General Tour
Up to ten guests are guided through the Main and part of the Ground Floors of the Mansion, including a bird’s eye view of America’s oldest existing gymnasium. You’ll see rooms that have been restored as well as rooms in their original state. In addition, you’ll also hear stories about the family that lived in the home and the legacy they left. This tour lasts about an hour, and the cost is $15 per adult, $12 per senior, and $5 per student (K-12).
Upper Half House Tour
Having taken the General Tour, guests wanting to see more of the Mansion can choose to return for the Upper Half House Tour. This guided tour covers the Bedroom Floor, Attic, Second Attic, and Cupola. Many of the bedrooms are still furnished, the Attic abounds with books, magazines, furniture, musical instruments, clothing, medical equipment, and even a cache of travelling trunks. The Cupola gives you a panoramic view of the Illinois Valley and three important bridges (Lincoln Memorial, Shippingsport, ICC). This tour lasts between 90 minutes and two hours and is for guests age twelve and up who have already taken the General Tour. The cost is $50 per person and holds a maximum of ten guests. (NOTE: This tour does NOT cover any information presented on the General Tour.)
Lower Half House Tour
Having taken the General Tour, guests wanting to see even more of the Mansion can also choose to take the Lower Half House Tour. This guided tour covers the Ground Floor, Basement, Gymnasium, and Boiler Room. While these spaces are more utilitarian than elegant, they are nonetheless fascinating. The Basement houses an impressive collection of printing equipment and ephemera from the early days of Open Court Publishing, and merely standing upon the floor of the Gym gives the guest a one-of-a-kind, immersive perspective on Victorian health and fitness. This tour lasts between 90 minutes and two hours and is for guests ages twelve and up who have already taken the General Tour. The cost is $50 per person and holds a maximum of ten guests. (NOTE: This tour does NOT cover any information presented on the General Tour, with the exception of the Laundry Room.)
Whole House Tour
When part of something just won’t do, the Whole House Tour is right for you. Our most popular tour, this is a guided adventure beginning in the Cupola and working downward through nearly every room and every floor, immersed among stories and artifacts, until finally reaching the Boiler Room beneath the Basement. The Whole House Tour runs between 2.5 and four hours (depending upon the number of guests). The tour includes two breaks—bottled water is included. The General Tour is required prior to taking the Whole House Tour. The cost of the Whole House Tour is $100 per person, holds a maximum of ten, and sells out very quickly. Due to its length, children under age 14 are not permitted except with special prior permission from the Tour Director.
Art and Artifact Tour
The Hegeler Carus Mansion is filled to the brim with interesting art and eye-catching artifacts. In fact there are so many, we’ve decided to create a very special subject-specific tour–The Art and Artifact Tour. Whether it’s a famous print or an obscure object, the Art and Artifact Tour is an artistic feast for the eyes–and the ears–with fascinating and often humorous facts to accompany each piece. This is a rarely given, 75-minute guided tour of the paintings, prints, statues, and unique artifacts housed on the Main Floor of the Mansion. This tour is for guests who have already taken the General Tour. The cost is $20 per person and holds a maximum of ten guests.
Masks are optional for visitors of the Mansion.