Rockingham Hotel

Rockingham Hotel
Location 401 State St., Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Coordinates 43°4′31″N 70°45′35″W / 43.07528°N 70.75972°WCoordinates: 43°4′31″N 70°45′35″W / 43.07528°N 70.75972°W
Area 0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Built 1785
Architect Multiple
Architectural style Colonial Revival
Governing body Private
NRHP Reference #

82001693

[1]
Added to NRHP March 11, 1982

The Rockingham Hotel is a historic hotel building in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It was originally built in 1785 as a residence by Woodbury Langdon, prominent merchant and politician.[2] Thomas Coburn converted it into a hotel which opened November 1, 1833. Frank Jones, who was, among other things, mayor of Portsmouth, a US Representative, and a brewer, bought it in 1870. After a fire in 1884, Jones rebuilt it extensively. The only significant part saved from Langdon's mansion was the dining room, which is now the Library Restaurant.[2]

The building incorporates lions, Jones's personal symbol, terra cotta sculptures of the Four Seasons of Man, and busts of Jones and Langdon. It was a hotel until 1973 and is now condominiums.[3] The building has been host to presidents George Washington, Franklin Pierce, James K. Polk, Theodore Roosevelt, Chester A. Arthur, William H. Taft and John F. Kennedy.[2]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Gallery

The bust of Frank Jones 
The bust of Woodbury Langdon 
Facade, showing the busts and the lions 
The Langdon dining room 

See also

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "History". Library Restaurant. Retrieved December 30, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Rockingham Hotel". PortsmouthNH.com. Retrieved December 30, 2009.