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Dorette and her husband, D.C.H. Rothschild (d. 1885), built this simple gable-roofed dwelling in 1868; it had two parts, a one-story section and a two-story portion which lay nearest the water. The house had a pier in which Rothschild, a German immigrant, could take in supplies for his mercantile store. Before coming to Port Townsend, Rothschild had run general stores in California and Bellingham, WA. S. Horace Tucker served as the building contractor for the dwelling. The family lived in this dwelling until 1959, when it and its contents were deed to the State of Washington. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission opened the house as a state park in 1962, one of 40 historic sites run by this agency. A renovation sponsored by the State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Jefferson County Historical Society and Port Townsend residents occurred before the 1962 park opening.

The Rotschild House had the chaste simplicity characteristic of the Greek Revival Style. As was typical of the style, the building's gable appeared to be supported by two pilasters on either end of the front facade. Piers of the projecting front porch had Doric capitals and clean, unornamented appearance.