Look for a striking five-story brick building on the north side of State Street, with twin central entrances under projecting porticos, oriel windows above, and an American flag waving proudly from the rooftop-it's hard to miss!
Ah, you’ve arrived at the Rockingham Hotel-a place where grandeur, gossip, and a parade of presidents have crossed paths! Step a little closer and imagine your shoes tapping the stone steps as you join a line of visitors stretching back to the 1700s. Behind these beautifully detailed red brick walls, history hums like a secret waiting to be told. It all began with Woodbury Langdon-a local merchant with political dreams-who built his impressive home right here. His house was so grand, it inspired the hotel that rose in its place, and what you see before you is a living tribute to his original style. Take a good look at that facade: twin entrances like two old friends, and those distinctive oriel window bays sprouting proudly above, as if the building wants a better view of history unfolding below.
Inside, well, things get even more interesting. You can almost hear the shuffle of petticoats and the quick footsteps of gentlemen calling for a carriage outside. The Rockingham wasn’t always a hotel-it started life as Langdon’s stately home, then was converted to a hotel in 1833. But then, enter stage right: Frank Jones, a bold-talking mayor, congressman, and-my personal favorite-a brewer! He bought the place in 1870, razed it to the ground and built a new fancy hotel. But wouldn’t you know it, in 1884 a fiery disaster swept through, threatening to leave nothing but ashes and beer barrels behind.
Not one to mope, ol’ Frank built the magnificent hotel you see now. And some of the oldest magic was preserved: step through those eastern doors and you’d once have found yourself standing in the "Gold Room," a parlor straight out of a fairy tale. Today, this glimmering chamber serves as a lively bar, while the former Langdon dining room-now The Library Restaurant-awaits anyone with an appetite for both good food and fine design. Mahogany pilasters, high Georgian ceilings, and intricate friezes whisper of candle-lit dinners, discreet deals, and perhaps a little gossip among friends. If you look up, you’ll see geometric panels on the ceiling, filled with painted scenes and rich linoleum, as if the past decided to paint itself onto every inch of this room.
But the Rockingham’s true claim to fame might be its illustrious guest list. Presidents-Washington, Polk, Pierce, Roosevelt, Arthur, Taft, Kennedy-have all walked these halls. Imagine dodging President Taft on your way to dinner, or overhearing Roosevelt plotting a new speech by the fireplace! And watch out for the stone lions, the busts of Langdon and Frank Jones-they’re there to keep an eye on the riff-raff (and maybe tell the odd joke, if you listen closely enough).
So, as you take in the Rockingham, feel the layers of Portsmouth's past settling gently on your shoulders. The old hotel isn’t just a building-it’s a living reminder that some places keep their stories close, but always invite you to listen in.
