5 Presidential Libraries and Museums That Make Impressive Event Venues

Located on a hill in Simi Valley, Calif., the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum offers some pretty spectacular views. It can accommodate a wide range of group sizes, from 30 to 1,400 people, and has one of the most unique artifacts found in any U.S. president's dedicated library and museum: Air Force One 27000, an aircraft that flew seven U.S. presidents over 1 million miles. Guests can even dine under the aircraft's wings inside the Air Force One Pavilion (pictured). In addition, the campus offers rentable spaces that feature a replica of the White House Rose Garden and a preserved piece of the Berlin Wall. There are also multiple boardrooms and a courtyard available for hosting.

If you grew up in the Midwest, you've likely made a school-sanctioned trek to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum—and for good reason. Located in Springfield, Ill., it's chock-full of immersive displays dedicated to the life and legacy of Lincoln, including a reproduction of the White House as it looked in 1861. It's also home to the world's largest collection of Lincoln-related documents, artifacts, and books. For events, a standout space is the 4,500-square-foot center rotunda of the museum (pictured), which is surrounded by the aforementioned White House replica and, on the other side, a full-scale reproduction of Lincoln’s boyhood Indiana log cabin. The space can accommodate 300 for a banquet and 500 for a reception. Other bookable spaces include a 250-seat theater and the Lincoln Reception Room for 60 to 100 guests.

If you're planning a program in Boston, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum can serve as a grand, history-filled off-site venue. Planners who host here can take attendees back in time to the 1960s, with stunning present-day views to boot. A rentable space worth noting: the Museum Pavilion (pictured). This nine-story atrium offers panoramic views of the Boston Harbor Islands, the city skyline, and Columbia Point. The space was designed as "an area of reflection on the accomplishments and unfinished work of the Kennedy presidency." For a standing reception, the space can accommodate 800, and a seated dinner can hold 170. Other spaces include the 5,600-square-foot Smith Hall and the Library Grounds, the latter of which is perfect for New England-style clambakes.

One of Little Rock's best event venue gems, the Clinton Presidential Center offers more than 10,000 square feet of bookable space for banquets, dinners, receptions, lunches, and meetings. The campus's top space might be its Great Hall (pictured), featuring 30-foot ceilings, panoramic glass walls, and a wraparound terrace. Planners can host events of up to 500 people here. For something smaller, they can look to 42 Bar and Table, the center's on-site restaurant that has a patio and terrace overlooking the Arkansas River and the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge; the venue can accommodate 70 to 100 guests.

Located on Southern Methodist University's campus in Dallas, the George W. Bush Presidential Center is home to both the George W. Bush Library and Museum and the George W. Bush Institute. At the Library and Museum, guests can see a precise replica of the Oval Office, beams from the World Trade Center twisted from the events of 9/11, and a Texas Rose Garden. Event spaces here include the museum's main lobby and Freedom Hall (pictured), which features an outdoor Ceremonial Courtyard. The hall can accommodate up to 400 guests. At the Bush Institute, event spaces range from the Hall of State with its outdoor terrace overlooking Native Texas Park to on-site restaurant Cafe 43.