06/04/2026
When was the last time you visited the historic Rothschild House in Uptown?
Emilie Rothschild (1875–1954), the youngest Rothschild daughter, lived in this house for nearly her entire life. Her father, D.C.H. Rothschild, operated one of Port Townsend’s earliest mercantiles downtown. Emilie never married and became one of Port Townsend’s first librarians. She also deeply loved animals, as captured here in this photo of her (at left) with her dear friend Helen, surrounded by kittens, birds, and a dog on the house’s front porch.
After Emilie’s passing, the house and nearly all of its contents (carefully preserved by Emilie) were donated to Washington State Parks. Today, the house is co-operated by the Jefferson County Historical Society and Washington State Parks, preserving a time capsule of one family’s life across decades.
Unlike most historic house museums, virtually everything you see inside truly belonged to the Rothschild family, and many of Emilie’s personal belongings remain throughout the home, offering an intimate and immersive glimpse into daily life in earlier Port Townsend.
Visit the Rothschild House Thursday – Saturday, 11AM – 4PM, through September 12th. For more info, visit https://www.jchsmuseum.org/rothschild-house
