Tour Groups
Adult Tour Groups
Guides are available for groups of 10 or more, and require an appointment with at least two weeks advanced notice. For more information, please contact the museum at (225)765-2437 or email rlm@lsu.edu with "Tours" in the subject line.
School Tours
If you are looking for school tour information, please see our School Field Trip page. You may also contact the museum at (225)765-2437 or email rlm@lsu.edu with "Field Trip" in the subject line.
International Tour Groups
Guides are available for international groups. The museum offers guided tours in French, German, Italian and Spanish. The museum can also offer guided tours for other international groups, but an interpreter will need to come with the group. All guided tours require at least two weeks advanced notice and must be scheduled for a specific date and time. For more information contact the museum at (225)765-2437 or email rlm@lsu.edu with "Tours" in the subject line.
Handicap Accessibility
The Rural Life Museum strives to provide a fun and educational experience for guests of all abilities. The Exhibit Barn, Gift Shop and restrooms are fully accessible by wheelchair. Half of the historic outbuildings are accessible by wheelchair. Wheelchairs are available at the Admissions Desk at no charge on a first-come, first-served basis. Please notify us in advance before you arrive, if your group has anyone with special needs.
Reservations
Two week advanced reservations are required for a docent led tours of ten or more. Registration is easy using any of the following methods:
- By Phone - (225)765-2437
- By Email - rlm@lsu.edu
Advanced reservations are not required for regular visitation. For daily visitation, it is a self-guided tour. Give yourself at least two 2 hours to see the museum in its entirety. The museum is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm, so the latest you want to arrive for your self-guided tour is 3:00pm.
Payment
Full payment for admission is made on day of your visit. Accepted forms of payment are cash or credit card. Business checks for tour groups are allowed. For pre-made business checks, please be aware that cash change will not be given for any check made out for more than the number of guests in attendance. Personal checks are only accepted if the check holder is a current Louisiana resident.
Parking
If arriving by bus, ask the driver to follow the signs back to the LSU Rural Life Museum. The museum is located to the back of the property, 1.5 miles away from the front gate on Essen Lane. Guests may depart the bus and enter in front of the museum entrance. If arriving in cars or vans, free parking is available in front of the museum.
Check-In
Check-in and admission payments are done at the front desk/gift shop area of the museum. After walking through the main entrance, the front desk and gift shop are on your left.
If you are arriving in a group, send one adult leader directly to the front desk to check in and make payment. Your leader should be prepared with an exact count of youth and of adults. The leader will be given a receipt for admission, along with maps for the adults. If your group has requested a guided tour, your guide will meet you at the front desk after your payment has been finalized.