While hotel ballrooms surely get the job done when it comes to gathering attendees for a conference, meeting or convention, the run-of-the-mill environs and dated rentals aren’t sure to leave a lasting impression on your guests. And, nowadays, with events and even corporate meetings becoming more about creating a one-of-a-kind, memorable experience than just checking the boxes, it’s important for planners to select a venue that will enhance the guest experience.
Enter the Field Museum, a historic venue in Chicago that boasts seemingly endless indoor and outdoor event space coupled with far-from-boring scenery—including the world’s largest dinosaur, named Máximo, who makes for the best type of party crasher. From our vaulted ceilings to the two levels of reception and dining space, we are the ultimate playground for planner’s looking to produce a gathering that’ll give guests plenty to talk about long after it ends.
Need more convincing? Keep reading to see how our venue is primed for events of all types—from corporate meetings, conferences and holiday parties to social galas, fundraisers, weddings and beyond.
We welcome groups of all sizes, with more than 10 unique, sustainable spaces able to accommodate a guest list of 20 or 4,000-plus.
Planners would be remiss not to host a gathering beneath the Hanging Gardens in Stanley Field Hall, where more than 1,000 individual, 3D-printed plants are spread across four suspended structures. We value sustainability, which is why the 3D plants were constructed by Branch Technology from a bioplastic material that comes from renewable resources, allowing us to both be environmentally conscious and create lightweight structures that won't strain our historic ceiling and building. The event space itself—which can accommodate up to 1,600 seated guests and up to 4,500 for standing receptions—boasts 21,000 square feet, 76-foot ceilings, a second-floor balcony and adjoining outdoor area.
While Stanley Field Hall is certainly a crowd-favorite, we offer myriad spaces for bringing people together. Planners can click through the following spaces to explore our event offerings:
- East Atrium Pavilion
- Rice Gallery
- Founder’s Room
- Outdoor Terraces
- SUE’s Gallery
- Sue Ling Gin Garden
- James Simpson Theatre
- Montgomery Ward Lecture Hall
- Lecture Hall II
- Classrooms
Each of our venues make for a one-of-a-kind event space, allowing guests to dine with our T.rex named Sue, or even the famous Lions of Tsavo, and allowing planners to create truly memorable experiences. Not to mention, planners will have a dedicated account manager that will be with them from the beginning of the event process to the end of the event when all of the guests go home.
Our engaging add-on experiences and scientific upgrades are especially fun for corporate groups and team-building events.
Treat your teams to an exclusive experience they won’t soon forget through our corporate add-on offerings that open up artifacts and activities not available to the public. Choose from:
Pop-Up Curiosities: Guests can see and learn about rare objects that aren’t on display to the public from the people who know them best: our scientific team. Our team may show guests anything from a fruit stand from Ancient Kish, Iraq, to a Shipibo knife from Peru, to an ancient beer vessel from Egypt (avid beer drinkers will love this one!).
Docents and Docent-Led Tours: To share the secret stories behind our exhibitions or tell guests how to find the rarest special object in a collection, our docents can make an appearance at events to impart their vast knowledge on attendees and allow them to make the most out of their experience at Field Museum.
Live Bug Experience: During this add-on, our museum collections staff engages guests in a thrilling encounter with live bugs and share intriguing facts on each. Talk about a conversation starter!
Behind-the-Scenes Tour: Did you know that Field Museum has nearly 30 million specimens and artifacts, but less than 1% of those are on display to the public? In this true VIP experience that’s ideal for small groups, guests are taken on a behind-the-scenes tour of the storerooms and working laboratories that house these exquisite and unique collections unseen by the public. Bonus: This experience can be done virtually too through the interactive livestream tour!
Live Talk Series: This new experience available for virtual and hybrid events allows guests to learn from our scientists and experts as they discuss challenges they have faced and how they have creatively solved complex issues. The panelists cover a range of topics all creatively packaged in an engaging, interactive series.
Interested in planning a memorable experience at the Field Museum or want to learn more about all that we have to offer event and meeting planners? Email [email protected] or call 312.665.7600 today!
