aiken house tour

Aiken-Rhett House

Top ways to experience Aiken-Rhett House and nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travelers

Aiken-Rhett House - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Frankly Charleston Sunday Walking Tour (From $41.03)
• Charleston Scavenger Hunt: Castles, Cannons & Colleges (From $12.80)
• 90-Minute Charleston City Sightseeing Bus Tour (From $37.10)
• Charleston City Sightseeing Bus Tour (From $47.50)
• City Bus Tour with Charleston Museum Admission (From $43.00)
• (0.03 mi) Historic Cookhouse One Bedroom Apartment in Garden District
• (0.10 mi) Longshoreman by StayDuvet next to The Cedar Room
• (0.24 mi) 22 Charlotte
• (0.11 mi) Historic Gem Walking Distance to King St
• (0.24 mi) The Dewberry Charleston
• (0.27 mi) Halls Chophouse
• (0.27 mi) Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams
• (0.27 mi) The Darling Oyster Bar
• (0.28 mi) O-Ku
• (0.26 mi) Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts

The Aiken-Rhett House Museum

Price & Hours

• Facilities 2.5
• Atmosphere 4.0

According to many, the Aiken-Rhett House Museum is a unique and educational place to learn about life in Charleston during the 19th century. Originally built in the early 1800s and then expanded by Gov. William Aiken Jr. and his wife in the 1830s and 1850s, much of the house's original style has been preserved.

Before touring the house, spend some time exploring the grounds, which host the stables, the kitchens and the slave quarters. The slave quarters, which feature original paint and flooring, have remained untouched over time and serve to illustrate the harsh living conditions for at least 14 of the property's enslaved workers. Past visitors appreciated seeing the quarters first, so they could better understand how the house operated.

As you wander through the house, you'll notice antique furnishings, original wallpaper and bronze chandeliers installed by the Aiken family. Recent visitors praised the house tour, specifically the fact that it's a self-guided audio tour (included with admission and don't forget your headphones). Travelers said the audio tour allowed them to view the house at their own pace, without having to wait or rush to catch up to an entire group. Some visitors pointed out that the house is preserved but not restored in what's referred to as a "preserved as found" preservation approach.

Sitting a little more than a mile north of downtown Charleston, the museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with last admission at 4:15 p.m.). Admission is $15 for adults and $7 for children (ages 6 to 16) and includes an audio tour via a free mobile app. Kids younger than 6 enter for free. You can also buy a joint adult ticket for both the Aiken-Rhett House and the Nathaniel Russell House for $24; dual admission for children ages 6 to 16 costs $12. For more information, check out the Aiken-Rhett House section on the Historic Charleston Foundation's website .

Popular Tours

Charleston’s Old South Carriage Historic Horse & Carriage Tour

(7177 reviews)

from $ 50.00

Fort Sumter Admission and Self-Guided Tour with Roundtrip Ferry

(1582 reviews)

from $ 39.22

Charleston Harbor Luxury Dinner Cruise with Live Music

(197 reviews)

from $ 87.60

More Best Things To Do in Charleston, SC

#1 The Battery

Many travelers say you can't leave Charleston without strolling this historic seawall along the city's southern tip, which they call both beautiful and what makes Charleston special. Across the street from the waterfront promenade is Rainbow Row . This clutch of Georgian-style row houses overlooking Charleston Harbor was formerly the heart and soul of the city's merchant and maritime activity. Today, the 13 brightly colored homes attract camera-toting tourists from all over the country.

As you explore this picturesque neighborhood, save time for a break beneath the old live oaks in nearby White Point Garden where several Civil War relics and memorials commemorate the city's role in the battle. Start your tour of the Battery at the 8-acre Waterfront Park (home to the giant pineapple fountain featured on many Charleston postcards), then follow the walking paths on East Battery Street for the nearly mile-long stroll to White Point Garden.

Explore More of Charleston, SC

Things To Do

Best Hotels

You might also like

Myrtle Beach

# 7 in  Best Places to Visit in South Carolina

# 1 in  Best Places to Visit in Georgia

Hilton Head

# 1 in  Best South Carolina Beaches

If you make a purchase from our site, we may earn a commission. This does not affect the quality or independence of our editorial content.

Recommended

The 50 Best Hotels in the USA 2024

Christina Maggitas February 6, 2024

The 32 Most Famous Landmarks in the World

Gwen Pratesi|Timothy J. Forster February 1, 2024

9 Top All-Inclusive Resorts in Florida for 2024

Gwen Pratesi|Amanda Norcross January 5, 2024

24 Top All-Inclusive Resorts in the U.S. for 2024

Erin Evans January 4, 2024

26 Top Adults-Only All-Inclusive Resorts for 2024

Zach Watson December 28, 2023

Solo Vacations: The 36 Best Places to Travel Alone in 2024

Lyn Mettler|Erin Vasta December 22, 2023

26 Cheap Beach Vacations for Travelers on a Budget

Kyle McCarthy|Sharael Kolberg December 4, 2023

The 50 Most Beautiful White Sand Beaches in the World

Holly Johnson December 1, 2023

The 26 Best Zoos in the U.S.

Rachael Hood November 16, 2023

44 Cheap Tropical Vacations That Feel Expensive

Holly Johnson|Alissa Grisler November 10, 2023

This website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience and analyze the use of the website. Learn More

The Aiken-Rhett House Museum

In this post, we share everything you need to know about visiting the Aiken-Rhett House in Charleston. This is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area, and it is also the home of one of the most well preserved mansions that Charleston has to offer, making it all the more appealing. 

Getting There Tickets & Hours Events History & Architecture Free Tours by Foot

GETTING THERE

The Aiken-Rhett House is based to the north of the so called Museum Mile, which is situated in the heart of Charleston. 

Address:  48 Elizabeth St, Charleston, SC 29403, USA

Back to top

TICKETS & HOURS

The Aiken-Rhett House is included on the Charleston Heritage Pass . Choose between a 2, 3, or 7 day pass. Read our post on the Heritage Pass to learn more and check out Charleston on a Budget for more money-saving tips. 

Single House Ticket:

• Adult: $12.00
• Child 6-16: $5.00
• Under 6: Free

Combination Ticket: (Visit both Aiken-Rhett and Nathaniel Russell House Museums)

• Adult  Combo: $18.00
• Child 6-16 Combo: $10.00

Hours: Daily 10 am - 5 pm (Last tour at 4:15 pm.) Tours are self-guided audio tours.

Festival of Houses and Gardens 

One of the most popular events to take place in Charleston every year, the Festival of Houses and Gardens invites the public to tour more than 150 private houses and gardens in the historic district of the city. Each property dates back to anywhere from the Georgian and Antebellum periods into the early 20th century, and ‘showcases Charleston’s distinctive architecture, history, gardens, and culture.’ Tickets are available from November and tend to sell out quick, so be sure to get yours as soon as possible. All proceeds benefit Historic Charleston Foundation. 

Read our post Things to Do in Charleston in March to learn more. 

Charleston Antiques Show

Described as a celebration of antiques and design. Collectors and enthusiasts gather together to 7th to mid–century modern English, European, and American period furnishings, decorative arts & fine art, architectural elements, garden furniture, vintage jewelry, silver and more.

HISTORY & ARCHITECTURE

Architecture

48 Elizabeth Street

This property was built on 48 Elizabeth Street, by John Robinson, a merchant of the area. In 1827, Robinson lost a number of his ships in his fleet and he had to sell the property. It was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Aiken, who were extremely wealthy citizens of Charleston during that time. The property wasn't the primary residence of the Aiken's, however, since they used it as a rental unit.

Aiken was an immigrant from Ireland and he had managed to amass a large fortune during his time as a merchant in the city. He died very suddenly in a carriage accident, however, and so the house was then passed on to his son, Aiken Jr. who continued to renovate and build onto the property. Many of the pieces that were collected from their travels can still be seen in the house today. In fact, many of the pieces are in precisely the same rooms they were initially placed by Aiken his wife.

The Second Expansion

One of the things that makes the Aiken-Rhett House truly remarkable is that it was kept in such good condition. During the 1850s, an expansion was conducted on the property and this only added to the allure of the place. Aiken Jr. was a very successful rice planter and politician. Gov. Aiken made the decision to enlist Joseph Daniel Aiken, his cousin, to not only design but also to oversee the construction of the art gallery within the home, which happens to be one of a kind.

The library is another impressive facet of the building. It contains over 2000 books that were published during the 1800s and many of them can be seen in the Charleston Library Society archives today. It is interesting to note that many of the volumes were actually signed by members of the family.

Slavery and the Aiken-Rhett House Museum

Before the Civil War, the Aiken-Rhett House was home to African American slaves who maintained the home and waited on the family. Some of the positions that these slaves held included cook, laundress, footmen, seamstress and gardener, among others. There is documentation that was found that showed the names of about 14 of the slaves that lived and worked at Aiken-Rhett House. These names included; Victoria, Charles, Elizabeth, Rachel, Sambo and Dorcas Richardson, Ann, Tom and Henry Greggs and Julia, among others. The documentation shows that some of the slaves remained in the house after they were emancipated.

The slaves resided in the slave quarters that were situated at the back of the house. They would eat in a communal kitchen. Studies of the grounds have shown that many rooms within these quarters contained fireplaces, and the rooms were painted very vibrant colors.

The Death Of William Aiken Jr.

William Aiken Jr. died in North Carolina in 1887 and the property was passed on to his wife and daughter. His wife lived on the property until she died in 1892 and it then became the residence of her daughter and son-in-law. When her daughter, Henrietta died, it was passed on to her children, and then again on to their heirs.

Due to the care and consideration that went into maintaining the property, it was only in the 1870s that the property left the ownership of William's family. After it left the hands of William's family, it was donated to the Charleston Museum, although it was purchased by the Charleston Foundation in the 1990s.

Anyone who is planning on visiting Charleston should take some time to pay a visit to the Aiken-Rhett House. This property is not only a landmark in this town but it also gives visitors a unique view of the history of this area and this makes it more than worth a visit.

Is The Aiken-Rhett Mansion Haunted?

Many people still think that the Aiken-Rhett House is haunted, with some people even claiming to see a woman roaming the halls of the house. Others claim to hear footsteps when no one else is around.

Choose a Destination... I want them all PLUS general travel tips. Amsterdam Berlin Boston Charleston Chicago Dubai Lisbon London Los Angeles Miami Nashville New York City New Orleans Paris Philadelphia Prague Rome San Francisco Washington DC

About The Author

Scott Nelson

North america, united kingdom & ireland, middle east & india, asia & oceania.

All photos are copyright protected from 2008-2024

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

A romantic mix.

Friday, April 5, 2024

Daffodil beauty.

Aiken-Rhett House Museum

Review Highlights

“ If you are going to go on a house tour in Charleston, make sure the Aiken-Rhett House is at the top of the list. ” in 7 reviews

“ This is an urban plantation but the fact that it is simply maintained and not restored makes it that much more amazing. ” in 3 reviews

“ Personally, although I enjoyed the grand public spaces of the house, I found the slave quarters to be the most amazing spaces of the house..... ” in 8 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

48 Elizabeth St

Charleston, SC 29403

Mazyck-Wraggborough

You Might Also Consider

Regal Palmetto Grande

6.8 miles away from Aiken-Rhett House Museum

Sylvalyn H. said "Disclaimer: this review is highly likely to be clouded by a veil of nostalgia and bliss. It had been nearly 24 months since my husband and I went to a movie. Walking into the lobby, that overly powerful smell of buttery and salty…" read more

Tybee Island Light Station and Museum

Rob B. said "This is a piece of history. Our family had a great time climbing the lighthouse to see how high the tower was. It was a challenge. The museum and great history signs helped us learn about the use of lighthouses and the history of…" read more

in Museums, Historical Tours

Paint the Town

Our paint parties are perfect for any occasion. Gather your group in-person to paint and sip at home, at the office, or a venue of your choosing read more

in Team Building Activities, Paint & Sip

Amenities and More

About the business.

Business owner information

Built in 1820 and greatly expanded by Governor William Aiken Jr., the house survives in a condition that depicts the way it has changed over time. …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about Aiken-Rhett House Museum .

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

My favorite historical house. Many of the original items still in the house and has quite an amazing history!

We visited here during the Christmas holiday. This was a thoroughly educational tour about this old plantation house. The Historic Charleston Foundation has owned and operated the Aiken-Rhett House as a historic house museum. They did note that a couple of rooms had been damaged by hurricane Hugo years ago. This house has a lot of beautiful architectural detail and charm still preserved after all this time. They also made sure to thoroughly touch the topic of slavery as well. The antebellum South relied on slavery heavily for economic prosperity (slave economy) and used wealth as a way to justify enslavement practices. This was how the original owners maintained their wealth; through the exploit of the free labor. We chose the self-guided tour (with a provided iPhone and headphones to guide us through each room/area of the house). Among many of the topics mentioned in the recorded, self guided tour, it was interesting hearing about the logistics of the household management/behind-the-scenes labor. Researchers are still trying to find out as much as possible about the enslaved families who lived here as their history has been mostly glossed over with that of the owners of this home. In the meantime, they preserved whatever they could find. This provides a bit of some educational value for those that desire it.

See all photos from Shuné D. for Aiken-Rhett House Museum

Yesterday a local mentioned this house to us. He said we had to go. Today being our last day in Charleston we went. You need to ring the doorbell for admittance into the house. At the check in we were asked if we had a combo ticket. Uh no. What's the other house? She said Nathaniel Russell. Heck we were there yesterday where we only purchased a single ticket. She asked if I had the receipt. No I already emptied my wallet. Any photos? Yes! We showed her. She graciously gave us a discount for the second house. Thank you. We got the audio. Unlike the Nathaniel Russell this house is preserved. Not restored. Hubby and I enjoyed this house so much more. We got a sense of how the elite lived at the expense of the urban enslaved. The audio walks you through the main house and the slave quarters. You learn about the inhabitants of both the main house and of the kitchen household help, the laundry help, and the stable help. We were able to access most of the rooms. Visiting this house was a history lesson. High,y recommended.

Very interesting museum. For the people who say it's run down - it's preserved not restored. The audio tour explains the difference in great detail. It's a very sobering experience but presented very well. Visit their sister property also, but I'd visit this one first.

It was ok. Our headphones intermittently went out during the tour. The preservation of the historic home seems to be a slow motion time lapse of its ultimate destruction. It's too bad they opted not to restore it or at least not provide better environmental protection. Of the historic homes we have visited thus far the Nathaniel Russell house has been one of our favorites .

My fav house!!!!!! Loved when houses are preserved! You can feel like you are back in time Huge house- great audio tour and you can take pics- its far if ur walking from the nathaniel house so plan for this! Grab an Uber or or the taxi bikes If you dont do any house please do this one I dont want to post all the pics and give it away but it was so beautiful and everyone working there was so nice! A must

See all photos from Gloria A. for Aiken-Rhett House Museum

My family and I are visiting Charleston from California and would definitely recommend visiting the Aiken-Rhett House Museum if you are in the area! To start the staff was so incredibly kind and lovely to chat with! It was so obvious that everyone there was passionate and cared so deeply about the home they work in. I would like to specifically highlight the home manager for her kindness as she went out of her way to guarantee all five of us had the proper materials needed to enjoy our experience to the fullest. When you enter the house you must ring the doorbell, from here you are greeted and directed to the help desk to get started. You are given headphones and instructed to download an app so you can have a self guided tour. If you are an iPhone user they have adapters. If you are not an iPhone user they have iPods available to use or I would even recommend bringing your own headphones! The house itself was phenomenal! It felt like you were stepping into a time machine! The architecture, furniture and decor was really cool to see! It's also very admirable that such great efforts are being put forth to maintain the state of the home. I also really enjoyed the different perspectives highlighted depending on where you were in the home. This museum didn't shy away when speaking about the lives of those enslaved. I think it's really important to talk about all sides and stories of those living in this home. All in all our experience was fantastic! It was a really fascinating museum and the artifacts were very cool. I've never been to a museum like it before! I would definitely recommend attending and I am interested in learning more after my visit!!

See all photos from Keeley J. for Aiken-Rhett House Museum

This home has not been restored. The historical society wants to present it as close to what it looked like originally. Be opened minded as much of what you will see is in disrepair. But it helps you to imagine what life would have been like. A huge amount of information is shared about the 17 slaves that lived and worked in this home. There is no written account of slave life because they weren't allowed (although we know some did learn to read & write). But the comparison of life for the white family to the slaves was mentioned many times. So this is an excellent real, historical account of life in the 1800's. Definitely worth your time!

On a girls trip - and we all LOVE a house tour, and none of us loved this one. I guess if we had done a bit more research we would have known this was not the tour for us. let's start by saying no A/C. This house is NOT renovated and left to "age", so kinda like an abandoned & wrecked historic monument. They give you a iPod and some headphones (Wish I had brought my own - I was a little concerned they were not being cleaned between uses)

Business Employee

Sep 12, 2022

I am so sorry to hear of your disappointment in visiting the Aiken-Rhett House. While I am not sure how or where you purchased your tickets, the description of the house on our website explains the preservation approach with this particular house museum. ( https://www.historiccharleston.org/house-museums/aiken-rhett-house/). This is a "preserved as found" museum. And, you are right, it isn't air conditioned. Can you imagine how hot it was for the 19th c dwellers who wore layers and layers of clothing and undergarments? Bring me a fan, please! The story of the Aiken-Rhett House is fascinating, but I understand that some people appreciate and enjoy the history more than others who are more interested in touring a restored home. We appreciate your visit.

Our family of five thoroughly enjoyed the tour of the house. It was nice to be able to download the app and move at our own pace through the property. It was nice to hear the story of the governor and his family, but also the history of the enslaved people who lived there as well. Hearing and seeing the house history from both perspectives made the experience more well rounded. The ladies working today were all lovely, helpful and wonderful to chat with. Thank you for preserving history- so that we can learn about it and from it.

5 other reviews that are not currently recommended

School Of Rock

6.9 miles away from Aiken-Rhett House Museum

School of Rock is different from traditional music education programs. Our patented and proven School of Rock Method™ has taught hundreds of thousands of students around the world to play music. We combine one-on-one guitar, bass,… read more

in Musical Instruments & Teachers, Performing Arts

Chuck E. Cheese

All You Can Play

in Pizza, Kids Activities, Arcades

Collections Including Aiken-Rhett House Museum

My March 2015 Charleston, SC business trip

In the Heart of Dixie I: Charleston

By Stephen H.

Charleston, SC Trip

By Nicole S.

Charleston SC

By Maria-Elena T.

Charleston Must Do's

By Greta Z.

Charleston, SC

South Carolina

By Jessica C.

By Michelle R.

People Also Viewed

Nathaniel Russell House

Edmondston-Alston House

Drayton Hall

The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon

The Charleston Museum

Old Slave Mart Museum

Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

Gibbes Museum Of Art

Middleton Place

International African American Museum

Best of Charleston

Things to do in Charleston

Other Museums Nearby

Find more Museums near Aiken-Rhett House Museum

People found Aiken-Rhett House Museum by searching for…

African American Charleston

Historic Home Tours Charleston

Best Free Museum in Charleston

Best Mansion Tour in Charleston

Best Plantation Tour In Charleston in Charleston

Best Things To See in Charleston

Historic Homes in Charleston

Tourist Attractions in Charleston

Historical Sites in Charleston

House Tour in Charleston

Plantation Tours in Charleston

Rainy Day Activities in Charleston

Browse Nearby

Restaurants

Things to Do

Arts & Entertainment

Museums Near Me

Train Museum Near Me

A Historic Charleston Home Gets Decked Out for the Holidays by Top Local Tastemakers

Historic Charleston Foundation has teamed up with some of the city’s best artists and designers to carefully transform the Aiken-Rhett House for the holidays.

While the home was first built in 1820 by a merchant named John Robinson, it became known as the Aiken-Rhett House after the prominent Mr. and Mrs. William Aiken, Jr. inherited the property from Willam’s father in 1827. William and his wife Harriet were responsible for transforming the home into the spectacular manse it’s known as today, modeling the interiors after the Greek Revival style that was becoming the hallmark of American southern architecture at the time, according to Long. The couple completely overhauled the property’s floor plan, which is still intact today, to make it more suitable for large gatherings and grand welcome. This was of the utmost importance for Aiken, as he eventually became the state’s most prominent merchant and the governor of South Carolina and desired a grand home base for entertaining and conducting business.

For the last few years, HCF has celebrated its mission of preservation and the holiday season with Illumination Charleston , a series of events centered around history, architecture, and design, with the Aiken-Rhett House as the centerpiece. It is the site of the event’s opening night party and gets decked out by a carefully curated selection of local designers, artists, and tastemakers for the holiday season.

“Designers and vignettes must compliment the space and pay homage to the delicate history and fragile physical environment in which they will be stated,” says HCF’s Roualeyn de Haas. “With preservation as inspiration, the vignettes are a reinterpretation of a preserved and historical space using contemporary design.”

Not only do they have to keep the historic architecture and interiors in mind, but the selected designers also have to bear in mind that there is no climate control, the house has a decades-old electrical system, and the space hasn’t been restored in decades while outfitting a particular room with high design at the forefront. Thankfully, this home is in great hands, as this year’s list of creatives include: events designer Blake Sams , Stephanie Summerson Hall of Estelle Colored Glass , and interior designer Cortney Bishop .

Aiken-Rhett Holiday 2022 House Tour

While these holiday decorations offer stunning inspiration for the contemporary home, they also feel appropriate for this spectacular 19th-century property. Nearly all of the designers found some sort of inspiration from nature, as the interiors and exterior are decked out with festive greenery, flowers, and seasonal fruits that enliven the grand architecture and period furnishings. Dani Motley of Salt + Stem was responsible for the elegantly festive floral design of the courtyard and entrance of the Aiken-Rhett House, while Blake Sams created a striking yellow and orange floral fete in the dining room—peppered with the finest holiday fruits, such as oranges and persimmons—which also features stemware provided by Stephanie Summerson Hall.

Several of the creatives responsible for this year’s holiday takeover were also united in their desire to fill the space with various artworks that would bring some contemporary flair to these historic spaces. Bishop brought in abstract art and artisanal decor into the double parlor, while Elizabeth Stuart ’s Muffie Faith modernized the courtyard entrance with paintings, florals, and a tablescape complete with cabbageware and mushroom lamps. Artist Chris Wyrick is responsible for the main courtyard’s interior art installation. The teams at McLaurin Parker and Maresca Textiles played up both their zest for nature and art with their decoration of the home's cozy library that brings a touch of comfortable, feminine elegance to this room of retreat.

Historic Charleston Foundation is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, and you can learn more about the organization's history of preserving the legacy and landscape of both Charleston and the Lowcountry as a whole at HistoricCharleston.org .

Lauren Wicks is a freelance writer and editor based in Birmingham, Alabama. Before going on her own, Lauren worked for brands such as VERANDA, EatingWell, and Cooking Light , and she covers all things lifestyle from interior design and luxury travel to wine and wellness.

House Tours

This West Hollywood Home is a Collector's Dream

Tour CeCe Barfield Thompson's NYC Apartment

Step Inside This Greek Revival Home Built in 1820

Tour the 2024 Kips Bay Palm Beach Show House

Patterns Reign in Mia Reay’s Jacobean-Style Castle

Tour a Penthouse with Heart-Stopping Neutrals

Inside a House Filled with Pop Art and Personality

A Rare Look Inside Lauren Santo Domingo's Home

Soane's Lulu Lytle Designs an English Country Home

Tour an Antiques-Filled Senior Living Apartment

Inside the Restored Honey Fitz Presidential Yacht

Aiken-Rhett House Museum

Tourpass includes 100% full admission.

Just show your pass! Pay $0 with a TourPass

See Available Featured Tour Times  Before Purchasing TourPass? (Does not show times for Standard Attractions that you can visit anytime during their operating hours.)

DESCRIPTION

Why you should go.

Self-guided tours. Last tour begins at 4:15 p.m.

History of the House

Built in 1820 by merchant John Robinson, the Aiken-Rhett House is nationally significant as one of the best-preserved townhouse complexes in the nation. Vastly expanded by Governor and Mrs. William Aiken, Jr. in the 1830s and again in the 1850s, the house and its outbuildings include a kitchen, the original slave quarters, carriage block and back lot. The house and its surviving furnishings offer a compelling portrait of urban life in antebellum Charleston, as well as a Southern politician, slaveholder and industrialist. The house spent 142 years in the Aiken family’s hands before being sold to the Charleston Museum and opened as a museum house in 1975.

When the Foundation assumed ownership in 1995, we adopted a preserved-as-found preservation approach, meaning the structure and contents are left in an “as-found” state, including furniture, architecture and finishes that have not been altered since the mid 19th century. The only restored room in the house, the art gallery, showcases paintings and sculpture the Aiken family acquired on their European Grand Tour.

While many dependency buildings in Charleston have been demolished or adapted, the Aiken-Rhett slave quarters – with their original paint, floors and fixtures – survive virtually untouched since the 1850s, allowing visitors the unique chance to better comprehend the every-day realities of the enslaved Africans who lived on-site, maintained the household and catered to the needs of the Aiken family and their guests.

Parking & Transportation

Park at the Visitors Center - 375 Meeting Street.

See map below for address

Overview Video

Make reservations in advance or show your pass at the gate full admission is included., all reviews.

Purchased the TourPass online in advance of our trip. We selected a two day pass which included 3 premium selections and as many standard selections we could fit in.

Slick, slick, slick! The premium tours tell you how many spots are available which made it easy to know if you have time to choose or pick right away. Once selected you just go at the appointed time and tell the provider you are using tourpass. Your name is on their list! Worked flawlessly!

The Standard tours is just as simple. You go, tell them you have tourpass, you click a button, the provider gives you a code which you type in and click submitt. That's it! Enjoy!

This system works great and is a savings. Makes scheduling your vist EZPZ!

If you're on the fence, buy it!

Initially, I had some amount of distrust ordering on line. Worried that tickets would not come through, etc. Mathematically pre calculated if TourPass could offer savings compared to purchasing admission tickets individually. TourPass certainly did! To get the most out of our day, I planned an aggressive itinerary. We even brought sandwiches for lunch, so as not to waste a minute. We were able to get in 6 standard tours and one featured! Our second featured tour on Red Boat was cancelled. TourPass promptly refunded this amount on my credit card. No hassle, no worries! We did the1 day St Augustine pass. The featured Trolley Tour was outstanding, as were standard tours The Oldest Store and Jail. If I ever get to Savanah or Charleston will definitely go with TourPass. They did a great job of covering St Augustine’s highlights. Their app was user friendly and showed proximity of nearby attractions, saving steps and time. Everything was so easy. It’s not often one has such a positive experience. TourPass offers value and demonstrated integrity. You can trust them.

Our tour pass was worth the price. It's actually a money saver. We took the tour of St Augustine and got our bearings. It also helped us select the attractions. The drivers were pleasant, very helpful, and steeped in St Augustine history. Simply wonderful!

This made our Savannah trip so much easier to plan and to see all the attractions we wanted. It saved me over $100. In three days, we were able to visit all the places we wanted plus more! I would highly recommend buying this tour pass!

My husband and I went to St. Augustine for 2 days and wanted to see as much as possible. By using TourPass we were able to see the most popular attractions at a greatly reduced price. I would definitely use TourPass in other cities!

Purchasing a Tour Pass was the best decision for us! We saw many more attractions that we would have without it! So efficient too! Pay once and go, go, go! We would highly recommend it!

I purchased the Savannah tour pass for 3 days, I did not use them consecutively, as I was on town for 8 days. I chose to do the Hop on Hop off Tour on my first day to give me an overview of Savannah, I rode the trolleys for a total of two loops, guide offered a different perspective on the city. I took a walking tour, Brad was awesome, 1.5 hrs of wonderful history. I rode the Paddle boat, was a bit disappointed the wheel doesn't function. I also visited Fort Pulaski on my last day in Savannah, it was a wonderful experience. Those were the 4 featured options I used. I also used multiple options from the normal options, my 2 favorites were the Square Pops and the Jepsen Art Center. I cannot express how awesome it was to be able to enter a venue, have it paid for, and just enjoy. I will purchase the Savannah Pass when I return next year, it was well worth it's value. Now I am hopeful the Charleston, SC Pass, that it is just as terrific, as I am visiting in the Fall.

This was awesome value for the money, we were in both places the first week in March with another couple and it made planning things to do much easier and the value was outstanding. We figure we saved about $100 per couple.

We purchased the two day St. Augustine TourPass and found the pass well worth the money, providing us with access to museums and tours we might have passed on had we had to pay full price to see without the pass. Highly recommend purchasing, especially if in the area for several days.

So easy! Tour passed saved us over $200 dollars. Just scan your phone and enjoy. Great way to visit St. Augustine.

Tour Pass made our trip so easy to navigate. Easy check in at all our locations! Saved us a lot of time.

My contact at Tour Pass for both Savannah and Charleston was a gentleman named Keith. He went above and beyond to help me in setting up the events/days and was extremely patient with a non-technologically adept mature individual like me. He helped every time I called and was always charming while doing so which reduced my stress level. He also assisted when a day change was needed and on a refund for an event. It felt like my sister and I had a friend in the area!

The events were good selections and the information provided for each was appreciated. What would have added to the info for tourists would have been info about parking availability.

Loved it and saved money. St Augustine is such a fun city. Makes planning and visiting soooo much easier. I’ve purchased Tour Pass in all of their cities now (Charleston, Savannah and now St Augustine).

5 stars all the way! So many worthwhile attractions to choose from. Don’t even need to think twice or research more. Worth all the money for however many days of your visit. Plus so easy to use. Enough said! We will definitely be back and buy the Tour Pass all over again.

I got the tour pass for my family when we visited Charleston, SC in December. It was perfect since we weren't familiar with the city and this gave us ideas and suggestions of verified and validated things to do without having to do the research myself. We will definitely get the pass again.

GET 5% DISCOUNT ON US!

Applies to multi-day passes (more than 1 day). Enter your email below (unsubscribe at any time)

Choose pass duration below

Receive pass instantly after purchase | 30-day risk-free guarantee | Enter email above for 5% off discount code

Adults:   $111

Children:   $85.

Child passes age 4-11

• Choose 2 Feature Tour reservations per person
• Visit as many Standard Tours as you wish for 1-day
• Make instant reservations
• Receive pass instantly after purchase
• Skip the lines - just show your pass
• Activation date & tours are selected on the app after purchase

Only $78 per day

Adults: $164   $156

Children:   $102  $97.

Reduced price is with discount code (click here to get code, enter on checkout page)

Sale ends Sunday

• Choose any 3 Feature Tour reservations per person
• Visit as many Standard Tours as you wish for 2-days
• Can be used on non-consecutive days

Only $68 per day

Adults:   $215 $204

Children:   $131 $124.

• Choose any 4 Feature Tour reservations per person
• Visit as many Standard Tours as you wish for 3-days

Only $60 per day

Adults:   $254 $241

Children:   $172 $164.

• Visit as many Standard Tours as you wish for 4-days

Only $53 per day

Adults:   $280  $267

Children:   $178  $169.

• Choose any 5 Feature Tour reservations per person
• Visit as many Standard Tours as you wish for 5-days

BUY A GIFT CARD

Price Varies | Enter any amount you wish

• Gifted amount can be used for any city
• Can choose to send to yourself and print or email to the recipient
• Gift cards are good for up to 1 year before expiration
• Recipent will receive a credit amount where they can enter that amount to apply to any pass

Applies to multi-day passes (more than 1 day). Enter your email below (unsubscribe at any time). Code is entered on final checkout page.

St. Augustine Saving Examples

Pro tips for visiting st. augustine.

Pro Tip #1: Hop On Hop Off Trolleys

• If you plan on riding the Hop On Hop Off Trolley you can park for free at the Trolley bus station. If staying in the historic district they will also provide hotel pick-up (call them to schedule). 
• If you want to ride the Hop On Hop Off Trolley for more than 1-day, you can use an additional Featured Tour or we recommend upgrading your 1-day ticket to multiple days when you get there. You’ll have to pay out-of-pocket to upgrade.

Pro Tip #2: Use Maps on Mobile Pass

• Utilize the maps on the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchasing Tour Pass (interactive maps, attraction map, Trolley map and parking garage & restroom map). You can use the Mobile Pass for planning to see what’s near attractions of interest.

1-Day Pass Saving Example

Day #1 Example Itinerary

• Choose a total of 2 Featured Tours + Visit as Many Standard Attractions as You Wish for 1-Day.
• The selections below are an example. You can choose whatever you want from the available tours.

Price w/o Tour Pass

Hop On Hop Off Trolley Tour (Featured Tour #1)

Sunset Boat Tour (Featured Tour #2)

MarineLand General Admission (Standard Attraction)

Old Jail Museum Tour (Standard Attraction)

Colonial Experience Tour (Standard Attraction)

Spanish Military Museum (Standard Attraction)

• 1-Day w/o Tour Pass $157.69
• 1-Day Tour Pass Price – $110

1-Day per Person Savings = $47.69

Save 30% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

2-Day Pass Saving Example

Day #2 Example Itinerary

• Choose a total of 3 Featured Tours + Visit as Many Standard Attractions as You Wish for 2-Days.

(Includes Tours from Day 1)

Paranormal Fort Walking Tour (Featured Tour #3)

Oldest Museum Store Experience (Standard Attraction)

Potter’s Wax Museum (Standard Attraction)

Villla Zorayda Museum (Standard Attraction)

St. Aug History Museum (Standard Attraction)

Includes tour cost from day #1 + day #2

• 2-Day Tour Pass Price – $159

2-Day per Person Savings = $90.69

Save 36.5% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

3-Day Pass Saving Example

Day #3 Example Itinerary

• Choose a total of 4 Featured Tours + Visit as Many Standard Attractions as You Wish for 3-Days.

Ticket Price w/o Tour Pass

(Includes Tours from Day 1 + Day 2)

Ghost & Gravestones Trolley Tour (Featured Tour #4)

Classic Car Museum (Standard Attraction)

Ximenez-Fatio House Museum (Standard Attraction)

Oldest House Museum Complex (Standard Attraction)

Includes tour cost from day #1 + day #2 + day #3

• 3-Day Tour Pass Price – $191

3-Day per Person Savings = $139.14

Save 42% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

Saving Examples

Pro tips for visiting savannah.

• If you plan on riding the Hop On Hop Off Trolley, ride it for 1-day to get familiarized with Savannah, then ride the free DOT Hop On Hop Off Trolley for additional days.
• If you want to ride the narrated or paid Hop On Hop Off Trolley for more than 1-day, you can upgrade your 1-day ticket to multiple days when you get there. You’ll have to pay out-of-pocket to upgrade.
• Park at the Visitor Center: 301 Martin Luther King Blvd.
• Trolley maps are also available on the Mobile Pass.

Savannah Theatre Show Admission (Featured Tour #1)

Hop On Hop Off Trolley (1-day) (Featured Tour #2)

Owens Thomas House & Slave Quarters (Standard Attraction)

Prohibition Museum (Standard Attraction)

Georgia Railroad Museum (Standard Attraction)

• 1-Day w/o Tour Pass $157.68
• 1-Day Tour Pass Price – $119

1-Day per Person Savings = $38.68

Save 25% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

Riverboat Cruise (Featured Tour #3)

Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace House (Standard Attraction)

Harper Fowlkes House Tour (Standard Attraction)

Savannah History Museum (Standard Attraction)

Davenport House Museum (Standard Attraction)

• 2-Day Tour Pass Price – $168

2-Day per Person Savings = $83.40

Save 33% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

Guided Bicycle Historical Tour (Featured Tour #4)

Telfair Academy House Tour (Standard Attraction)

Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum (Standard Attraction)

Old Fort Jackson (Standard Attraction)

Green Meldrim House Tour (Standard Attraction)

Andrew Low House Museum (Standard Attraction)

• 3-Day Tour Pass Price – $218

3-Day per Person Savings = $162.35

Save 43% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

Charleston Saving Examples

Pro tips for visiting charleston.

• Pro Tip #1: Charleston has a free trolley (DASH) that you can ride for downtown transportation. There are 3 routes. All routes intersect at the Visitor’s Center (375 Meeting Street). To switch buses, get off at the Visitor Center and wait for the appropriate bus. We recommend parking here if you intend on riding the trolley.
• Pro Tip #2: Utilize the maps on the Mobile Pass you’ll receive after purchasing Tour Pass (interactive maps, attraction map, Trolley map and parking garage & restroom map). You can use the Mobile Pass for planning to see what’s near attractions of interest.

Carriage Tour Daytime or Haunted (Featured Tour #1)

Schooner Pride Afternoon Sail (Featured Tour #2)

Gibbes Museum of Art (Standard Attraction)

Aiken Rhett House Tour (Standard Attraction)

Charleston Fun Park Voucher (Standard Attraction)

• 1-Day w/o Tour Pass $148
• 1-Day Tour Pass Price – $111

1-Day per Person Savings = $37

Save 25% Off of Retail Ticket Price

Charleston Harbor Tour (Featured Tour #3)

McLeod Plantation Tour (Standard Attraction)

Charles Towne Landing (Standard Attraction)

Hunley Submarine Tour (Standard Attraction)

• 2-Day Tour Pass Price – $156

2-Day per Person Savings = $91

Save 37% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

History or Ghost Walking Tour (Featured Tour #4)

Nathaniel Russell House Tour (Standard Attraction)

Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon (Standard Attraction)

Heyward Washington House Tour (Standard Attraction)

• 3-Day Tour Pass Price – $204

3-Day per Person Savings = $127

Save 38% Off of Retail Ticket Prices

Pass purchases can be refunded (minus 3% credit card processing fees) if requested within thirty-days of purchase date (for unused passes). Optional Trip Protection (5% of total amount) can be purchased at checkout which extends the refund period up to one-year from purchase date. Conditions apply. View full refund policy by clicking button below.

Save $111.40 per person which is 44% off of retail rates with a 3-day pass!

(Examples below are suggestions. You can choose whatever you’d like to do from the available tours/attractions.)

There’s no denying the saving and convenience that Tour Pass offers! Plus you can book your tours in advance with our amazing Mobile Pass that includes maps and detailed attraction information. The more you do the more you save. Imagine how much more you could save with a 4 or 5-day pass!

Pass purchases can be refunded (minus 3% credit card processing fees) if requested within thirty-days of purchase date (for unused passes). Optional Trip Insurance can be purchased for a nominal fee at checkout which extends the refund period up to one-year from purchase date. Conditions apply. View full refund policy by clicking button below.

• The password must be at least 12 characters in length and must contain at least one numeric, one special character (such as $, #, %, *) and one lowercase letter or one uppercase letter.
• The password cannot contain your name(s), username or organisation name in any text direction.
• Preservation
• House Museums
• Tours & Events
• PreserVISIONist

© Historic Charleston Foundation

Admission: Nathaniel Russell House Museum

The Nathaniel Russell House (c. 1808), located at 51 Meeting Street, is open from 10 am until 5:00pm seven days a week.

You may visit anytime within those hours as we do not have reserved starting times. However, we do ask that you plan to arrive and start your tour before 4:15 pm to allow enough time before the museum closes at 5 pm.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to ongoing maintenance, we cannot guarantee use of the house elevator. If you have accessibility questions, please contact the House Manager at 843-724-8482.

For groups of 12 or more, please call the house manager to reserve a tour. Discounts apply.

Questions? Call: (843) 724-8481.

Plan Your Visit:

• T ours will be guided by our multi-media app and will take approximately 45 minutes. The latest time to start a tour is 4:15 pm as museums close at 5 pm.
• Each person will be asked to use earphones as a courtesy to others.
• Prepare in advance for your tour by downloading HCF’s  FREE APP  onto your personal device. You may use an HCF audio device if you bring your own earphones.

The HCF app includes multi-media tours of the Nathaniel Russell House, the Aiken-Rhett House, and a City Guide for sites around Charleston. Download the free HCF App from our website:  https://app.cuseum.com/historic-charleston-foundation/

Single House Ticket: Adult: $15.00 Child 6-16: $7.00 Under Age 6: Free

Combination Ticket:

Visitors who are interested in visiting both museum houses (Nathaniel Russell and Aiken-Rhett) can save by purchasing a combination ticket. Tickets are redeemable for six months from purchase date. Combo tickets to both houses do not need to be used on the same day. Consider visiting both museums to experience the unique and different preservation methods at work in each museum.

Adult Combo: $24.00 Child 6-16 Combo: $12.00 Under Age 6: Free

Please note the following if you purchase a combo ticket -

PLEASE NOTE CHANGES TO HOURS AT AIKEN-RHETT HOUSE THROUGH APRIL 14: In preparation for Charleston by Design and The Charleston Festival, the Aiken-Rhett House will be closed March 11-March 14. We apologize for any inconvenience.

• Monday March 11 – Thursday, March 14: CLOSED
• Friday, March 15 – Sunday, March 17: Charleston by Design: Designer Vignettes Open for Tours. Regular House Tours not available.
• Friday, March 15 – Sunday, April 14: special exhibit in the Double Parlor for The Charleston Festival, Jill Hooper’s Windows Into Another World. Regular House Tours available, Jill Hooper exhibit included with house admission.

Upon completion of your order, you will receive an email confirmation. (Check your spam or junk folder if you do not see it in your inbox.) Please be prepared to present your confirmation upon arrival at the museum.

2018 Primetime Emmy & James Beard Award Winner

R&K Insider

Join our newsletter to get exclusives on where our correspondents travel, what they eat, where they stay. Free to sign up.

A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

Featured city guides.

• Guided tour

Moscow: City Sightseeing by Car/Bus

• Description
• Choose date

Visiting a new city is akin to going on a first date, it is something you will never forget. Many people imagine Moscow as just a bunch of sporadic landmarks: Red Square, the Kremlin, Lenin’s Mausoleum and GUM. There is so much more to this wonderful city than that and even though we only have a few hours, we will do all we can to show you everything we know and love about our capital in one fell swoop. We will take you on a journey through the ages, from centuries ago, right up to the modern day, soaking in the sights of this vast and bustling metropolis. Bright, luxurious and both ancient and modern at the same time, Moscow invites you on a date you’ll never forget!

On our sightseeing bus tour of the city, you will see:

• The wonderfully historic city centre and its unique museums, magnificent cathedrals, the exquisite Chambers of the Romanov Boyars and of course, the famous towering red brick walls of the Kremlin, The charming beauty of the Alexander Garden awaits the capital's guests - a lush green oasis in the midst of the glass and concrete clad metropolis, basking in the etherial aura emanating from the whitewashed stone walls of the restored Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the world- renowned fairytale onion domes of St. Basil's Cathedral and other impressive monumental buildings such as the library built in Lenin's honour - the Russian State Library - and the State Duma.
• The Lubyanka KGB headquarters is notorious to members of older generations and although nowadays, the face of the secret police has changed dramatically, the looming enigmatic building on the waterfront maintains its aura of mystery, shrouded in a variety of murky rumours and dark myths. Then, there’s another of Moscow's main attractions - the marvellous Bolshoi Theatre, yew simply cant leave Moscow without taking in its breathtaking architecture. Engrained in the fabric of Russia's cultural heritage, virtuoso performers such as prima ballerina Galina Ulanova, opera singer Feodor Chaliapin and pianist, composer and conductor Sergei Rachmaninoff once stood centre stage of this vaunted institution.
• The memorial complex on Poklonnaya Hill was constructed in the glory and honour of our heroes who defended our nation in the many crucial battles of the Great Patriotic War (WWII). This is a place that embodies a particularly acute and inextricable link between older ancf younger generations. Moving on to the Moscow International Business Centre, not dubbed ‘Moscow City' for nothing, a true glimpse of the future in the present. This incredible, rather jaw-dropping project in the capital has shown that Moscow has come to accept the age of the skyscraper. Finally, the stunning views from the observation deck at Sparrow Hills will leave professional and amateur photographers alike itching to capture them. How could one resist?

The most beautiful of all the world's cities - lady Moscow invites you out on a date!

The cost of an excursion with a personal guide for 1 person

Meeting point We'll pick you up at your hotel

St. Basil's Cathedral

House on the Embankment

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour

Vorobyovy Hills

Poklonnaya Hill Poklonnaya Gora

Moscow-City

Alexander garden

Russian State Library

Bolshoi Theatre

End of the tour

Choose your dates

Select time, who's going.

• Excursion Moscow: City Sightseeing by Car/Bus
• Date and time:
• Who's going: