The Rotch-Jones-Duff House

About the RJD House

The Rotch-Jones-Duff (RJD) House is a distinguished Greek Revival mansion located on County Street in New Bedford, Massachusetts. Built in 1834, and designed by architect Richard Upjohn, the home occupies an entire city block, including its original gardens and outbuildings.

The house is part of what once was New Bedford’s most fashionable neighborhood, and now is the County Street National Historic District. Here, wealthy families built impressive residences away from the busy wharves. While many neighbors favored ornate materials and designs, the first resident, William Rotch Jr., chose a more restrained, modest interpretation of the Greek Revival style—reflecting both his Quaker roots and his preference for simplicity.

Inside, the mansion retains many original 19th-century features. Large, well-proportioned rooms, paneled folding shutters, varnished mahogany doors, and intricate plaster cornices all define its Greek Revival character. Over time, the three families who lived here made updates to suit modern needs—adding bathrooms, heating, and electricity—yet preserved the home’s essential layout and craftsmanship.

Today, the house is interpreted through furnishings and materials that represent the lives of the Rotch, Jones, and Duff families, and their household staff, offering visitors a window into nearly 150 years of history. The site is designated at a National Historic Landmark, and is part of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park.