Port Townsend, Washington's Victorian village, is undoubtedly one of the most charming cities you'll find anywhere. It also happens to be one of the most haunted. One building that's rumored to be inhabited by those no longer living is The Rothschild House, a historic home turned museum that sits on a bluff overlooking the town. But whether or not you believe in ghosts, you should definitely check this place out for the history alone.
The Rothschild House has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970.
It's also included in the Port Townsend Historic District, which was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977.
But before all that happened, this was the home of David Charles Henry Rothschild (otherwise known as The Baron) ad his family.
D.C.H. Rothschild traveled the world extensively before settling in Port Townsend in 1858 and opening the Rothschild and Co. Mercantile. After living above the store for a few years, the family moved into this home.
The Rothschild family members were the only ones to ever inhabit this house.
The last surviving one, Eugene, donated the house to the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission. It opened to the public was a historic site in museum in 1962.
According to local legend, some of the family members hung around after their deaths... and they aren't too happy about having strangers in their house.
Paranormal activity has been reported for decades, ranging from mysterious slamming doors, random cold spots in the house, and even a mysterious shadowy figure who hangs out in several rooms.
There's a chance the shadowy figure seen here could be the spirit of D. C. H. Rothschild himself.
Unfortunately, he committed suicide in 1886 after some mental health struggles, His two sons took over the family business after that.
Of course, the paranormal reports are few and far between, so you're most likely going to have a nice ghost-free visit here.
Visiting really does feel like stepping back in time, and it almost looks like the family simply stepped out for a little while.
Address: 418 Taylor Street, Port Townsend, WA, 98368
The Rothschild House is open daily from noon - 4 p.m. And for an experience that's a little more sinister, check out Washington's death museum.
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