San Mateo County History Museum

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Redwood City Wedding Location
2200 Broadway
Redwood City, CA 94063
Contact: Marketing and Rental Department
Phone: 650/299-0104 x225
www.historysmc.org
Request more information from San Mateo County History Museum

if you would mention that you found San Mateo County History Museum on the Here Comes The Guide website.

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Why We Like This Place

Domes are wondrous things, and there’s no end to our fascination with them. Fortunately, you don’t have to go to Rome (St. Peter’s), Washington, DC (the Capitol) or Istanbul (the Hagia Sophia) to get a great dome fix—or even to get married beneath one. Just take the much shorter trip to Redwood City, where the San Mateo County History Museum has preserved one of the Bay Area’s most remarkable domes.

The museum inhabits the venerable 1908 county courthouse, a dark-gray sandstone structure that retains all of the dignity of that era, with its tile floors, Corinthian columns and tall wooden doors opening to stately courtrooms. But it’s the dome that’s easily the magnificent and overwhelming centerpiece of this venue. A towering concoction of skylit glass panes colored brilliant red, green, amber and opaque white, it rises above sculpted eagles and ornamental arches to a constellation of gold stars on a deep blue background. The dome is a full-tilt, rock-your-head-back-on-your-shoulders-and-stare-at-it-in-wonder kind of thing. Get married under it and you’ll be talking about it for years to come.

Many couples also use the rotunda for their post-ceremony receptions or dinners. If your party is a large one, take advantage of the balcony-like second floor, where you can put additional tables or set up your DJ or musicians. Here guests not only have a better vantage of the gorgeous glass overhead, they can stroll over to the railing and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the festivities below.

A second favorite location for wedding ceremonies is Courtroom A on the second floor. You reach it via a grand staircase distinguished by marble-topped risers, brass railings and mahogany banisters. Couples love its elegance and often pose for wedding photos on it. Courtroom A, recently restored to its former splendor, has rich oak moldings and furnishings, including the traditional long railing that separates the jury and bar members from the public. The ceiling features an oblong skylight of green, red and gray-blue glass arranged in abstract floral patterns. Stylized plaster wreathes of fruits and grains border the skylight, and four heavy Federal-style chandeliers with scalloped sconces hang low from the ceiling. Large oak-framed windows along two walls come down almost to the floor, and a Roman-style broken pediment spans the main entrance. The thick English carpet, red with gold highlights, feels absolutely wonderful underfoot. The original clerk, bailiff and judge’s benches are still there, as are the jury chairs. This immensely refined room bestows an extra element of grace on any wedding.

The rotunda is so phenomenal that it needs little decoration, and the same goes for Courtroom A. For an added diversion (and fee), arrange to have the museum’s exhibits open to your guests. This is a place for couples who love history or simply want something delightfully unconventional. If you’re interested in making a different kind of beautiful memories, it would be hard to beat this domed museum.

Capacity

Ceremony

Reception/Special Events

Meetings

Max. Seated Indoors: 150
Max. Seated Outdoors:

Max. Seated Indoors: 350
Max. Seated Outdoors:
Max. Standing Indoors: 400
Max. Standing Outdoors:

Max. Seated: 120

CEREMONY CAPACITY: Courtroom A holds 120 seated guests and the Rotunda holds 150 seated guests.

EVENT/RECEPTION CAPACITY: The entire courthouse holds 350 seated or 400 standing guests. The Lower Rotunda holds 120 seated guests and the Upper Rotunda up to 170 seated guests.

MEETING CAPACITY: The Museum holds up to 120 guests for meetings.

Fees & Deposits

A $750 deposit is required to reserve your date. The balance is due 30 days prior to event. Rental fees range $2,895–4,900 depending on space, services selected and staffing needed for the event.

Availability

Year-round, daily: Monday all day; Tuesday–Sunday 4pm–midnight.

Catering

BYO

Alcohol

BYO

Site Uses

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

Services/Amenities

Catering: BYO
Kitchen Facilities: full catering kitchen
Tables & Chairs: tables provided, extra fee
Linens, Silver, etc.: CBA
Restrooms: wheelchair accessible
Dance Floor: yes
Bride's Dressing Area: yes
Meeting Equipment: full range CBA, including teleconferencing and internet access
Parking: on-street
Accommodations: no guestrooms
Telephone: no
Outdoor Night Lighting: yes
Outdoor Cooking Facilities: no
Cleanup: caterer and staff janitorial
View: park, hills, fountain, grounds
Other: access to exhibits, extra fee

Amplified Music

Indoors

Wheelchair Access

Wheelchair Accessible

Site Views

Cityscape
Fountain/Water Feature
Hills
Landscaped Grounds
Park
Other

Site Type

Banquet Hall/Events Facility
Museum
Community Center/Civic Bldg
Historic/Landmark Building

Restrictions

Alcohol: BYO
Smoking: outdoors only
Music: amplified OK indoors
Wheelchair Access: yes
Insurance: required

Contact: Marketing and Rental Department
650/299-0104 x225
www.historysmc.org
Email or request more information for your event from San Mateo County History Museum

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