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Rental Rates and FAQ

Listed below are some answers to FAQs.

Amenities
Availability
Advanced Bookings
Catering
Coat Room
Contracting
Decorating
Deliveries
Exhibit Galleries
Museum Open Hours
Parking
Rates and Room Capacity

Amenities

Tables & chairs, use of available audio/visual equipment, pre-event planning assistance, an on-site event coordinator, and Security Services personnel.

Availability

All spaces are available after Museum open hours and some spaces are available during open hours. Please refer to the rental fee chart for space availability and applicable rates.

Advanced Bookings

Spaces can be booked up to two years in advance.

Catering

Clients may select a pre-approved caterer from an authorized list or have a caterer of their choice complete a pre-qualifying application to provide catering services at the History Museum. Please follow the link for the pre-qualifying application or request a hard copy from Mark Sylvester at msylvester@wshs.wa.gov. Some restrictions do apply. Please note: Catering services must be provided by a licensed, professional catering firm. No personal food or beverage items are allowed.

Coat Room

An unattended coatroom with securable lockers is available to your guests.

Contracting

Facility rental fees are based on the space being used, day and time of use, length of use, and any special requirements. A 25% percent non-refundable rental deposit is required at the time your reservation is confirmed. Tentative reservations cannot be accepted due to the volume of booked events and school/group tours. Full payment is required two weeks in advance of the reservation. A General Use/Damage Deposit of $300 may be required and is refundable if all conditions of the contract are met, there are no late fees, and no damages to the building or grounds occurred from the event. A General Cleaning fee of $100.00 will be applied to all catered rentals. Clients may choose a caterer from our list of pre-approved caterers or have a caterer of their choice complete a pre-qualifying application to provide catering services at the History Museum. Some restrictions do apply.

Decorating

Decorating services are the responsibility of the renter. The Museum does not allow the following items under any circumstance: Helium-filled balloons, open flames (excluding votive-type candles), glitter, confetti, rice, birdseed, asparagus fern, plant berries, and freshly cut garden flowers or branches. (Flowers must come from a licensed florist and be guaranteed pest free.) Decorations are not allowed in the exhibit galleries and must be fire-resistant. Decorating plans are to be submitted to the Museum’s event coordinator and pre-approved prior to the event.

Deliveries

All event deliveries and removals must be scheduled in advance with the Museum’s event coordinator and/or Security Services. Security Services personnel will not accept unscheduled deliveries.

Exhibit Galleries

Two hours of gallery viewing is included in your facility rental. Renters have the choice of the Great Hall of Washington History located on the main floor or the featured galleries located on the fifth floor. Both galleries and additional viewing time is available for an additional fee.

Museum Open Hours

*through September 5

Begining September 6, the Museum will be closed Tuesdays.
*The Museum is open until 8 PM on the third Thursday of every month.

Parking

The Museum’s two pre-pay parking lots can accommodate 150 vehicles. They are located at the south end and the east side of the Museum (near S. 21st Street off of Pacific Avenue). Parking is not included as part of your facility rental package. All vehicles parked in Museum lots are expected to pay the posted rates. Additional parking facilities are available to the North and West of the Museum.

Rates and Room Capacity

*These spaces require a two-hour minimum rental.
**The Grand Lobby is available 30 minutes after the Museum closes to the public and requires a two-hour minimum rental.

Government agencies and nonprofit organizations receive discounts of 10-25% off posted rates.