTTEE: AN UNCOMMON COMMITMENT TO PEACE 1905-2005

In 2005, the 100th anniversary of the Treaty signing, the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Anniversary Committee community groups produced 45 events, including eight exhibits, several lecture series, an international scholarly symposium at Dartmouth College and another at the Green Acre Baha'i School, a 15-week concert series, three original plays including Pontine's "The Peace of Portsmouth" based on newspaper accounts of the Treaty summer of 1905, a Chautauqua, three original musical compositions, fifteen art works, two formal dinners (both hosted by the New Hampshire Governor), a Mayor's Centennial tea, two re-enactments at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, a formal port visit by the Navy's USS Ross and a National Guard parade that drew thousands of people into the streets, replicating the Guard's 1905 parade that welcomed the two delegations.

In 2025 for the 120th Treaty anniversary, the Treaty exhibit in the John Paul Jones House Museum  showcases the accomplishments of PPTAC and members of the committee are being invited to participate in commemorative activities around the September 5th anniversary, including a screening of the film, An Uncommon Commitment to Peace, 2005 featuring interviews with 22 PPTAC members.

Portsmouth welcomed a special delegation from the Nichinan Mayor's Office to help celebrate the 120th. The delegation includes Mayor Toru Takahashi, City Council President Koichiro Kitagawa, Superintendent of Education Masafumi Toko, Sister City Friendship Association Chair Shotaro Hidaka, Nichinan City Section Manager Munehiro Mizumoto, Nichnan City General Administration Assistant Manager Mikio Hori and Nichinan City Coordinator of International Relations Jose Luis Gonzalez. 

On Thursday, September 4, Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern welcomed the delegation from the Nichinan Mayor's Office to help celebrate the 120th. On September 5, the annual bellringing and Governor Ayotte’s reading of the Governor’s Proclamation of Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day (the date the Treaty was signed at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard where negotiations were held) took place in Market Square (image above) outside Piscataqua Savings Bank at 15 Pleasant Street. US Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Consul General Seiichiro Takahashi, Consulate of Japan in Boston also participated.

Participants in the annual Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day bellringing included:
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• Middle Street Baptist Church, Portsmouth
• Christ Episcopal Church, Portsmouth
• North Congregational Church, Portsmouth
• Second Christian Congregational United Church, Kittery
• St. John’s Episcopal Church, Portsmouth
• Unitarian Universalist (South) Church, Portsmouth
• First United Methodist Church, Portsmouth
• Temple Israel, Portsmouth (sounding the shofar)
• Wentworth By the Sea Hotel, New Castle (which hosted both delegations in 1905)
• Portsmouth Historical Society John Paul Jones House (Portsmouth Peace Treaty exhibit)
• Strawbery Banke Museum
• Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion

Portsmouth Peace Treaty Living Memorial cherry tree sites in Dublin, Hanover, Lancaster, Meredith, Manchester and Milford NH also traditionally participate in the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Day observances.

In 2010, on the occasion of the signing of Portsmouth peace Treaty Day legislation, the bill sponsors and members of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty Anniversary Committee who organized the 2005 commemorations gathered for a group photo, recreating the 1905 group photo of the delegates and local organizers.