Jefferson County Historical Society

Jefferson County Historical Society The Museum of Art + History and the Rothschild House are open for the season!

JCHS serves residents and visitors across Jefferson County, WA with arts and heritage experiences through programs, exhibitions, research, and more. JCHS Mission: Through collections, research, exhibits, and programs, we bring people together to share, learn, and be inspired by Jefferson County arts and heritage.

This is Emilie Rothschild’s graduation photo from 1891, when she was part of Port Townsend High School’s very first grad...
06/19/2026

This is Emilie Rothschild’s graduation photo from 1891, when she was part of Port Townsend High School’s very first graduating class.

Emilie would go on to become one of Port Townsend’s first librarians and lived nearly her entire life in the Rothschild House, built in 1868. Today, that home is preserved as a historic house museum, where almost everything you see belonged to the Rothschild family, including Emilie herself.

Come visit the Rothschild House museum (418 Taylor St.) and learn more about Emilie and her family. Open Thursday–Saturday, 11AM to 4PM, through September 12.

For a deeper dive into the family's story, mark your calendar for July 22nd when we’ll present a special program about the family at the Cotton Building. More info at https://www.jchsmuseum.org/programs.

Make it a double feature of local art + history!The Museum of Art + History and the Rothschild House are both open this...
06/18/2026

Make it a double feature of local art + history!

The Museum of Art + History and the Rothschild House are both open this weekend, and your ticket to one gets you into the other. Thursday-Saturday, 11AM to 4PM.

Visit jchsmuseum.org to learn more about each site.


Heads up! The Research Center will be closed on Friday, June 19th and Friday, July 3rd. The Museum of Art + History and ...
06/16/2026

Heads up! The Research Center will be closed on Friday, June 19th and Friday, July 3rd.
The Museum of Art + History and Rothschild House will be open 11am to 4pm as usual.

As always, you can explore our online collections at https://cdm16785.contentdm.oclc.org/

*Update - SOLD OUT! Feel free to add yourself to the waitlist, or consider signing up for our Legends + Lore of Port Tow...
06/10/2026

*Update - SOLD OUT! Feel free to add yourself to the waitlist, or consider signing up for our Legends + Lore of Port Townsend tour which starts in July!*

This month only: get the scoop on Port Townsend’s historic ghost signs!

Many vintage advertisements still cling to the sides of buildings downtown - some more than 130 years old. Some are bold and easy to spot. Others have faded so much that they hide in plain sight. And a few may leave you wondering: what’s the story behind that sign?

Join us for a special walking tour that brings these "ghost murals" to life. Along the way, we’ll explore the history behind the businesses, entrepreneurs, and sign painters who helped shape Port Townsend’s streetscape.

This one-of-a-kind tour is offered on just three dates in June and space is limited. Learn more and register at: https://www.simpletix.com/e/vanishing-murals-of-port-townsend-walking-tickets-268691

Join us for a historical beach walk on Saturday, June 20th at Port Williams in Sequim, led by North Olympic History Cent...
06/08/2026

Join us for a historical beach walk on Saturday, June 20th at Port Williams in Sequim, led by North Olympic History Center director David Brownell. On this 2.5 mile roundtrip walk, we’ll explore the evolution of this once-bustling shoreline and the stories and people that shaped it.
Pre-registration required. Two time slots: 10AM and 12:30PM. More info + tickets at https://www.simpletix.com/e/history-hike-marlyn-nelson-county-park-por-tickets-270258

In addition to this hike, we’re offering two more:

• Saturday, July 18 — qatáy prairie and lagoon
• Saturday, September 19 — Dungeness and 3 Crabs
Find tickets at https://jchsmuseum.simpletix.com/

When was the last time you visited the historic Rothschild House in Uptown?Emilie Rothschild (1875–1954), the youngest R...
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


New books at the museum shop! 🌸🐝Along with the grand reopening of our Museum of Art + History, we’ve refreshed our books...
05/29/2026

New books at the museum shop! 🌸🐝

Along with the grand reopening of our Museum of Art + History, we’ve refreshed our bookstore with a thoughtfully curated selection of books and gifts inspired by our region.
Featured here are a few favorites from our nature section, including local foraging guides for mushrooms, seaweed, and other plants, and wildflower identification cards.

We also feature books on local Indigenous history, regional industries, artists, memoirs, hiking, and much more — plus a children’s section!

Come explore our updated shop Thursday through Sunday, 11 AM–4 PM.

Thanks to Reed County Historical Society for this glimpse of us in 1910! Do you think this is on our current grounds?
05/27/2026

Thanks to Reed County Historical Society for this glimpse of us in 1910! Do you think this is on our current grounds?

• What’s the deal with the old “cracker factory” ad?• Who painted the fading historic advertisements still visible aroun...
05/26/2026

• What’s the deal with the old “cracker factory” ad?
• Who painted the fading historic advertisements still visible around downtown?
• What do these “ghost murals” reveal about Port Townsend’s dramatic boom and bust in the late 19th century?

Offered on just three dates in June, this unique walking tour highlights a selection of these visual artifacts within their cultural and historical context. Visit the ticket link below for more details and to reserve your spot!

https://www.simpletix.com/e/vanishing-murals-of-port-townsend-walking-tickets-268691

Address

540 Water Street
Port Townsend, WA
98368

Opening Hours

Thursday 11am - 4pm
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

+13603851003

Website

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