Spaces
The Museum's exceptional spaces and exhibits provide dramatic and fun surroundings for your special event, with an added dimension of interactivity.
Rotunda
This grand space is an exquisite backdrop for an elegant and awe-inspiring event. Guests will mingle admist an antique locomotive, dance below an authentic British "Spitfire" fighter plane, and dine under a spectacular, 120-foot copper-domed ceiling.
- Capacity Seated: 1,000
- Capacity Reception: 2,500
- Entire Museum Capacity: 5,000
U-505 Exhibit
No where else in Chicago can your guests dine in the shadow of a legendary submarine. Your guests will be enthralled by the story of its capture and will be able to take a private tour of the sub to learn what life was like aboard. One of our most requested spaces, the U-505 is a memorable centerpiece for a remarkable event.
- Capacity Seated: 120
- Capacity Reception: 500
Henry Crown Space Center
Guests will have an out of this world experience as they socialize alongside the original Apollo 8 Command Module, the Aurora 7 Mercury Space Capsule and the Lunar Module trainer.
- Capacity Seated: 150
- Capacity Reception: 325
Omnimax Theater
Treat your guests to a movie in the Omnimax Theater, Chicago's only five-story, domed, wrap-around screen. Choose a film from our collection and your guests will travel to far-away places during an action-filled adventure. This is not your average stadium-seat auditorium.
- Capacity Seated: 325
South Portico and Lagoon
Add flair to your event by hosting your guests in a scenic outdoor setting in historic Jackson Park Lagoon. This park-like scenary is perfect for dining, mingling and toasting!
- Capacity Tented: 650
Founder's Room
This space can accommodate audiovisual equipment and may be set up for classroom seating, roundtable discussions, lectures or luncheon meetings. The space is also internet capable.
- Capacity Seated: 30
- Size: (sq. ft.) 700
Auditorium
This traditional presentation facility is available for multimedia programs, screen presentations, and speaker programs. Adjacent space is available to accommodate a reception for up to 600 guests or additional programming.
- Capacity Seated: 850
Columbian Room
This space can accommodate audiovisual equipment and may be set up for classroom seating, roundtable discussions, lectures or luncheon meetings. Space is capable of breaking into three smaller classrooms and is internet capable.
- Capacity Seated: 200
- Size: (sq. ft.) 2,451
- Museum Hours
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- holiday hours (through Nov. 29)
- Monday – Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Friday – Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday: 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Open every day except Christmas Day
- holiday hours (through Nov. 29)
- Museum Location
- Getting Here
Video Tour of Event Spaces
Take a video walk-through of the Museum's unique interior spaces.
Summer Picnic
- Make the best of summer and host a summer picnic at the Museum.
- Download the Summer Picnic Menu (PDF)
- Happening Now
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Wired to Win
Go inside the science of surviving cycling's most grueling race.
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Holiday Performances and Events: November
Kick off the seasonal festivities in November with holiday songs, music and dance.
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Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light
Celebrate with the entire family at the Museum's beloved annual holiday.
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- Coming Soon
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Holiday Performances and Events: December
Seasonal songs, dance, pageantry and readings are just part of the festivities.
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The Ten Tenors
The Australian group will treat Museum guests to a special holiday performance.
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Explore the White City: World's Fair Simulation
Dr. Lisa Snyder presents a fascinating virtual simulation of the 1893 World's Fair.
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about the museum
Opened in 1933, the oldest science Museum of its kind in the Western Hemisphere attracts approximately 2 million visitors per year.