12 Historic Event Venues with Fascinating Histories

The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel in lower Manhattan, is the oldest venue on our list: It can trace its roots back to 1761 when Shakespeare’s Hamlet had its New York debut at the venue’s Chapel Street Theatre. The space, later known as Clinton Hall, became something of a creative beacon during the 19th and 20th centuries, being frequented by the likes of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mark Twain, Henry David Thoreau, and Edgar Allan Poe. In 1883, it became home to Temple Court, considered one of Manhattan’s original skyscrapers—and in 2016, reopened as a 287-room luxury hotel. The gorgeous space fuses old-world glamour with modern designs, taking advantage of historic details like Victorian wrought-iron railings, crystal chandeliers, and exposed brick. There’s 4,700 square feet of event space, plus food from acclaimed chef Tom Colicchio.

Built in the early 1900s, the Houdini Estate is a secluded property full of caves, hidden tunnels, terraced gardens, and even a deep-water tank where famed illusionist Harry Houdini reportedly practiced his notorious underwater escapes. While it's disputed whether Houdini himself ever actually lived there for an extended length of time, the 5-acre Laurel Canyon estate is surely fit for a unique gathering, with an expansive lawn, exotic plants throughout the space, a rock waterfall, and hours of hiking trails. The venue has three full bedrooms and a bonus room to comfortably sleep eight, along with space for as many as 1,200 people for reception-style events. All proceeds from venue rentals go to charity.

Want to party at Prince’s house? (Who doesn’t?) Paisley Park, located in a suburb just 20 minutes from Minneapolis, originally opened in 1987, serving as a sanctuary where the late musician Prince would record and perform. It soon started drawing artists like Madonna, Tevin Campbell, R.E.M., and Lizzo, who all recorded and mixed albums in its studio; its on-site Hollywood-style soundstage has also been used for filming movies, music videos, and commercials. Decades later, the venue has fulfilled Prince’s goal to open Paisley Park to the public, and it now functions as a museum and also offers a number of rentable spaces for events. The NPG Music Club seats 75 or holds 200 for receptions, whereas the soundstage seats 400 or holds 1,000 for receptions. Prince’s studios (pictured) are also available for recording use.

Located in downtown Nashville, The Bell Tower dates back to 1874, when it was one of the first churches built by freed slaves after the Civil War. The men who laid the original cornerstone of the venue were some of the community’s most influential leaders, including Nelson McGavock, the first grand master of Tennessee’s Prince Hall Freemasonry, and Abraham Smith, a leader in the Black suffrage movement and vice president of the Equal Rights League; additional leaders in the campaign for voting rights for Black Tennesseans also played roles in the opening. While much of the surrounding neighborhood—then called Black Bottom, now called SoBro—was destroyed after World War II, The Bell Tower is one of the last original structures still standing. Today, it’s a contemporary event venue, complete with original exposed beams and stonework along with salvaged wood from homes destroyed during the Civil War. For events, it can seat 400 or host cocktail-style receptions for 700; features include an upper-level mezzanine, a covered outdoor patio, and an on-site kitchen.

One King West Hotel & Residence is now one of Toronto’s most acclaimed boutique hotels—and part of its popularity comes from its history, which dates back to 1879. For 126 years, the property was home to the head office of The Dominion Bank, a Beaux Arts-style building with Renaissance Revival detailing. The space housed The Vault, with a 40-ton door that drew headlines in 1914 when its installation took 19 horses and eight men dragging it up Yonge Street. In 2006, the venue underwent a $100 million transformation into a hotel—and owners were careful to keep much of the history and style intact. In fact, the original 900-square-foot vault (pictured) is now a popular room for cocktail receptions for up to 80 guests. Other event spaces include the historic Grand Banking Hall, which holds 340 guests; in all, there are 11 different event spaces that infuse classic architecture with modern technology and amenities.

Boston’s 298-room Liberty Hotel may be a luxury haven now—but in its previous life, it was the Charles Street Jail, which once held the likes of James Michael Curley and Malcolm X. Aspects of the hotel's decor playfully lean into its unique past, and a note on its website says, “Don’t worry: These days, the doors lock from the inside only.” Today, jail cells have been replaced with luxury suites, which include the 2,220-square-foot Ebersol Suite with amenities such as floor-to-ceiling windows, a living room, a dining room, a butler's pantry, a library, a primary bedroom, a bathroom, and a 300-square-foot patio. For events, there’s 14,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space that was renovated in 2020.

Built in 1939, the art deco skyscraper Alfred I. Dupont Building was originally a bank before being commissioned by the U.S. Navy to serve as headquarters for the 7th Naval fleet during World War II. It was the first major construction project after Florida’s infamous banking panic of 1926, thereby symbolically showcasing Miami’s recovery from the Great Depression. The building has been designated as a National Historic Landmark—and today, is a 17-story event space. Highlights include the 6,500-square-foot North Ballroom that houses a 2,000-square-foot bank vault; the elegant South Ballroom that holds as many as 550 people; and a 1920s-inspired art deco-style space with granite and limestone aesthetics, a delicately painted cypress ceiling, and marble paneling.

Capitale was formerly the Bowery Savings Bank, a Roman classic-designed bank built in 1893 by acclaimed architect Stanford White, whose other work includes renowned landmarks like the Washington Square Arch, the New York Herald building, and the Boston Public Library. Capitale spans 40,000 square feet and is adorned with Corinthian columns, Venetian glass, marble mosaic floors, 65-foot ceilings, and a jewel-toned stained-glass skylight. In 2014, the space received a $1 million restoration that preserved much of its neoclassical architecture. The grand ballroom spans 15,000 square feet; it can seat 700 or hold 1,500 for receptions. There are also private rooms on the upper level, each with 2,000 square feet of space.

Toronto’s Artscape Wychwood Barns is a community culture hub and event space that’s been operated by Artscape since 2008. But it has a long history dating back to 1913, when it comprised five streetcar repair sheds for the Toronto Civic Railway and later the Toronto Transit Commission. During the 1920s, '30s, and '40s, the Wychwood Barns were considered one of the most important transit facilities in the city—but by 1985, the venues were declared surplus and boarded up. That is, until Artscape’s $23 million redevelopment project in 2008, led by architects Joe Lobo and DTAH. Now, the unique space’s soaring ceilings, exposed brick walls, natural light, and industrial architecture make it a popular choice for events; the LEED Gold-certified venue offers 12,000 square feet of space.

LA's 83-year-old Firestone Tire Building has been transformed into All Season Brewing, a retro brewery, restaurant, and activity venue. The landmarked building spans 13,000 square feet and features a new look from M. Winter Design that aims to preserve as many original details as possible, including the red floors and warehouse windows. The former car service station’s driveway apron is now patio seating, for example; there’s also an on-site brewery, a walk-up location of Chicas Tacos, booths and tables for group gatherings, and a variety of vintage games. At full capacity, the expansive space, which opened in February 2021, can seat more than 200 people.

How about a former rabbit factory? The Ravington, located in northwest Arkansas near the Missouri border, has had many lives since it was first built in 1909—including as a grocer and hardware store, a hair salon, a Methodist church, an auction house, and, yes, a rabbit factory where “lucky” rabbits' feet were dyed to make kitschy keychains in the 1970s. It was serving as an antique store when it was bought by a husband-and-wife duo—Eric (a musician, carpenter, and furniture builder) and Amber (an event planner) Gustafson, who renovated the property to become The Ravington. Now, the event space features original pressed tin ceilings, reclaimed barn wood floors, and even a 200-year-old door that can act as a backdrop for wedding ceremonies. The venue seats 300 people with a dance floor, or can hold 450 for a reception-style event.

The Booking House is an industrial modern wedding and event venue located in Manheim, Penn., about 80 miles from Philadelphia. Before its renovation in 2014, the space was known as the old General Cigar Co. Warehouse; it was built in 1884 and produced cigars for more than 50 years. Now, The Booking House has three levels that maintain its historic character with exposed brick, chandeliers, thick wooden beams, and original wide-plank flooring (and even nods to its history with a cigar smoking lounge for guests, complete with leather couches, a game table, and a cigar humidor). The largest space, The Rizzardi Room, can host as many as 250 guests; two smaller rooms can host between 30 and 50 people.