Historic Rosedale

Looking for something spooky (but not-so-scary) to do this Halloween season?  Join us this Friday, October 9th, for our Haunted History:  A  Look at the Victorian Funeral tour!  Learn about the customs and traditions surrounding the dearly departed in the Victorian era, such as the "funeral biscuits" pictured here. The tour starts at 7:00 pm (with check in beginning at 6:30), and spaces are limited. Visit our website at https://www.simpletix.com/e/haunted-history-a-look-at-the-victorian-fu-tickets-293042 to purchase tickets and reserve your spot for this hauntingly fun storytelling experience!

As part of our ongoing Staff/Volunteer Spotlight, we today want to recognize one of our newest associates, Caroline Cook!  As Caroline puts it:

"I am a current undergraduate student at UNC Charlotte, double majoring in Architecture and English, with a minor in Architecture History. I originally started at Rosedale as a volunteer in April of 2026, and I currently work part time as an Interpreter and Collection Assistant. 

When I am not working in our collections, I enjoy giving tours of the home. Rosedale has been a wonderful experience for me, both in architecture history and other historic endeavors. I have gained a wealth of information during my time here, and met so many amazing people. One of my favorite things about Rosedale is our community connection and telling our stories to Charlotte residents and all of our guests."

You can follow Caroline as she presents guided house tours, available Wednesday through Saturday at 11:30 and 1:30.  Visit our website at https://www.simpletix.com/e/guided-house-tours-2026-tickets-253555 to purchase tickets, and join us in thanking Caroline for all she does for Historic Rosedale!

We wanted to say a HUGE thank you to all our participants and guests for making our first Shadows of September:  A Rosedale Paranormal Festival a big success!  We especially want to thank our  participating teams, vendors, and speakers:

Charlotte Area Paranormal Society

Great State Paranormal

Girl After Ghost

704 Paranormal

Three Rivers Paranormal

Spirited Souls Apothecary

/Jason Tapp

Renn Again

Thanks to you all for helping us kick off the spirited season in style!

And there are spooky events yet to come!  On Friday, October 9th, our highly popular Haunted History:  A  Look at the Victorian Funeral tour will start at 7:00 pm.  Tickets for this event are limited and sell out quickly; visit our website at https://www.simpletix.com/e/haunted-history-a-look-at-the-victorian-fu-tickets-293042 to reserve your spot, and join us for an evening of tales and traditions of the Victorian funeral!

Tickets are still available for our Shadows of September:  A Rosedale Paranormal Festival event this Saturday, September 26th!  Join us on National Ghost Hunting Day for this family-friendly event including panel discussions, an Easter-egg style "ghost hunt" for the kids, and the chance to meet and talk with local paranormal teams and authors.  Admission to the day festival is $15.00, and includes guided tours of the 1815 home at 11:30, 1:30, and 3:30 (space permitting)

Then that evening, join members of the Charlotte Area Paranormal Society and Great State Paranormal as they lead an investigation of Rosedale's 200-plus years old grounds and the cellar of the historic home, followed by a more intimate investigation of the house itself.  Separate tickets are required for these events, and space is limited!  Visit our website at https://www.simpletix.com/e/shadows-of-september-a-rosedale-paranormal-tickets-287508 to purchase tickets, and join us for a day of hauntingly good fun!

Our Collections Committee works year‑round to preserve, study, and share the objects that tell Rosedale’s story — from everyday heirlooms to once‑in‑a‑lifetime treasures.

One of those treasures is the wedding dress of Martha Adeline Caldwell, the youngest daughter of Dr. David Thomas Caldwell and his second wife Adeline, worn at her marriage to Walter Joel Rawlinson in 1876. This beautiful gown offers a glimpse into 19th‑century craftsmanship and the personal histories woven into our site. Although the gown is too fragile to be openly displayed, it is safely stored away for future research and conservation.

Caring for pieces like this ensures that the stories of the families who lived, worked, and shaped Rosedale continue to inspire future generations. Come visit Rosedale and see many of the other artifacts and treasures connected to the family history!  Visit our website at https://www.simpletix.com/e/guided-house-tours-2026-tickets-253555 to purchase tickets for a guided house tour, and see the work our Collections Committee has put in to preserving the items that help tell Rosedale's story.

The spirited season is fast approaching, and Historic Rosedale is excited to once again offer one of our favorite annual Halloween-themed events!  Join us on Friday, October 9th at 7 pm for our Haunted History:  A Look at the Victorian Funeral tour,and learn the tales and traditions--some melancholic and some macabre--practiced by relatives of those who passed during Victorian times. Spaces for this tour are limited for a cozy story-telling experience and to prevent, as the Victorians believed, the spirits of the dead from taking the spirits of the living with them! Visit our website at https://www.simpletix.com/e/haunted-history-a-look-at-the-victorian-fu-tickets-293042 to reserve your spot, and plan to join us for a hauntingly fun evening!

As part of our ongoing Staff/Volunteer Spotlight series, we would today like to recognize one of our amazing volunteers, Sean Sullivan!

"My interest in architecture, history, and the human stories of the built environment came from growing up in a 400-year-old town in Connecticut, which led to a two-decade career in real estate in San Francisco. We relocated to Charlotte a decade ago, and Historic Rosedale is one of the few places here that retain their historic buildings and settings. Sharing this place and the stories of the people who lived and worked here offers a brief window into the past from the present and, hopefully, informs a better future for everyone. "

Come visit Rosedale and perhaps catch Sean as he leads a guided house tour! Visit our website at https://www.simpletix.com/e/guided-house-tours-2026-tickets-253555 to purchase tickets.

Thank you, Sean, for all you do for Historic Rosedale!

Come join us this Thursday, September 10th, for a thought‑provoking panel inspired by our Love of Liberty: The Revolutionary Spirit of Rosedale exhibit! Historians and scholars will explore the many sides of the American Revolution and how its ideals shaped, and were shaped by, the people connected to Rosedale. This event is FREE and open to the public, but registration is recommended. Visit our website at https://www.simpletix.com/e/love-of-liberty-the-revolutionary-spirit-o-tickets-287501 to reserve your spot— don’t miss this afternoon of insight and discovery!

Looking for something to do this holiday weekend? Historic Rosedale is open Saturday! Our grounds are open for self-guided tours from 10:00 to 3:00, with guided house tours available at 11:30 and 1:30. Visit our website at https://www.simpletix.com/e/guided-house-tours-2026-tickets-253555 to purchase tickets, and come spend part of your holiday weekend with us!

Historic Rosedale is open Friday and Saturday of Labor Day weekend from 10am-3pm with guided house tours (in air conditioning) at 11:30 and 1:30. Bring your friends!