The Rothschild house
In partnership with Washington State Parks, we welcome visitors seasonally to our historic house museum for an immersive step into late 19th century and early 20th century life in Port Townsend.
Museums often work hard to recreate the immersive experience we offer at these houses—sometimes curating objects and staging rooms as part of interpreting history for the public. What makes these spaces special is how in-tact and well preserved they are.
With little alteration of the furnishings or objects inside, these historic house museums are like a time capsule and give visitors a sensory, place-based way to learn about daily life in the past and some of the families who lived on the Quimper Peninsula.
418 Taylor Street
Port Townsend, WA 98368
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Hours
Open April 26, 2024 – September 1, 2024
Admission
FREE Admission: JCHS Members, NARM Members, ROAM Members, and Youth
Adult: $9.00
Senior + Military: $7.00
Rothschild House admission is reciprocal with Jefferson Museum admission
The First Saturday of every month is FREE admission for all.
Park Grounds Access
Open year-round for day use, closes at dusk
Accessibility
House interior is two levels that are only accessible by stairs. Grounds are all at street level.
Parking & Restrooms
Limited free parking is available onsite. Uptown streets may be congested during Saturday farmers markets, festivals, and parades.
About the Family
D.C.H. Rothschild was a Bavarian immigrant who opened the first general mercantile in Port Townsend in 1859. He later specialized in loading and offloading ship cargo and descendants of his still operate that business in Seattle today as Jones Stevedoring. Dorette, an immigrant from Goslar (Germany), married D.C.H. in 1863. D.C.H.'s untimely death in 1886 left her with an infant, four children, and the family business to care for. She persevered, successfully raising her family, and stewarding a home.
The second youngest of the five Rothschild children, Emilie, cared for her mother until her 1918 death and remained in the house to the end of her own life in 1954, keeping the furnishings from her upbringing and changing very little about the home, which was often lively with guests and pets. After Emilie passed, the youngest child, Eugene, deeded the house and its contents to Washington State Parks in 1959.
About the House
The Greek-revival style Rothschild House was built in 1868 by celebrated local architect and craftsman Horace Tucker. Notably simplistic compared to the ornate Victorian homes dotting Uptown Port Townsend, the sensible house mirrored the family’s values.
In addition to the house, the lot was occupied by the family's rose garden and several outbuildings, including an outhouse and chicken houses. Also on the lot was a two-story building used as the carriage house, washhouse, and woodhouse that served as quarters for hired help, including a Chinese American cook named Toi Chong.
JCHS has managed the Rothschild House in partnership with Washington State Parks since 1999. In addition to providing interpretation and care for the house and its objects, we work with State Parks and living descendants of the Rothschild family to maintain this historic house.
JCHS operates historic houses in partnership with Washington State Parks
Additional support for the preservation and care of the Rothschild House is provided by descendants of the Rothschild family.