A grand Greek Revival mansion built in 1834 for whaling merchant William Rotch, Jr. was saved from commercial development with its 1981 purchase by the Waterfront Historic Area League (Cat ’04). After restoration and conservation work was complete, the mortgage was transferred to a newly formed board of trustees in 1983 and is now called the Rotch-Jones-Duff House and Garden Museum.

Today, 9,000 visitors annually view its period rooms—decorated with arts and furniture appropriate to the time period—and enjoy the grounds, which encompass a city block of gardens including a Wildflower Walk. Historians and horticulturists offer lectures, while local school children glean information through field trips and through the museum’s presentation of apiary and local history programs to fifth-grade students. A capital campaign launched in 2001 to build endowment and to fund restoration projects is now at 84% of its goal. Maintaining an historic house and garden, including restoration and preservation work, is an expensive undertaking, but necessary to ensure the museum remains a cultural resource for the community. Won’t you take part in its safeguarding?