Visiting Rienzi
Admission & Tours
Admission
$10 for adults; $8 for seniors (65+); $5 for college students and youth (13–18); $5 for MFAH members; free for children 12 and younger.
Free for active members of the U.S. military & reserves with valid ID and for military families with dependent cards.
Participants in the Texas Lone Star Card Program
Receive free admission for up to 6 people when you present your Texas Lone Star Card and photo ID. Please call in advance to reserve your spot in a tour: 713.639.7800.
Tours
Docent-Led Tours and Self-Guided Visits
Because of the unique setting of Rienzi, visits to the house and art collection are by advance ticket purchase. Small groups and individuals are welcome.
- Docent-led tours, included with general admission, are offered:
Wednesday at 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.
Thursday & Friday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Saturday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. & 2 p.m.
Sunday at 1 p.m. & 2 p.m. - Visits are self-guided at all other times. Maps and cell-phone audio tours are available.
- Rienzi closes every year during August.
• Time slots fill up quickly, so purchase your tickets in advance.
• Face masks are recommended, but not required.
• Rienzi’s gardens are open for self-guided visits every day of the week: Monday–Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission to the gardens is free.
• Questions? Contact 713.639.7800 or rienzi@mfah.org
Group Tours for Adults
Docents give general introductory tours of the house as well as tours that focus on specific topics of interest. For information, call Rienzi’s education office during business hours at 713.353.1565.
School Tours
To inquire about custom school tours, call Rienzi’s education office during business hours at 713.353.1565.
Tips for Visiting
- Please wait outside the entry doors. Security personnel will welcome you inside.
- Face masks and social distancing are recommended.
- Capacity is limited for each time slot, and late arrivals will result in forfeiture of an entry time.
- All bags are to be left inside of vehicles, unless medically required equipment is needed.
- Food and drink are not allowed in the galleries.
- Nonflash photography is allowed.
- Audio guides for the house and garden are available at 281.968.4377.
Accessibility
The galleries at Rienzi are wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs are available at the front entrance for visitors to check out free of charge. Motorized wheelchairs are permitted. An elevator is available for access to the lower level of the house. Upon request, chairs are provided for guests to use in the galleries. Rienzi is open for self-guided tours with a smartphone audio guide. Large printed maps are available.
The gardens are not wheelchair accessible and feature difficult terrain and stairs.
If you have any questions about the Museum’s accessibility resources and programs, email accessibility@mfah.org or call 713.639.7300.
Directions
Rienzi is located in River Oaks, at 1406 Kirby Drive between Lazy Lane and Shadder Way. There is a small sign on the lawn in front of the gates. Limited free parking is available.
Publications
Rienzi: European Decorative Arts and Paintings
Katherine S. Howe, Edgar Peters Bowron, Christine Gervais, Cindi Strauss, Stephen Fox, Suzanne Turner, Marjorie E. Wieseman
This beautiful publication is the first to document Rienzi, its collection, and the collectors. Featuring contributions from seven experts in their fields, the book presents an illustrated biography of the Mastersons and their roles in Houston and as collectors, followed by essays on Rienzi’s architectural history and gardens. Entries about collection highlights are of interest to general readers, as well as scholars and collectors. For information about this book, contact the MFA Shop.
Antiquity Revived: Neoclassical Art in the Eighteenth Century
Guillaume Faroult, Christophe Leribault, Guilhem Scherf, et al.
Learn more about the exhibition Antiquity Revived: Neoclassical Art in the Eighteenth Century, organized by the MFAH in association with the Musée du Louvre, Paris. Featuring 150 paintings, sculptures, drawings, and works of decorative art—including objects from the Rienzi Collection—Antiquity Revived explores, from various points of view, how the renewal of classical taste found its roots in ancient sources. For information about this catalogue, contact the MFA Shop.
Entertaining at Rienzi
Are you interested in hosting an event at Rienzi? Please contact 713.639.7754 or specialevents@mfah.org with any questions.