By Nancy Mann Jackson
Every city has its own claim to fame, whether it’s the birthplace of a president, a millionaire’s mansion, or a restored historic theater. And these gems of local history can often add an extra level of personality to meetings or events.
“Stepping outside of the convention center or a host hotel’s meeting space for receptions and breakout meetings helps engage attendees and helps drive attendance,” says Chris Gahl, Senior Manager of Media Relations for the Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Association. “Historic venues hold character, and this resonates with SMERF groups. As a destination that hosts several SMERF meetings each year, we see planners continually ask for unique, historic venues for off-site meetings.”
For your next meeting, seek out a city’s unique historic properties and offer your group a one-of-a-kind experience. Here’s a look at some interesting historic venues in four popular destinations.
Four Centuries of History
When meeting in Boston, planners can choose venues from four centuries of history, “from 19th century townhouse venues such as the Hampshire House to the 20th century John F. Kennedy Presidential Library Museum, where U.S. presidents and many heads of state have convened,” says Larry Meehan, Vice President of Media and Tourism at the Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Located in the heart of Boston’s distinguished Beacon Hill, the Hampshire House is convenient to hotels, shopping and attractions and offers flexible space that can accommodate groups of 10 to 500.
The Kennedy Museum is located in a 10-acre park overlooking the city that launched President Kennedy to greatness. Its breathtaking views and vibrant history draw groups to five different spaces for events. Meehan recommends the Museum Pavilion, a striking setting for dinners and receptions with its 115-foot high glass walls offering panoramic views of Boston Harbor. The space accommodates 350 for a sit-down dinner or 600 for a standing reception.
Other favorite historic venues for groups convening in Boston include Fanueil Hall Marketplace, the Boston Public Library, the Algonquin Club and the Harvard Club.
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Presidents and Pathologists
The city of Indianapolis offers a number of historic venues open for group events. First, the Indiana War Memorial is “a stunning building made of Indiana limestone, paying tribute to past military conflicts,” says Chris Gahl. The memorial’s main entrance can be rented for receptions and seats 200, while its theater seats 450 for presentations.
The historic Benjamin Harrison Home is available for smaller breakout sessions and private tours following receptions. The 1875 Italianate Victorian home of our 23rd President has three levels and contains many of Harrison’s paintings, furniture and unique political memorabilia. The home’s private meeting room accommodates 50 to 60 people for a seated dinner or 80 to 100 for a standing reception, says Phyllis Geeslin, the home’s Director. The Harrison property also features a spacious lawn that can accommodate an unlimited number of guests. The space has been used for retreats, seminars, workshops, receptions, dinners, lunches and breakfasts.
Also in Indianapolis, planners can utilize the Indiana Medical History Museum, the nation’s oldest surviving pathology laboratory, built in 1896. “The building originally provided physicians in the late 1800s with state-of-the-art facilities to study mental and nervous disorders,” Gahl says. “Today, the museum uses its 15,000 artifacts to educate visitors about the developments that made today’s advanced medical treatments possible.” Only five minutes from downtown, the museum is perfect for a reception for 60 to 70 people, and its amphitheater seats 100.
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Style and Substance
Sacramento is full of history and historic venues that “provide people with something to talk about,” says Sonya Bradley, Vice President of Marketing for the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Plus, the ornate features are inherently more interesting to view than, say, an air wall.”
One of the most popular historic venues for groups is Sacramento’s Memorial Auditorium. “It’s an architectural gem,” Bradley says of the building. “Six tall, ornate columns welcome guests to the building, and inside it’s a mixture of Byzantine, Romanesque and Classic Revival styles.”
The venue offers 8,800 square feet of space and can seat 3,800 for general sessions. The 1,575-square-foot Memorial Hall and the 272-seat Jean Runyon Theater are available for smaller meetings, and full catering and audiovisual services are also available on site.
Other historic venues in Sacramento include Old Sacramento, a national historic landmark along the Sacramento River, an entire district preserved to reflect life in the Gold Rush period; and Crocker Art Museum, the oldest public art museum in the west.
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Old World, New World
“In San Antonio, historic venues weave together the old world and the new,” says Sara Gruber, Communications Manager at the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Many of our venues are alive with history and legends [and] still bring you all of the technological necessities and comforts of today.” San Antonio’s historic venues also offer resounding authenticity and leave little or no need for meeting and event planners to provide décor or arrange a theme, adds Gruber. “From a century-old train depot reincarnated into a dynamic events facility to a brewery stable turned chic meeting venue, San Antonio is brimming with charm and fiestas perfect for any group.”
Some of the city’s best historic venues for groups include the Main Street Ballroom, a beautiful and historic two-story facility conveniently located in downtown San Antonio, half a block from the River Walk at Main Plaza; and Guenther House, a charming riverside restaurant, museum and event venue that was originally built in the 19th century as the home of the owner of the Pioneer Flour Mills. Along the banks of the San Antonio River Walk, La Villita, “the little village,” was originally established by Spanish soldiers stationed at the Alamo. Today, La Villita is a National Historic District and a haven for artists and craftspeople selling jewelry, stained glass and other handcrafts, as well as fashions from Mexico and Guatemala. La Villita also has various event spaces, ranging from a theater on the river to beautifully restored old homes and courtyards. There’s also Sunset Station, a restored train depot from the 1800s turned event facility, featuring “gold leaf vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows and a historic church,” notes Gruber.
Groups can also hold events in an entire district full of history. Dating to 1940, Market Square, the largest Mexican market north of the Rio Grande, “is a colorful civic center with a friendly and humble appeal,” Gruber says. Market Square is also home to the Smithsonian-affiliated Museo Alameda, a museum dedicated to sharing the Latino experience in the Americas.
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