Rothschild House History

History
The Rothschild House
Franklin & Taylor Streets,
Port Townsend, Washington
360 379 8076
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MAP

Step back to the 1800's as you step through the kitchen door of the Rothschild House State Park. Located at the corner of Jefferson and Taylor, the Rothschild House is almost unchanged from a hundred years ago.

D.C.H. Rothschild, or the Baron as he became universally known, was born in Bavaria in 1824. After traveling extensively around the world and engaging in several business enterprises, he settled in Port Townsend in 1858 and began a business under the name of "Kentucky Store". It was soon changed to the Rothschild and Co. Mercantile, selling varied merchandise. An 1878 map shows the Rothschild house, out buildings and orchard (center right) and the Kentucky Store just to the left of Union Pier.

(click to enlarge)

Throughout the years, the business became increasingly marine-oriented, and by the early 1880's exclusively so. The two older sons became partners. Rothschild died in 1886, and the two sons took over, moving the store to the other side of the Sound.

For the first several years the family lived over the downtown store. In 1868 he had the Rothschild House built where it now stands. His widow Dorette remained in the house until her death in 1918, allowing only minimal changes, such as a bathroom. Her daughter lived there for nearly 78 years, dying in 1954.

Occupied only by the Rothschilds, the last surviving member, Eugene, donated the house to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. It opened to the public as a historic site in 1962, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The house has been left intact as the family remembered it from its early years. As such, it is a surprisingly accurate reflection of our culture 100 years ago. The children's room looks like the children have just stepped out for a few minutes. The parlor waits for visiting callers. Outside, the roses of earlier generations still bloom; the herbs still rise in the springtime.

Rothschild House is currently operated in cooperation with the Jefferson County Historical Society. The JCHS staffs the house, while Washington State Parks provides maintenance and oversight.

Friends of Rothschild House

The Friends of Rothschild House recently formed to help develop the interpretation and management of the house, under the care of Washington State Parks. They are currently forming by-laws, projects, goals, etc. For more information, call Dr. Niki Clark at the Jefferson County Historical Society. 360-385-1003.

House Tour Hours
The house is open for self-guided tours daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., May through September. There is a $2 admission, $1 for children.

Rose Garden Varieties

The following varieties of roses (with their date of introduction into European gardens in parentheses) are in the Rothschild House Rose Garden:

Blanc Double de Coubert (1892), Gloire de Dijon (1853), Zephirine Drouhin (1868), Henri Martin (1863), Hortulanis Budde (1919), Madame Isaac Pereire (1880), Petite de Hollande, Chestnut Rose (1825), Candeur Lyonnaise (1914), Celine Forrester (1842), Baron Girod De'Lain (1897), Hansa (1905), Perle de Jardins (1874), Paul Neyron (1869), Comtesse de Murinais (1843), harison's Yellow (1830), Eglantine, Musk Rose, Alain Blanchard (1839), Madame hardy (1832), American Beauty (1886), Marechal Neil (1864), White Rose of York (<1597), Rosa Gallica (1300), Prince Camille de Rohan (1861), Austrian Copper (<1300), Duchesse de Brabant (1857), Reine des Violettes (1860), Baronne Prevost (1842), Empress Josephine (1813), Maiden's Blush (1797), Buff Beauty (1939), Green Rose, Baroness Rothschild (1868), Damascene Bifera (1600), Souvenir de la Malmaison (1843), Camaieux (1830), Rose Rouletti (1933), Charles de Mills, Catherine Mermet (1869), La France (1867), Crested Moss (1826), Common Moss Rose (1696), Salet Moss (1854), Alfred de Dalmas (1855).