The game is afoot to ferret out the realm of detective and spy literature at the Rosenbach. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to explore items including The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Charles Dickens’ unfinished novel), an original Sherlock Holmes manuscript, and an album belonging to a female Civil War spy. Synchronize your watches to 1500 hours and join us!

About Hands-On Tours

Created especially for visitors who seek an in-depth and focused look at our collection, Hands-On Tours allow you unparalleled access to rare and important items that are not usually on view to the public. Depending on the tour, you will have the chance to handle historic items, be it by turning the page of a rare book, testing the weight of a delicate teacup, or reading from a manuscript. Click here for a list of all themes and an up-to-date schedule.

Advance Registration

Hands-On Tours are offered almost every Friday and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Advance registration is strongly recommended, as there are a limited number of spots on each tour and tours without registrants 48 hours in advance will be cancelled. To register, call (215)732-1600, ext. 123 or e-mail rsvp [at] rosenbach [dot] org.

Drop-in Visitors

Any open spots on a tour will become available to drop-in visitors on a first-come first-served basis at noon on the day of the tour. If you plan to drop-in for a Hands-On Tour, please call (215)732-1600 and dial “0” to confirm that the tour is being offered.

Cost

$5 per person (in addition to the cost of general admission).