Rotch–Jones–Duff House and Garden Museum facts for kids
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William Rotch Jr. House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Front (west) elevation, 2008
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 396 County Street, New Bedford, MA |
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| Area | 1 acre (4,000 m²) |
| Built | 1834 |
| Architect | Richard Upjohn |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | County Street Historic District (ID76000229) |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000456 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 5, 2005 |
| Designated NHL | April 5, 2005 |
| Designated CP | August 11, 1976 |
The William Rotch Jr. House is a very old and important building in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Today, it is known as the Rotch–Jones–Duff House and Garden Museum. This house is a National Historic Landmark, which means it's a special place recognized for its history.
The house is located at 396 County Street. It's famous because three families who lived there were very important in New Bedford's history. They were all connected to the city's huge whaling industry in the 1800s. Because of this, the house is now part of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.
A famous architect named Richard Upjohn designed the house in 1834. It was built for William Rotch Jr. in a style called Greek Revival. This was one of Upjohn's first houses, and he became very well-known later. William Rotch Jr. also started a garden behind the house, which later owners made even bigger and more beautiful.
The house was a private home until 1981. Then, people who wanted to save old buildings bought it. They turned it into a historic house museum. In 2005, it became a National Historic Landmark. Today, the museum teaches visitors about whaling. It also uses its gardens and special programs to teach local students about nature and the environment.
Exploring the House and Garden
The Rotch–Jones–Duff House sits on a one-acre piece of land in New Bedford. It's in the middle of the County Street Historic District. This area was where rich people built their large homes in the 1800s.
The house is a two-story building with yellow walls. It has a front porch and balconies on each end. Several tall chimneys stick out from the roof. Inside, you can still see many of the original doors made of mahogany wood. These doors have beautiful walnut wood on top. The decorations inside the house show the Greek Revival style, with fancy carvings and designs.
A circular driveway leads up to the house. The house is set back from the street, leaving space for other buildings and the large garden. The garden has parts from all three families who lived there. It includes a formal boxwood rose garden with tall calla lilies. There's also a cutting garden and a "Woodland Walk." A 19th-century wooden latticework pergola adds to its charm.
A Look Back: The House's Story
The Rotch family was very important in New Bedford's early days. William Rotch Jr.'s grandfather, Joseph Rotch, helped the town grow in the 1760s. He realized that New Bedford could become a major whaling center. It had a deep harbor where large ships could easily dock. This was better than Nantucket, which was the main whaling center at the time.
Even with some tough times during the American Revolution and War of 1812, New Bedford's whaling fleet grew. By the late 1820s, it was catching up to Nantucket. Ship captains and owners became very rich. They built grand homes in the County Street area. The famous writer Herman Melville even wrote about these "brave houses and flowery gardens" in his book Moby-Dick. The Rotch family made money from every part of the whaling business, making them very wealthy.
William Rotch Jr. inherited the land for the house from his father in 1828. He was already a respected person in New Bedford. He helped start banks and schools. He hired Richard Upjohn, a young architect from England, to design his home. William Rotch Jr. wanted his house to be simpler than his neighbors', even though he was one of the richest men in the city. He also loved gardening and started the special garden at the back of the property.
By 1851, New Bedford was the biggest whaling center in America. That year, Edward Coffin Jones bought the house. He was a successful ship owner from Nantucket who had moved to New Bedford. The Jones family made the garden even bigger, adding the pergola. One of his daughters, Amelia Hickling Jones, lived in the house for 85 years. She gave a lot to the city as it changed from whaling to textiles. When she passed away in 1935, the house was put up for sale.
Mark Duff bought the house in 1936. His family also came from a New Bedford whaling background. They hired a landscape architect to redecorate the house. They also planted 7,000 tulip bulbs in the garden. They added new paths and pretty ponds.
In 1981, the Duff family decided to sell the house. A local group called the Waterfront Historic Area LeaguE (WHALE) bought it. WHALE helps save and protect old buildings. They wanted to stop the house from being turned into a business. They opened it as a museum in 1983. In 1996, it became part of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. In 2005, the house and garden became a National Historic Landmark. It's special because it shows New Bedford's whaling past, is a great example of Greek Revival style, and was one of Richard Upjohn's first houses.
Visiting the Museum
The Rotch–Jones–Duff House and Garden Museum is open most days of the year. You usually pay to get in, but it's free on the second Thursday evening of every month (except January).
The museum offers many learning programs. Students in grades 4-6 can learn about botany (plants), beekeeping, and whaling using the house and gardens. There are also materials online for teachers. Older students in high school and college can even work there as interns. The beautiful grounds and gardens can also be rented for special events like weddings.
See also
