Both museums are open 7 days a week: Monday, 1 - 4 pm, and Tuesday - Sunday, 10 am - 4 pm.
Due to annual maintenance, the houses will close for one week each in February:
Nathaniel Russell House will be closed M-F, Feb 3 through Feb 7. Aiken-Rhett House will be closed M-F, Feb 10 through Feb 14.
Each House Museum offers
self-guided tours throughout the day using HCF's free app which includes a Charleston Walking Guide with more than 300 points of interest.
Each House Museum is located on Charleston's peninsula and offer an intimate look at Charleston's history through two different preservation styles. Visit both museums and save on adult tickets by purchasing a combo ticket.
Tickets to tour the Aiken-Rhett House Museum and the Nathaniel Russell House Museum are available online, or at each location and each museum admission supports the preservation and stewardship of each historic house museum. Tickets may be purchased individually by site, or together for a discount. House museum tickets expire within six months of purchase.
Tickets to tour the Aiken-Rhett House or the Nathaniel Russell House Museums are available for purchase upon arrival. If you would like to purchase your ticket in advance, you may purchase single house museum or combo house museum tickets online. Present your receipt at the admission desk to use.
At HCF's historic house museums, guests have the choice of enjoying self-paced audio tours or a group tour led by one of our talented guides. Guests may spend as much time touring the property as needed, within museum operating hours. Guided tours begin at various points throughout the day (refer to each individual house museum for more details) and self-paced tours may begin anytime between operating hours. Please note, each House Museum will close at 4 pm.
Self-paced audio tours can be enjoyed in two ways: guests may download the HCF App and listen to the tour on a personal device or use a smal listening advice and headphones provided by staff. Please note, it is reccommended to use personal listening devices to fully enjoy each self-paced tour.
Street parking is available around each house museum and public parking garages are readily available throughout the city. For a full list of public parking information, please visit the city’s website.
The Aiken-Rhett and Nathaniel Russell House Museums are open daily for tours, Monday, 1 through 4 pm and Tuesday through Sunday, from 10 am through 4 pm. The house museums are closed on select major holidays: Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Due to the historic nature of each historic property, touring requires walking over uneven flooring and the use of stairs. The house museums are not accessible for wheelchairs or scooters. House Museum staff are available meet accessibility needs to the best of their ability.
Each historic house museum audio tour is appropriate and available for the whole family to enjoy, but best enjoyed by guests ages 12 and older. Younger guests may request a Scavenger Hunt at each site to enhance the tour experience. Due to the historic nature of each site, strollers are not permitted on tours and can be safely stored until tours are complete. All children ages 12 and up must be accompanied by an adult.
Due to the historic nature of the house museums, food and beverages are not permitted. A water bottle with a closed top is acceptable.
Yes. For groups of 6 or more, we recommend coordinating your tour with the House Museum Manager for tour options, group rates and more.
Due to the historic nature of each house, we do not allow large backpacks and bags to be carried during tours as they can be accidently knocked into, or brushed against, the fragile walls and historic objects. Large bags may be safely stored at the front desk until tours are complete.
Yes, with limitations. Each historic house museum allows personal photography with no flash. We ask that when a personal photograph is taken that guests take into consideration the sensitivity and complicated history that the historic spaces embody and to please, always be respectful. Professional photography, styled photoshoots, headshots, or any other paid photography experience is strictly prohibited without the expressed permission of Historic Charleston Foundation. This includes any DSLR photography and all videography. For more information and permissions, please email info@historiccharleston.org with questions and requests.
