White Hall makes an easy summer day trip from Berea, and it does not take much planning to make it worthwhile. The historic mansion sits in Richmond and is managed by Eastern Kentucky University (EKU), which keeps it feeling like a close-to-home outing rather than a big production.
White Hall was once home to Cassius Marcellus Clay, and the house itself tells a bigger Kentucky story than most people expect from a quick stop. The mansion dates to the late 1700s, with a major addition in the 1860s, so the visit gives you both the original home and the layers that came later.
📅 Touring the Mansion This Summer
What you can do this summer is simple: tour the house, look at the architecture, and spend a little time in a place that still feels tied to local history.
White Hall offers self-guided tours from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. This is a great option for families who prefer to explore at their own pace or are visiting with younger children.
For those who want deeper context, guided tours begin at 3:30 p.m. Guided options include the White Hall History Tour from Wednesday through Saturday and the Days Gone By Tour on Sundays. Guided groups are capped at 20 people, so it makes sense to arrive a little early to secure your spot.
🎟️ Ticket and Admission Details
Tickets are straightforward and can be purchased directly at the gift shop inside the mansion:
- Self-Guided Tours: $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and military, and $5 for kids ages 12 and under.
- Guided Tours: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and military, and $5 for kids ages 12 and under.
That makes White Hall a highly manageable and affordable outing for families, especially compared to larger regional attractions that can get expensive quickly once you add up travel, food, and parking costs.
🚗 Planning Your Drive from Berea
If you are planning the trip from Berea, the drive is short enough to feel easy, but White Hall still gives you more than enough historical depth to justify the outing. It is the perfect destination when you want a dose of local history and architecture without turning your afternoon into a grueling, full-day road trip.
Before you head out, remember that White Hall is open seasonally from April through October, Wednesday through Sunday. If you are looking for a full day out, consider pairing your historic mansion tour with a local lunch in Richmond, or wind down your evening by heading back to Berea to enjoy a climate-controlled community performance at The Spotlight Playhouse.
📍 Quick Visitor Guide
- Location: White Hall State Historic Site, 500 White Hall Shrine Road, Richmond, KY 40475
- Operating Calendar: Open April through October (Wednesday through Sunday)
- Self-Guided Hours: 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Guided Tour Times: 3:30 p.m. daily (Wednesday through Sunday)
- Regional Information Partners: Richmond Tourism & Eastern Kentucky University
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🎭 UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
Theater & Performance at The Spotlight Playhouse Tickets and info: https://www.thespotlightplayhouse.com/
- Annie KIDS (Spotlight Acting School), May 29 to June 7
- Creative Arts Camp (“New York, New York”), June 8 to 12
- Macbeth (The Bluegrass Players), June 19 to 28
- Film Acting Camp (Rising 6th to Age 18), June 29 to July 3
Community, Arts & Civic
- Madison County Schools Summer Feeding Program (Glenn Marshall/Caudill Campus), Monday through Thursday, June 1 to 25, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. https://www.madison.kyschools.us/
- Woodcarver Wednesday (Berea Welcome Center), Wednesday, June 3, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. https://visitberea.com/events/
- Madison County Skeet Club Public Hours (638 Dreyfus Rd.), Thursday, June 4, 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. https://visitberea.com/events/
- 15th Annual US 25 Yard Sale (Regional Route), Friday, June 5 to Saturday, June 6, All Day https://visitberea.com/events/
- Junebug Festival (Old Town Artisan Village), Friday, June 5 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. https://visitberea.com/events/
- Free Kids Fishing Derby (Lake Reba Park), Saturday, June 6, 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. https://madisoncountyky.gov/mc-events/
- Campfire Forging Workshop (116 Spring Circle Dr.), Saturday, June 6 to Sunday, June 7, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. https://bereamakerspace.clubexpress.com/
- Berea Chamber Annual Golf Tournament (Battlefield Golf Course), Friday, June 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. https://www.bereakychamber.org/
- 26th Annual L&N Day (Berea Welcome Center), Saturday, June 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. https://visitberea.com/
- Berea Juneteenth Musical Event (Berea Skate Park), Sunday, June 14 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. https://visitberea.com/events/
- Taste of Richmond 2026 (Richmond Centre), Friday, June 26 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. https://www.richmondchamber.com/
About the Author
Dr. Chad Hembree is the Executive Director of Spotlight Acting School, The Spotlight Playhouse, and Spotlight Performing Arts. Affectionately known to the community as “Mr. Chad,” he is a playwright, director, and performer with a professional background spanning music, theater, and technology. As a contributor and editor for BereaOnline.com, he focuses on highlighting community news, local events, and the vibrant performing arts landscape in Madison County.