Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum

Built by shipwrights in 1834 for whaling merchant William Rotch Jr., the Rotch-Jones-Duff (RJD) House and Garden Museum is a Greek Revival house designed by architect Richard Upjohn. Now a National Historic Landmark, 396 County Street was home to three prominent and influential New Bedford families; The Rotches 1834 to 1850; Jones, 1851 – 1935; and Duffs, 1935 – 1981, as well as their domestic help. The estate chronicles important chapters in American history when New Bedford had a major influence on the international arenas of commerce, trade, and culture via whaling, and later through textiles. The property encompasses a full city block of gardens which include a boxwood parterre rose garden, a boxwood specimen garden, and a woodland garden. It is the only whaling mansion open to the public in New England that retains its original configuration of grounds and outbuildings. In 1983, the house and gardens became a Museum dedicated to preservation and education. Annual public programming includes house tours, lectures on all subjects, musical and theatrical performances, changing exhibits, virtual and streaming programs and curriculum-based school tours.

The mission of the Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum is:

·     To Preserve one of the nation’s finest Greek Revival mansions and its historic grounds and gardens to the highest standard;

·     To interest and educate the public through exhibits and interpretive historical and horticultural programs that document the history of New Bedford and important chapters in American history through the lives of the three families who lived in the house;

·     To acquire and care for appropriate artifacts, furnishings and period collections.