Tours
Visit Charlotte's Oldest Home
Self-Guided Tours
Regular museum admission includes Audio Guide to the 1774 Homesite for self-guided tours. Self-guided tours do not include access to the interior of the 1774 Rock House, but do include access to two outbuildings on the historic campus: the log kitchen and springhouse. The audio tour lasts approximately 40 minutes.
If you would like to step inside the 1774 Rock House, be sure to join our FREE 2pm docent led tour included with admission. See more details below.
Guided Tours
FREE guided tours are offered at 2:00 pm Tuesday - Friday, and at 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm on Saturdays included with admission. Tickets are limited, and we recommend reserving your spot in advance. Guided tours are available for all ages. This is the only way to get inside the 1774 Rock House and Siloam School each day for FREE.
Guided tours are led by experienced museum historians and docents, and the content is appropriate for family audiences. To learn more about the Homesite, visit our Alexander Homesite info page. Guided tours last about 60 minutes and are held rain or shine. Tours may be delayed or canceled for thunder, lightning, sleet, or other dangerous inclement weather. Reminder: our historic buildings are not heated or cooled, be sure to dress accordingly.
Groups of more than ten (10) people, business groups, senior/student groups, etc. must schedule a private guided tour in advance. See the "private tours" section below for more information.
Private Tours
We offer three guided homesite experiences for private groups. Each experience includes admission to the museum for a self-guided exploration of our rotating exhibits.
Voices of Independence: Step into the spirit of revolution. This tour highlights the story of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence with a guided walk through our feature exhibit. View rare original prints of the Meck Dec and explore the 1774 Rock House, home of patriot and Meck Dec signer Hezekiah Alexander.
The 1774 Experience: Our signature tour of the historic site. Discover early Charlotte and daily life on the Alexander plantation. You'll explore four preserved 18th-century buildings and learn how settlers lived in North Carolina's backcountry before the American Revolution.
Footsteps of Freedom: This powerful experience centers the Black experience throughout the history of our campus. Learn about the lives of those enslaved on the Alexander homesite, see the original hearth used by enslaved cooks, and visit the restored Siloam School—a 1920s Rosenwald school from Charlotte’s Mallard Creek community.
In addition, we offer a private guided tour of the museum building for patrons who are interested in staying indoors. The "CMH Tour" includes a guided walk through the building and introductions at each of our feature galleries.
For information about pricing and booking, click the link below!