Rockingham Hotel
Portsmouth, NH


Photo courtesy of J. Dennis Robinson.

As a poor farm boy before the Civil War, Frank Jones of Barrington made deliveries to the stately Rockingham Hotel. Years later, as a millionaire ale tycoon, Jones purchased the hotel. With manager Frank Hilton, Jones transformed the hotel into one of the best known in New Hampshire. Built originally from the mansion of Revolutionary War judge Woodbury Langdon, the hotel burned in 1884 and was rebuilt by Jones, who also owned the Wentworth Hotel. He installed the famous lions and built out the Victorian bay windows. Jones kept his man office at the Rockingham in a richly paneled room with elaborate paintings on the high ceiling. Although the hotel was adapted to condominiums in 1973, many of the early features survive and can be viewed during an annual tour. The Library Restaurant occupies the old dining area. Relief portraits of Jones and Langdon are still visible on the front of the hotel. (See also Jones grave site and Woodbury Langdon)

HOURS: Privately owned
ADDRESS: State Street Portsmouth, NH 03802
DIRECTIONS: From downtown Portsmouth travel down Congress Street, turn left at the ligth on Middle and directly left again onto State Street. The hotel is next to the John Paul Jones House
LINKS: A ghost story, Our photo tour,