I grew up in an old victorian house and thought it would be fun to bring my dad here for a tour when he was in town visiting. We ended up being the only ones on the tour which was nice. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and funny. The entire house has been restored to represent how the original owners would have it set up as closely as possible. The inside details are gorgeous and intricate. Our tour ended up being more like 45 minutes because it was just us and we didn't ask questions. It was a great way to spend a little bit of time before our next activity. read more

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Was in the area from out of town and I wanted to see this beautiful house in person. I wasn't able to go inside but the outside is so pretty Love all the details. It's truly breathtaking read more

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History aficionados, architectural enthusiasts and Fans of Phoenix - Rosson House Museum is one place you cannot miss! It is an incredible work of art, craftmanship, technology and innovation, even after 130 years of its construction in 1895. Setting aside that one can actually attend what Victorians' interest of communicating with the dead through in house scheduled Séances, Rosson House offers a magnificent view and experience of that bygone age at the turn of the century industrialization which can only be likened to our recent 21st Century internet technological advances. Walking through the main door into the foyer, climbing the beautiful staircase, entering a bed chamber, seeing a pre-modern bathroom, admiring the kitchen and pantry antiquities in food preparation, admiring the home's décor, its design, its furnishings simply takes you back in time and allows one to somewhat sense the then lifestyle and what it was like to live a sophisticated, well-to-do lifestyle during that period. One is amazed at the stunning quality and fastidious workmanship created and implemented almost six generations ago! And compare the quality and art Rosson House personifies to today's Ikea and unassembled products. With every turn, every corner, every step and every breath of one's journey through this place in history is enjoyable and fascinating. The folks who walk you through this historic menagerie are professional and delightful, as well as brilliant in their presentation and knowledge of all things Rosson. I must say, this has been one of my most memorable attractions to attend in Phoenix and wholeheartedly recommend if you've not visited to do so as well as bringing out of town friends and family. The restoration and preservation of Rosson House is most admirable. And, make sure to stop off at the Museum Store - its well worth it. read more

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Visited: Afternoon while waiting for lunch nearby A fun, informative glimpse into life in Phoenix in the late 1800s/early 1900s. The home is in its original location and hasn't been moved. A lot of parts have been restored and it seems well cared for. You can only explore the Rosson House through a guided tour (about 45-60 minutes), which costs $15 per person. Our guide was knowledgeable and funny (blanking on his name--will add if I remember!). He walked us through the history of the house, the people that lived there, what they used each room for, and the types of possessions they owned. It was interesting to think about what life might have looked like in the late 1800s/early 1900s, and how the rooms evolved over time. The rooms are furnished with a mix of original and period-appropriate items, so it feels immersive and well-curated. We stopped in while waiting for our table at Pizzeria Bianco, and it was a perfect way to pass the time. Overall: A great piece of history, an 1895 house still standing in the middle of downtown Phoenix. read more

Excellent experience! I would always pass this house and even attended a Vegan event right next door a few years back. I finally had the opportunity to enter inside! This house is not haunted it's historic. I know they have Seance for halloween and I would love to try it. Your is 60 min long and if you have AAA you get a small discount $14 each ticket, just show your id at the information desk. Debbie was our your guide she was amazing and explained how the family loved and this was the last historic house on the block left. read more

Rosson House Museum - Rossen house - Museums Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Historic house with fun collection of artifacts. The Rosson House Museum has passed through many hands since its inception and thus there are few original artifacts in the house. That said the curators have found a number of interesting artifacts that originate from the various time periods of the existence of the house. The guided tour was fun and informative and took about 35 minutes. If you enjoy history, then I would recommend visiting the Rosson House Museum if you have time. read more

This historical home offers about a 30 minute guided tour that goes into detail about the origins of the home and all of the families that have lived there. It has such a unique, archaic atmosphere that is absolutely breathtaking, and I could feel the real character of the home. I very much enjoyed this tour and would go again! Make sure to park in the parking garage that is next to it to avoid being late to your tour! read more

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This place was awesome! I love exploring the history of state 48 and all who came before me. The grounds are beautiful and well kept. Lots to see and explore. Great restaurants nearby and the most helpful staff & guides; happy to answer our questions along the way. We bought tickets online and showed about 45 minutes before our tour. It was a good thing we did cause there was so much to read & see in the visitor center. From there we met our guide (a nice man from NY) who showed us a great time! This house is huge, filled with so many great stories & sights and it was a real treat to see how people lived 100+ years ago. Even in the heat of summer, it was very comfortable inside and the complimentary bottled water before was also appreciated. If you're looking for an afternoon of learning, good food & fun - you won't be disappointed. Discounted parking was a nice surprise too! read more

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Came for a tour during our visit to Phoenix. Noelle was a great tour guide. The house was beautiful! read more

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I love all things Victorian and was so excited to see this Museum. We dropped everything and drove as fast as we could to make it to the tour. We parked in the parking garage and got our parking ticket validated which didn't end up working and we had to pay full price always. The gentleman that sold the ticket also was the tour guide. He was not very personable or nice when I tried to make a joke. He was all work. We waited for a bit and then met him at the front door. He let us in and then locked us in. I'll be honest, if you are claustrophobic this may be a very difficult tour to go thru. The panic set in, but I tried to remain calm. It does not help that the air is very hot as well, true to the Victorian no A.C. times. Now I will say its also a bit awkward because the spaces to stand are small and there are other people on the tour trying to look at everything. You are allowed only on the maroon carpet to keep the integrity of the place. As for the home itself. It is very beautiful. I loved the decor, the family's history and all the small details. All of that makes the tour worth it. If you are an enthusiast, you won't be disappointed. So we went downstairs of the home and saw the kitchen and the tour ended abruptly. There was no forewarning that was the last room. He literally pulls up a door and says, "well thanks for coming." We all looked at each shocked and stood around confused. I am giving you that warning now. Otherwise, this is a great tour and we left feeling that was the best $15 a ticket spent. read more

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If you're looking to do something new, fun and that doesn't eat up a lot of time, then this is a great option. What better way to step back in time then with a tour of the Rossen House. Built in 1895, this house has a lot of stories to tell. Located in Heritage Square, this fully restored Queen Anne Victorian house is now a museum that takes you back to the early days of Phoenix. It's a beautiful home that at one point almost didn't make it. But fortunately it survived thanks to those who care about the city, the history and preserving an authentic piece of the past. No, this will not be torn down, like many other spots, for condos or an apartment complex. The Rossen House is here to stay. Well worth it, this tour is about an hour long. The tour guide, Sarah, is an encyclopedia of information about the house and the history of Phoenix as well. She walked us through the house explaining each room and the items in incredible detail. What sticks out most was the scent. Even wearing my mask I could smell that 1800s scent which adds to the mystery of it all. My favorite part was Dr. Rossen's office. This is the kind of place you would love to stay the night in, having a delicious dinner at the dinner table, then retiring to the study to have some tea and read. No TV, no radio, no cell. read more

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Beautiful home! Takes you back many years. I love how it was setup and our guide gave us cool historic facts and details.

This is a nice, non-expensive way to spend an hour or so. We enjoy touring historical homes, and this was quite interesting. We bought tickets at the little store, then waited about 20 minutes for the tour. It was a pretty good tour, although I will say that our guide made us a bit uncomfortable. For instance, she seemed perturbed that none of us had heard of whatever their most recent exhibit was. Uh, we're from out of town, we hadn't even heard of the Rosson House itself til we got here and were looking for something touristy to do. Not a big deal though, it was still fun to look through the doctor's house, and the price was right. read more

Rosson House Museum - Museums Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This was an interesting tour. Our guide, Kevin did a great job going over the history and owners of the house. Do plan ahead as we thought we'd just show up and go however their tours do sell out. We planned to go to the 1pm tour but had to go to the 2pm instead. If you park in the garage next door which normally cost $12 then they will validate your parking. I paid $3. Anyways great tour. Highly recommend. read more

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I always love to see staples in different cities/countries I visit. This just so happens to be one. While exploring the area, my family came across this museum and noted it down for a place to visit. This is one of the last Victorian homes in the area, and is so pretty to look at. Once you pay the admission fee, which is not that much - ended up being $20 for my mom, niece and me - you are taken on the guided tour. One thing I especially liked about this house was they had the original items the family used, not replicas. While touring through the house, you are to stay on the red carpet and not wander off into the area. Nothing can be touched and no flash photography to preserve the artifacts. The tour guide was able to touch some things, but she made sure none of us did. The house is 3 stories, but we only had access to 2. The architecture of the building is pretty cool. They didn't have air conditioning back then, so they had to build in a way to keep rooms cool. The doors leading outside are also intriguing. I would love to have one of those. The surrounding buildings also are antiques as they have items from the 1900's. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable of the family, which is always helpful on a tour. Definitely a must see if in the area! read more

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This is a must for all you retrophiliacs! I came here on a Wednesday afternoon and did the tour with Katie. She is extremely knowledgeable and passionate about speaking for the house and the families who lived there. Once you are inside, it truly feels like time has stopped and a tour of 45 minutes feels like 5 minutes when there's so much to see and talk about. I enjoyed how I was able to ask any questions and really interact within the tour. P.S. My favorite object of the House is the portrait of a woman. You'll see why! read more

Rosson House Museum - Outside the house - Museums Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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On a weekday afternoon I decided to check out all Heritage Square had to offer, including Rosson House. Got a ticket from the visitors center right next to the house. They do offer a AAA discount which I took advantage of. The guided tour was about an hour and the guide was very knowledgeable and open to answering questions. Legend has it, the house is haunted but I didnt get that vibe. Basically if you have an hour to kill and want to learn a bit of history, check this out. Also check out all of Heritage Square. read more

Very neat old house to walk through with a tour guide at least once! I really enjoyed learning from our guide about the furnishings and decor that were trendy back then. When I visited there were also Mrs. Rosson's dresses displayed which was really cool. They were so tiny back then! The only thing I would have liked more if they told us some salacious rumors about the family or some haunting stories... or something! haha. Although Dr. Rosson's exam room was pretty creepy. read more

The Rosson House Museum was a fun, inexpensive way to kill some time in Phoenix. I was drawn to the house for its appearance. You wouldn't figure this would be in a downtown area by looking at it! We got there at 11:00 AM when they opened and easily got tickets for 11:30 AM. Our group was about 15 people which seemed a little large considering the small spaces inside the house, but we made it work. Our tour guide was very informative and I learned a lot about the towns history. It's definitely interesting and worth a visit if you have some free time. read more

Located in the Heritage Square is this Victorian house. We only walked around the house and didn't pay to get in. There are certain parts of history I'm interested in and I was limited on time so, I skipped the guided tour. Lots of pretty flowers. There's a carriage house and a small souvenir shop. read more

Phoenix - you are a spicy little city. This late summer day was no exception. With our original plans of visiting the nearby Science Museum crushed (free museum day brings out every family, apparently) and our unwillingness to stand in a 100 person deep line in the 110* heat, we mosied over to The Rosson House Museum. I'll admit, at this point, we were just seeking out air conditioning. The kind lady manning the ticket counter enticed us to take the tour, and well, me being a historical and architectural snob, we agreed. With my triple A card and the BF being a teacher we were able to snag a nice discount on the ticket price. I think it was $16 total. The tour was WELL worth braving the heat. If you have any interest in Phoenix history or historical buildings you will love this. Our tour guide (whose name escapes me, but had an enviable handle-bar mustache) was one of the best tour guides I've had in a while. He was informative, patient, and hilarious! We enjoyed learning about the doctor, his family, and checking out the renovated home. This should be a must-stop for any tourist. Make sure to check out the pizzeria and bar around the corner in the historical homes, too! read more

Beautiful little mansion. The tour is informative and you really get to see a lot of the house. Interesting backstory to the house.

Okay, so I love hearing stories about old houses. When I was a kid, I loved horror movies about creepy houses so this is sooo up my alley. Plus if you look up Rosson house, it's one of supposed "haunted" places in Phoenix. So on a rainy day, hubby and I ventured out to take a look. It's a gorgeous freaking house. The lady that gave the tour was informative and animated (ahem) but I really enjoyed listening to her. Take a tour, it's really worth it- the architecture and history is worth knowing and seeing for yourself. P.S. In the house, there is a teddy bear that was donated with a rocking chair and they were told that those two cannot be separated. Creepy as hell, by the way. read more

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Got 2 free kids admission coupons, so I paid for myself, and my daughters and I took the tour. It was really neat to learn about that part of Phoenix's past, and I absolutely love historic architecture! The players, in period costume, made the tour that much more entertaining. I love the layout of the house, as well. The after tour, which included much of Heritage Square, and a side exhibit of vintage undergarments, was quite interesting. This isn't really something I would likely do again for myself, but I would consider taking out of town guests on the tour. read more

I truly love these kinds of tours and seeing old homes that have been restored. This one didn't disappoint. It's about an hour long and hearing the stories and being able to take photos was great. Our tour guide was personable and gave a lot of great information. Take an out of towner or as someone who lives here go and visit as well. read more

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We took advantage of the Phoenix Public Library's Culture Pass and enjoyed free admission to this historic site (though for $7.50 it would be worth it, too). We had a wonderful, wonderful tour with a volunteer (Gayle), who really made the tour for us. We had an ample supply of questions and she never hesitated to answer them. She had a wealth of knowledge and answered almost all of our inquiries about the house. The house is beautifully restored and it's interesting to step back in time and learn about the lives of the wealthy in the years around the dawn of the 20th Century. Who knew even wealthy women only usually had 3-4 outfits for a whole year! Checking this off my Phoenix bucket-list was definitely a choice well made. And time well spent! If you're into history at all, this is a worthwhile choice - especially if you have a tour guide like ours! read more

Rosson House Museum - Museums Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Upon visiting a new place I always do my research ahead of time on places I plan to visit. Once I decided I was visiting Phoenix I knew the Rossen house was a must see. The staff was super friendly and the tour was extremely informative and interesting. read more

Rosson House Museum - Such a kool musuem - Museums Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I had one day in the Phoenix area to be a tourist and saw Heritage Park as one of the highlights of Phoenix so I stopped in and toured the Rosson House. I absolutely love touring historical homes. My tour guide, Kevin, was so nice, knowledgeable, and passionate about the history of the area and the house itself. Even though almost none of the house is original (there are a few items that are), the families that owned the house donated a number of items that are extremely interesting and well worth the price of admission, as is learning about the lives of the families that lived there. I highly recommend taking this tour if you are in the area. read more

Great Museum and we had a great tour guide. I live up North and plan to bring my family here when they visit in December. If you love history this is for you! read more

Thanks to my friend Josh who recommended this when I had family in town. In the late 1990s, I used to give tours of a historical home in a small Kansas town. This somewhat reminded me of those days. The ticket purchasing was easy; the woman who sold us tickets was very friendly. The tour started promptly on time. The tour was a bit too large, though I know that cannot be helped. It was packed with about 14 people on the tour. The house itself has a fascinating history. The tour guide was a bit snarky and sometimes was rude to the individuals who were in our group. I understand the work; it's exhausting to do tours all day, but still. Parking is in the garage near by; I think one can get a discount. There are also parking meters. read more

Very interesting place to visit & highly recommend touring the house itself, which is beautiful & is air conditioned if you visit during the summer. The whole city square around the house has historical buildings as well that you can visit. It makes for a very nice afternoon. read more

If you like history this is definitely a place to visit. Beautiful inside and outside. We loved our tour guide and going upstairs was a treat. We would go back to try the pizza place in Heritage square too. read more

There's been a death at the Rosson House. A toddler has been laid out in a white silk lined coffin in the parlor, her ivory skin cool in the warm October afternoon. All the mirrors have been covered with black fabric to keep her spirit from getting trapped in this world. As silence settles in on the historic Phoenix homestead, it's apparent you're not along. Of course, this could be because I was touring the Rosson House this Saturday with six European tourists. Not only was this tour informative about the history of the building, but the rebirth of our city as well. Believe it our not, the Rosson House was previously used as a boarding house--its patios boarded up to make more room--then sat vacant and in disrepair. The City purchased the house, along with the square block on which it stood, in 1984 and undertook a seven year restoration project that cost around $700,000. But it was well worth it, to step into the past in this amazing structure. There are ten rooms (including three bedrooms and a nursery) and five fireplaces, but I think only one bathroom (which is upstairs). I could go on, but that would spoil the fun of taking the tour yourself. Tickets cost $7.50 and it indicated this was a 30 minute tour, but ours lasted nearly an hour. I enjoyed every minute of it, though, and can't wait to return for the Christmas set up. Oh, and that death I started out with? It's just part of their October seasonal offerings. Nobody really died in the Rosson House. Or did someone? read more

We had our wedding in December at Heritage Square. The staff was so friendly, quick to email back, and worked with us to accommodate all of our needs. We were so happy with our decision to host the wedding there, and it will forever be a special place for us. Here are some tips though: You get to bring your own liquor, which will save Thousands of dollars. Not a huge fan of catering companies, we had our favorite restaurant come in and cater the meal for us. It is a do it yourself space. So you have to bring in everything. Which is so nice because we got to choose all our own vendors and were able to do everything our way (compared to limited choices with an "all in one" venue) We used Affordable Rentals for all of the tables, chairs, linens and lights and They were great as well. read more

I Loved the tour Michelle was amazing l, informative and delightful. Awesome taste of history in AZ where it tends to be lacking. The house was beautifully restored. I only wished we were able to see the attic and basement. read more

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A true Phoenix gem dating to 1895. And a miracle that it still stands, since Phoenix has a record of demolishing everything that makes the city unique. You take a step back in time to a different era when you walk through the door. Affordable and worth every minute. To those who say Phoenix has no history, you're wrong. read more

The Rosson House Museum is a restored home from the 1895's. And it's also conveniently right next to the Teeter House Tea Room and across from Pizzeria Bianco. For under $5, you can take a guided tour of Rosson House and learn what life was like for its residents so long ago. It's a really cool activity to do, and since it's close to so many great restaurants, you can go for dinner and drinks after your tour. Walking through the home, it's easy to imagine the lady of the house sipping tea in a dainty cup with her lacy gloves on. Or maybe it's just me. Houses like this tend to creep me out. I half-expected to see a ghostly woman in a pinafore around every corner, but let me tell you, I'm glad I didn't. Either way, coming to Heritage Square and exploring the historic buildings in it is a great way to spend an afternoon. read more

Rosson House Museum - Museums Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I visited this restored 1895 Rosson House yesterday to partake in the guided tour using a free admission-for-2 Culture Pass (saved me $7.50 ;) ) from the downtown library (various local museum Passes are located near checkout like you're checking out books and you get a receipt to redeem @ the Museum House next door to Rosson House). The docent ("museum guide"), Kathleen Vick, was excellent and spoke with compassion in the mannerism similar to the Victorian era as she guided us throughout the interior of the House. She bespoke the history of the house after it was built (families/boarders living there, lifestyle of that era, costs to build/maintain,...) flawlessly without a script and without a sip of water for a full hour. Thus, exuding a compelling feel of the era and what they went through- both positive & negative. First, the rules for the interior of House: stay with a group and only walk on the purple carpet (which protects the linoleum inlaid of the floor from foot traffic wear-n-tear by visitors), do not touch or pick up objects, and only point & shoot cameras (not professional w/ detachable lens and no tripod) are allowed with flash off. I only wish they'd let us walk up the attic just to peek, even though they put up photos on the easel, of the attic on the walk-up stairs to give us an idea what it looks like upstairs- both past & present. Attics are rare in Phoenix ;) (the House doesn't have a basement). Another thing to consider: there were about 20 of us present and it can get crowded when it's over 10, so be prepared to squish around during the carpet walk. There is no reservation (only for schools or groups on Tuesdays), so you can just show up on the hour by the House picket-fence gate and wait for the docent to come out to introduce herself and begin the tour. Alert: they are closed on Mondays. The House sits on the original Block 14 right on Heritage Square Science Park, near the corner of 6th Street and Monroe. It is very easy to spot, and the neighborhood is very safe and looks like a movie lot :) I like that you can visit that area even after closing to take exterior shots anytime and anyhow you'd like. I have a love for old homes. I can never fathom why that fashion ended for today's (gulp) ugly architecture all over. I think today's homes, especially in Phoenix area are ugly(!) They look like cheap adobes ready to fall apart, speedily built up just to accompany gullible snowbirds (i.e. even my own mother)... I shall be back during Christmastime (with the free Culture Pass, of course) to check out the Christmas decors- in & out. I took so many shots so my camera batteries drained, so this would be my chance to pick up where the dead batteries left out (another visitor's batteries died, too, so I was not alone. Lesson learned: just bring extra batteries even if current use was already brand-new.) ;) Thanks for the special hour well-worth my time...see you again! (And, BTW, don't forget to sign their Guest Book when you pay or redeem Passes at the register inside the Museum House ;) ) read more

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Wonderful guided tour of the entire home. The guide is not only informative about the home but very knowledgeable about Arizona history. The tour is about an hour and a half and the best part is it only costs $6.50 for adults with AAA. $7.50 regular price. Cool activity at an amazingly inexpensive price. Go there! read more

Rosson House Museum - Museums Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I'm really into technology, so I find the study of 100 year old technology to be fascinating. The household tools that were cutting edge back then are still used today! When I visited, they had a "ladies underwear" exhibit. Great history lesson on Victorian dress code and women's liberation with the availability of bicycles, which made it impossible to wear 30lb underwear. The owner of the house was a surgeon so the tour included antique surgical tools, an unexpected bonus for a house tour. Wonderful way to spend an hour. It's not just antique decorations in an old house (although the house's decor is PERFECTION). Perfect for the whole family (if your kids aren't wild). read more