Updated in October 2026, this John Marshall House guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The John Marshall House is the historic home of Chief Justice John Marshall at 818 East Marshall Street, in Richmond‘s Court End neighbourhood, Virginia. Interior tours run only from March to December, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and a general admission ticket costs $15. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the current ticket prices, the interior tour days and the free outdoor exhibit.
Quick facts: the John Marshall House
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Interior tours March to December: Friday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. |
| Ticket prices | General $15. AAA, senior (60+) and military $12. Students $10. Under 6 free. |
| Address | 818 East Marshall Street, Richmond, VA 23219 |
| Nearest transport or parking | Two-hour metered street parking. Paid garages at 501 N. 7th Street and 500 E. Marshall Street. |
| Typical time needed | About 1 hour |
John Marshall House opening hours
Interior tours are available from March to December each year. The house is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm. Ticketed guided tours run during those hours, and each tour lasts 45 minutes. The hours are the same each open day, with no other seasonal changes.
The interior is not open for individual tours in January and February. A free self-guided outdoor exhibit on the grounds can still be visited. Group tours and private tours are available seven days a week, all year round, by arrangement.
Phone 804-648-7998 or email johnmarshallhouse@preservationvirginia.org for dates and availability.
5 top experiences to book in Richmond
- 🏛️ Dive into the city’s rich history on a guided Downtown Richmond walking tour.
- 🥾 Take a guided hike along the James River.
- 👻 Learn the sinister secrets of Shockoe Bottom on a walking ghost tour.
- 🍺 On a haunted pub crawl, combine beers with ghost stories.
- 🍴 Taste Richmond’s best flavours on an Arts District food tour.
John Marshall House ticket prices
General admission to the John Marshall House costs $15. The ticket covers a 45-minute guided interior tour. Book a tour online or contact the house.
- General admission: $15.
- AAA, senior (60 and over) and military: $12.
- Students: $10.
- Children under 6: free.
- Preservation Virginia members: free. Membership gives free admission to all six Preservation Virginia historic sites.
- Outdoor exhibit: free.
- Combo ticket: a combined ticket with Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown in Hanover County is available.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
How to get to the John Marshall House
The house is at 818 East Marshall Street, on the edge of Richmond’s Court End neighbourhood, in downtown Richmond. It stands on a corner near 9th and Marshall Streets.
- On foot: the house is within walking distance of the Virginia State Capitol, the Library of Virginia and The Valentine. Other Court End sites within walking distance include the Executive Mansion, Richmond City Hall and its observation deck, Monumental Church and the White House of the Confederacy.
- By car: drive to downtown Richmond, then follow East Marshall Street to the house. Use the garages or street parking described below.
- By bus: GRTC buses serve downtown Richmond. Check the GRTC website for current routes to Court End.
Parking at the John Marshall House
Two-hour metered street parking is available around the house, first come, first served. Spaces can fill up on busy days.
Two paid parking garages are within walking distance. They are at 501 N. 7th Street and 500 E. Marshall Street.
How long to spend at the John Marshall House
Plan about 1 hour for the visit. The guided interior tour takes 45 minutes, and the outdoor exhibit takes a few more minutes.
Allow longer if you combine the house with other sites in Court End. The Valentine, the Virginia State Capitol and the Library of Virginia are all within walking distance. A walking route through Court End covers about one to two miles, so wear comfortable shoes and carry water.
Accessibility at the John Marshall House
The house is an 18th-century building. It has one staircase that visitors, staff and enslaved people all used when Marshall lived there. Phone 804-648-7998 to ask about access before your visit.
The house carries a VisitAble Advocate Certification. The free outdoor exhibit can be viewed from the grounds. A written Spanish translation of the tour is available on the Preservation Virginia website.
Group and private tours can be arranged to suit visitors’ needs. Contact the house in advance.
What to see at the John Marshall House
John Marshall is best known as the Great Chief Justice. He served on the Supreme Court from 1801 to 1835. His decisions, including Marbury v. Madison, helped shape the principle of judicial review.
Marshall built the house in 1790 in Richmond’s Court End neighbourhood. He lived there for 45 years, until his death in 1835. The property was close to the home of his in-laws, the Ambler family, on 10th Street. Court End grew as a prestigious neighbourhood in the 1780s, because it was close to Thomas Jefferson’s new Capitol.
The house holds the largest collection of original Marshall family pieces. The 45-minute guided tour shows the formation of American government through the federal judiciary.
The house remained in the Marshall family until the Chief Justice’s granddaughters sold the land to the City of Richmond in 1907. The city planned to demolish the house for a high school. Preservation Virginia protested, and in 1911 the house was placed in the organisation’s care.
The grounds have a free outdoor exhibit of interpretive panels. They explain the history of the house’s workyard and John Marshall’s law office.
The Black history of the house is also part of the story. Visitors learn about the families who lived and worked at the house under enslavement and endured in Richmond’s urban landscape. The Voices Remembered website shares more of these stories.
Preservation Virginia also publishes stories about Marshall’s revolutionary roots, the mourning customs of his time and Mary “Polly” Marshall’s Richmond.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Visit Friday to Sunday between March and December for an interior tour. |
| Crowds | Metered spots allow two hours. Use a garage if you plan to see several Court End sites. |
| Layout | The tour covers the house, and the outdoor exhibit is on the grounds. |
| Entry process | Schedule a tour online or contact the house. A combo ticket covers Scotchtown. |
| On-site logistics | Tours last 45 minutes. Group tours are available seven days a week by arrangement. |
Frequently asked questions about the John Marshall House
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How much does it cost to visit the John Marshall House? | $15 for general admission. AAA, seniors and military pay $12, and students pay $10. |
| Is the John Marshall House suitable for children? | Children under 6 are free. The tour is 45 minutes and covers legal and family history. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the John Marshall House? | Tours are scheduled online, so check availability and book ahead. |
| Is the John Marshall House open on Sundays? | Yes, from March to December. The house is open Friday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. |
| Is the John Marshall House open in January and February? | Not for interior tours. The outdoor exhibit is free, and group tours can be arranged. |
Things to do near the John Marshall House
- The Poe Museum: a museum of Edgar Allan Poe’s life in the Old Stone House in Shockoe Bottom, about 5 minutes’ drive away.
- The American Civil War Museum at Historic Tredegar: a museum on the former Tredegar Iron Works site by the James River, about 5 minutes’ drive away.
- The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts: a free art museum with more than 50,000 works, about 10 minutes’ drive away.
- The Virginia Museum of History and Culture: a history museum on N Arthur Ashe Boulevard, about 10 minutes’ drive away.
- The Science Museum of Virginia: a hands-on science museum in the historic Broad Street Station, about 10 minutes’ drive away.
Alternative attractions
- Virginia State Capitol: the state capitol in Capitol Square, within walking distance of the house.
- Library of Virginia: the state library in Court End, within walking distance.
- The Valentine: a Richmond history museum in Court End, within walking distance.
- Monumental Church: a historic church in Court End, designed by the architect Robert Mills and within walking distance.
- Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown: a historic home in Hanover County, north of Richmond, with a combo ticket.
More Virginia travel
Other Virginia travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- What to know before visiting the White House of the Confederacy in Richmond.
- Planning a visit to the Maymont Mansion in Richmond.
- Guide to Sherwood Forest – President John Tyler’s plantation.
- Discovering presidents and the first Thanksgiving at Berkeley Plantation.
- A practical visitor guide to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre in Chantilly.
