Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

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Los Angeles Wedding Location
900 Exposition Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Contact: Events and Filming
Phone: 213/763-3221
www.nhm.org
Request a proposal for your event from Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

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Why We Like This Place

Frankly, after strolling through the galleries of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, other venues seem…well…quite tame in comparison. Where else can you entertain 500 guests alongside a massive American bison silhouetted against a prairie sunset? Or be brazen enough to enjoy a cocktail in front of a herd of African elephants? Or dance among the dinosaurs?

With its incredible array of dramatic settings, the museum is one of the most thrilling places we’ve encountered in our travels. No matter the nature of your event—be it wedding, corporate affair, or birthday party—this amazing site has a space for you.

After being closed for almost four years for renovations, the museum’s iconic 1913 Rotunda will be reopening the summer of 2010! Lined with marble columns and crowned by a stained-glass dome, the room is also the home of the very first piece of public art funded by Los Angeles County: a Beaux Arts statue entitled “The Three Muses,” which represents the disciplines of art, history and science. The Rotunda is ideal for a wedding ceremony, as well as any kind of private or corporate reception. With glass doors that open out to Exposition Park, it’s also wonderful when used in conjunction with the Exposition Park Rose Garden. Reservations are available for event dates starting August 1, 2010.

Other exotic backdrops for large parties include either the African Mammal Hall or one of the two North American Mammal Halls. With gleaming, polished cork floors (the perfect surface for dancing), and magnificent dioramas of the world’s animals, these rooms take you on an adventure around the globe.

Then there’s the Grand Foyer, a reception space remarkable not only for the beauty of its marbled columns, twin half domes, and travertine marble floors, but also for its enormous dueling dinosaurs—a Tyrannosaurus rex and a Triceratops engaged in fierce battle. (With centerpieces like this, who needs decorations?)

The museum offers other intriguing possibilities as well: if you like, integrate a special talk from a museum expert into your festivities, or tour an area of the museum that is especially appealing, like the Gem & Mineral Hall, where glittering jewels will surely make your guests feel like royalty.

Sound extraordinary? It is. See for yourself—take an afternoon off, drive over to Exposition Park and take a walk on the wild side.

Capacity

Ceremony

Reception/Special Events

Meetings

Max. Seated Indoors: 340
Max. Seated Outdoors: 300

Max. Seated Indoors: 650
Max. Seated Outdoors: 500
Max. Standing Indoors: 1,100
Max. Standing Outdoors: 800

Max. Seated: 80

CEREMONY CAPACITY: The Rotunda and Grand Foyer seat 150 guests, the African and North American Mammal Halls seat 340.
EVENT/RECEPTION CAPACITY: The Rotunda and Grand Foyer hold 120 seated or 250 standing, the African Mammal Hall holds 280 seated or 500 standing, and the North American Mammal Hall holds 300 seated or 500 standing guests. Halls can be used in conjunction with each other, allowing standing capacities to range from 800–1,100 and seated capacities up to 650.
MEETING CAPACITY: Small meeting spaces hold up to 80 guests, depending on configuration.

Fees & Deposits

A nonrefundable deposit is due at the time the contract is signed to reserve your date. Pricing starts at $7,000 and varies depending on the number of guests and the number of galleries used. Each rental includes: use of the space from 6pm–11pm, a 1-year VIP membership to the Natural History Museum Family of Museums, operations, security, housekeeping, event management staffing and all taxes and service charges. A portion of the fees is tax deductible.

Preferred catering by Mission Bistro.Please call them at 626/300-9750 for details on pricing.

Availability

Year-round, daily, 6pm–11pm, extended hours are available. All load-out must be completed before the Museum opens to the public the following morning.

Catering

Provided
BYO

Alcohol

Provided
BYO

Sites Uses

Ceremonies
Wedding Receptions
Special Events, Parties
Business Functions/Meetings
Rehearsal Dinners

Services/Amenities

Catering: Mission Bistro preferred; outside
catering permitted with fee
Kitchen Facilities: limited
Tables & Chairs: CBA or BYO
Linens, Silver, etc.: BYO
Restrooms: wheelchair accessible
Dance Floor: available in some areas
Bride's & Groom's Dressing Area: yes
Meeting Equipment: sound systems, podiums,
TVs, VCRs, screens and microphones are
available at additional charge
Parking: ample available in adjacent lots: $10/car, valet is allowed
Accommodations: no guestrooms
Telephone: emergency use only
Outdoor Night Lighting: yes
Outdoor Cooking Facilities: through caterer
Cleanup: provided
View: museum galleries, rose garden
Other: event coordination, museum tours

Amplified Music

Indoors
Outdoors

Wheelchair Access

Wheelchair Accessible

Site Views

Fountain/Water Feature
Garden
Garden Patio/Courtyard
Landscaped Grounds
Park
Other

Site Type

Museum
Banquet/Events Facility

Restrictions

Alcohol: CBA or BYO, permit required
Smoking: outdoors only
Music: amplified OK
Wheelchair Access: yes
Insurance: certificate required

Contact: Events and Filming
213/763-3221
www.nhm.org
Email or request a proposal for your event from Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

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