By Richard Kern
- The College of Physicians/Mütter Museum, Philadelphia, PA
- Dr. Pepper Museum, Waco, TX
- National Atomic Museum, Albuquerque, NM
- The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, Cleveland, OH
- Napoleon House, New Orleans, LA
- Patriots Point Museum, Charleston, SC
- American Helicopter Museum, West Chester, PA
Every city has one – a museum or historical society that provides meeting/event space for small and mid-sized groups in search of an off-site (re: non-hotel) venue. The great thing about this often underutilized category is that participants will have a truly unique and memorable experience, while you save precious planning time and dollars.
That’s largely because these venues are usually some of the more less-traveled spots in a given city, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put on a first-rate event. Sure, they may not offer on-site catering, and their A-V equipment probably isn’t state-of-the art, but you’ve dealt with these kinds of issues before, and you know that’s not necessarily a deal-breaker. Here’s a look at seven such venues in various cities across the U.S.
The College of Physicians/Mütter Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Established in 1787, the College of Physicians is the oldest honorary medical society in the country still in existence. The elegant Georgian style building was designed by the renowned architectural firm of Cope and Stewardson in 1909. This is a venue with charm, elegance, personality and style; perfect for a memorable occasion for parties from 10 to 500. On premises is the renowned Mütter Museum, a unique collection of anatomical and pathological specimens, as well as medical and historical exhibits in the adjoining gallery. Private tours are available. The College’s medicinal plant garden is available for receptions from April through October for up to 125 guests. Should your event need AV coverage, in-house equipment is available, along with a projectionist who will be glad to work with you to assure a perfect event. The College is conveniently located near Amtrak’s 30th Street Station and numerous parking lots. For more information, contact: Barbara Smith, Manager of Facilities Rental, at 215-563-3737 or bsmith@collphyphil.org.
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Dr. Pepper Museum, Waco, TX
Paris has the Louvre. New York has the Guggenheim. Waco has the Dr. Pepper. That’s the motto of the Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute, which opened to the public in May of 1991 and attracts over 65,000 visitors each year. The Museum itself is housed in the old 1906 Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling Company building located at 300 S. 5th Street in downtown Waco. The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the “Home of Dr Pepper.” You can rent the entire Museum for the evening and enjoy 18,500 square feet of nostalgia. Mix and mingle throughout the three floors of space, enjoy exhibits celebrating America’s love for soft drinks, view videos or slide shows in a state-of-the-art auditorium, even have on-duty and professional staff assist you in planning and preparing for your event. You can enjoy the Soda Fountain where friendly soda jerks will “shoot” you an old fashion Dr Pepper float. Soda fountain and entire museum are available for rental only after normal hours. Call the Dr Pepper Museum and Free Enterprise Institute at 254-757-1025.
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National Atomic Museum, Albuquerque, NM
The National Atomic Museum is the nation’s only Congressionally chartered museum of nuclear science and history. The museum was established in 1969 as an intriguing place to learn the story of the Atomic Age, from early research of nuclear development through today’s peaceful uses of nuclear technology. Exhibits include: Pioneers of Science (Madame Marie Curie, Albert Einstein and Lise Meitner); What’s Hot, What’s Not - Radiation in the World Around You; The Manhattan Project, WW II and The Cold War; Seeing is Healing (a look at Nuclear Medicine); and Waging Peace (the history of Arms Control). Located in the Heart of Historic Old Town Albuquerque, make your special event at the National Atomic Museum a real blast! Enjoy your special event in the Museum's Launch Pad under a 1/3-scale model of a Titan Missile. Experience something different for your next corporate meeting, dinner, reception or lecture. Your rental fee covers a three-hour reception for up to 600 people or seated dinner for up to 100 people; use of the entire Museum; set up, tear down and clean up of event; tables and chairs; an event advisor; A/V equipment; docents/tours; security; and Museum staff on duty for the event. Call 505-245-2137, ext. 114 to schedule an appointment to tour the facility or get answers to any questions you may have.
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The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum, Cleveland, OH
The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum,showcases nearly 200 antique, vintage, and classic automobiles and aircraft ranging from an 1897 Panhard et Levassor (the first enclosed automobile) to Bobby Rahal’s 1982 March Indy Car. The collection documents the technological and stylistic development of the transportation industry, with a focus on early automobiles created in Cleveland. The Crawford collection is one of the top ten in the nation, according to Car Collector magazine. Northeastern Ohio’s contribution to aviation is also showcased in the Crawford Museum. The cornerstone of the aviation collection is a circa 1912-14 Curtiss Hydroaeroplane flown by Cleveland’s most prominent aviator, Al Engel. The Museum’s distinctive blend of history and charm make it the perfect backdrop for any event. Rent the newly renovated Norton Gallery which overlooks the Hanna Garden and is perfect for a meeting, lunch/dinner, presentation or cocktail reception. The Norton Gallery is available for daytime rentals for groups of 100 people or less. The rental cost for this room during the day is $50 for the first two hours, and $50 each additional hour. Guests are also charged a $5 reduced admission rate so they can tour the museum before or after your event, but during regular museum hours. Hours are Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm, and Sunday, noon-5pm. If a caterer is needed, you can choose one from the museum-approved catering list. There is a small work area available for caterers to use for preparation purposes. For more information, contact Chris Brown at 216-721-5722, ext. 290.
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Napoleon House, New Orleans, LA
Few places capture the essence of New Orleans like the Napoleon House, a 200-year-old landmark that’s as casual and unique as its French Quarter surroundings. The building’s first occupant, Nicholas Girod, was mayor of New Orleans from 1812 to 1815. He offered his residence to Napoleon in 1821, when partisans planned to spirit him away from exile in St. Helena and provide him refuge in New Orleans. Napoleon never made it, but the name stuck, and since then the Napoleon House has become one of the most famous venues in America, a haunt for artists and writers throughout most of the 20th century. The Napoleon House offers one of the most unique and elegant settings anywhere for parties and receptions. The property is rated among the highest historically significant locations in New Orleans, and is on the National Register of historic buildings. The suite of rooms (L’Appartment de l’Empereur) on the second floor would have been Napoleon’s apartment had he made it to the new world. Comprised of 2,300 square feet, the rooms can accommodate 60 guests for seated dinners and groups of up to 150 for cocktail parties or receptions. For an additional charge, you can also rent the first floor patio and the Napoleon House bar to accommodate larger groups of up to 300. Catering is done in-house by 4th generation family member chef Robert Simms, who serves classic New Orleans and south Louisiana favorites. Call 504-525-2431 for details.
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Patriots Point Museum, Charleston, SC
Imagine your catered event on board one of the most famous warships in the history of the United States Navy – the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown overlooking beautiful Charleston Harbor. It’s not just the commanding view and location that attracts meeting and event planners from across the country. Known the world over as “The Fighting Lady,” this WWII legend opens her hangar bay, fantail, flight deck and other locations and surrounds your group with stories of heroism, patriotism and adventure. Part of the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum that opened in the summer of 1975, Yorktown offers an experience like no other in the southeastern United States, let alone the Charleston area. There are a number of other catered event and meeting venues at the Patriots Point complex. The spectacular grounds at the water’s edge, the destroyer Laffey and cutter Ingham and the captivating Vietnam Support Base replica.
Luncheons on Yorktown’s hangar bay level are held on a routine basis. The largest section (Hangar Bay III) accommodates large groups, and its location offers nice separation from most visitors. All hangar bay options can be partitioned off. Event venues aboard Yorktown and the other ships of Patriots Point are routinely available Sunday through Thursday. The evening time block is generally 6pm-11pm. Friday and Saturday events are also popular, but require greater coordination because of other shipboard activities. Guest services representative Angie Bennett can provide you with all the details at 866-831-1720.
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American Helicopter Museum, West Chester, PA
The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center is the nation’s premier aviation museum devoted exclusively to helicopters. It collects, restores and displays historic aircraft and chronicles the origin and development of rotary-wing aircraft. The Museum library’s continually growing collection of documents, artifacts, films, memoirs and research serves as an important source of public information about rotary-wing aircraft. Appropriately, the Museum is located in suburban Philadelphia, where two of today’s major helicopter manufacturers have their roots, and where much of the earliest development of helicopters in the U.S took place. Currently, the Museum displays over 35 civilian and military helicopters, autogiros and convertaplanes. The exhibits span the history of rotary wing aircraft from the earliest helicopters to the latest addition to our nation’s defense: the V-22 Osprey. The facility can accommodate up to 600 people. If you’re looking for a special setting for your next activity, the American Helicopter Museum & Education Center could be just the place. For more information, call 610-436-9600.
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