Every city is filled with amazing museums, landmarks, parks, and garden, and Raleigh is no exception. While these places are fun to visit, they are also amazing event venues. Looking for a cool place to host a company cocktail party, wedding reception, or book release party? Before resorting to a hotel conference room, check out some of the more unique area venues, starting with this museum.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
First of all, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is really cool to visit. Just go hang out
there for an afternoon; you won't be disappointed. You'll be equally impressed with this museum as an event venue.
The Museum of Natural Sciences has four levels available for rental space. The first floor is home to the museum's oceans exhibit, complete will full whale skeletons! This long, thin room offers a spectacular space for a cocktail party or buffet line. Surrounded by ocean-scapes and aquariums, guests get to interact with the exhibit while enjoying your event. The second floor features a balcony overlooking this space, creating pretty awesome photos taken through the skeletons. We took a few here during our adventure.
A short ride up the escalator opens up an entirely different world. This floor features event space
in the Mountains to the Sea exhibit. Reception tables can be set up right along the border of this exhibit, overlooking an indoor waterfall. How is cool is that? Overlooking a mountain scene while eating dinner in downtown Raleigh! The second floor continues to include the Underground North Carolina exhibit. While this area isn't really designed for events, part of the exhibit forms a natural dance floor. These two areas combined create an awesome seated reception or cocktail party space.
The third floor can be summed up in one word: DINOSAURS! The exhibits are called Terror of
the South and Prehistoric North Carolina. Part of this exhibit includes a tunnel through which visitors walk to see prehistoric aquatic life. While this space isn't ideal for a seated reception, this would be a great place for a standing or cocktail reception. And, if you're looking for a unique place to take photos, this would definitely be high on that list. Between the Tyrannosaurs Rex skull, Acrocanthosaurus skeleton, and aquatic tunnel, you and your guests will have a blast exploring and snapping shots on this floor of the museum.
The fourth floor of the museum features the Living Conservatory and Anthropod Zoo exhibits. The Living Conservatory features live butterflies fluttering throughout the space. Personally, I think this really awesome, and provides a beautiful natural background for photos and events. The Anthropod Zoo exhibit is filled with interactive bug themed activities, including some live bugs in cases. For the right people and personalities, this could be a truly amazing event space.
Take some time to explore the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences when planning your next event. The museum's rental spaces allow you to throw an event requiring very little decoration, as you can use the amazing exhibits already around you. An added bonus to using these spaces is that your guests will not only get to experience your event, but also the museum exhibits at the same time. For your guests, it's like two events in one!
This article is the first of many more to come. Keep checking back for more cool venues, starting in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Visit the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences' website for more information, or call the museum for rental pricing information.
