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As a VENUE: Host an event…

The Museum’s home, the Rio Tinto Center, is nestled in the foothills of Salt Lake City near the campus of the University of Utah. It is an architectural wonder with design inspiration drawn from the spectacular surrounding landscapes of Utah. This makes NHMU one of the most breathtaking wedding and event spaces in the entire state. If you are looking for a unique and versatile venue to host your wedding, corporate, private event, or business function, you’re in the right place. Nine distinctive spaces are available:

  • Full Museum: Rent the entire Museum and receive exclusive evening access to the entire public space of the Rio Tinto Center. Your guests can experience the dinosaurs of Past Worlds, unveil Utah’s rich archaeology in First Peoples, walk through dramatic geology in Land, enjoy stunning views from Great Salt Lake and Sky, discover diversity in Life, and explore the stories of Utah’s American Indian peoples in Native Voices.
    • Capacity: 1,500 Circulating; 232 – 340 Seated Dinner
    • Time: 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Canyon/Canyon Terrace: As the signature space of the Museum, the Canyon offers dramatic architecture inspired by the slot canyons of southern Utah. Light plays off faceted walls that soar over a concrete floor inlaid with stones reminiscent of a stream bed. To the west, the Canyon opens to sweeping views of the Salt Lake Valley through a three-story glass wall. An adjacent outdoor terrace extends your guests’ experience, weather permitting. Enhance the memories of your special day with optional Gallery Experiences. Between your ceremony and reception, your guests can stroll through four galleries and millions of years of Utah’s history during a social hour. They’ll marvel at newly discovered dinosaurs, see the Great Salt Lake transformed into prehistoric Lake Bonneville, and discover some of the oldest objects made by Utah’s first inhabitants.
    • Capacity :  400 Standing Reception; 232 – 340 Seated Dinner
    • Time: 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Level 5 Spaces: The Museum’s Level 5 Sky and Native Voices Galleries offer spaces for smaller wedding ceremonies and receptions.
    • Sky + Sky Terrace: Sky offers a panoramic view of the Salt Lake Valley as well as an indoor/outdoor interpretive space that invites your guests to interact with weather, atmosphere, and the stars.
    • Native Voices + Native Voices Terrace: Designed in consultation with Utah’s American Indian communities, Native Voices interprets the deep history and contemporary cultures of Utah’s native peoples.  For those looking for an intimate outdoor ceremony space, our Native Voices Terrace offers a backdrop of the Foothills for the bridal couple. Weather dependent.
    • Capacity: 60 Standing Ceremony; 60 Seated Ceremony; 120 Standing Reception; 80 Seated Dinner
    • Time: 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Land Terrace: Nestled between the Foothills and framed by the Rio Tinto Center Copper, the Land Terrace offers a scenic backdrop to hold your ceremony. Natural elements reflect in the copper windows, and your guests enjoy their time in the evening shade in this elegant location.
    • Capacity: 120 Seated Ceremony
  • Native Voices Terrace: For those looking for an intimate outdoor ceremony space, our Native Voices Terrace offers a backdrop of the Foothills for the bridal couple. Outdoor ceremony locations are weather dependent. An indoor location will be designated for inclement weather. Enhance the memories of your special day with optional Gallery Experiences.
    • Capacity: 60 Seated Ceremony
    • Time: 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
  • Swaner Forum – Daytime Events: With breathtaking views and professional audiovisual equipment, the Swaner Forum is your perfect venue for board meetings, lectures, classroom sessions, seated breakfasts or luncheons, and receptions. The Swaner Forum is the only rental space available during regular Museum hours.
    • Capacity: 72 Seated Dinner; 150 Standing Reception; 150 Lecture; 24 Executive
  • Swaner Forum – Evening Events: An intimate reception, a pulsing nightclub, or a laid-back lounge—the versatile Swaner Forum can accommodate most any evening event you can envision. With the lights of the city spread beneath you, you can dine in elegance or dance the night away. The Swaner Forum comes equipped with built-in house sound, two screens, and LCD projectors.
    • Capacity: 150 Standing Reception; 80 Seated Dinner
    • Time: 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
  • South Terraces: Gather on our South Terraces that offer an intimate outdoor meeting space with sweeping views of the Wasatch Front and foothills above Salt Lake City.
    • Capacity: 120 Standing Reception
    • Time: 6:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Support the Natural History Museum of Utah …by simply booking your next special occasion here:

https://nhmu.utah.edu/rentals

As a SHOP: Discover unique gifts…

NHMU’s Museum Store is a favorite Salt Lake City shopping destination for Museum merchandise and unique Utah-themed gifts. We offer one-of-a-kind souvenirs and keepsakes that embody the Museum experience and the natural characteristics of our beautiful state. From hand-crafted jewelry to the latest in dinosaur toys and collectibles, our Store is ever-evolving so every visit will reveal something new. And, thanks to our close ties with many American artisans, we were recognized as the Best Place for Unique Jewelry in Salt Lake Magazine’s Best of Beehive Awards!

Support the NHMUby simply purchasing speciality merchandise here:

https://nhmu.utah.edu/store

As an EATERY: Food for thought…

The Museum Cafe maintains an emphasis on fresh, local ingredients by supporting some of Utah’s own bakeries and coffee roasters. The menu is hand-crafted to showcase the local flavors of Salt Lake while providing customers with healthy, quality ingredients. It offers a homemade selection of soups, salads, and specialty dishes while providing vegan and gluten free alternatives. Located on the second floor and is open to museum visitors and the general public.

Support the NHMU… by simply dining here:

https://nhmu.utah.edu/cafe

Be a DONOR: Show that you care…

There are multiple opportunities for support
The Natural History Museum of Utah is committed to offering world-class, science-based programming that matches the extraordinary quality of its incredible new home, the Rio Tinto Center. To help sustain the Museum’s suite of essential science and education programs — programs that enhance the quality of life for Utahns throughout our state and visitors from around the country — please become a member or make a tax-deductible gift to the Museum’s Annual Fund.

Membership:

The membership program offers various levels to meet the ability of all supporters and to provide exclusive benefits based on those levels. They include: * Individual * Dual * Family * Naturalist * Curator, and * Copper Club (Membership at the Leadership Level) . Gift Memberships are encouraged.

Copper Club: Looking for a deeper connection with the Museum? Make a membership gift at the leadership level to join the Copper Club, a philanthropic community dedicated to the Museum’s mission of illuminating the natural world and the place of humans within it. Copper Club Members play a critical role in elevating and sustaining the Museum for future generations while inspiring generosity in others. As a member of the Copper Club, you’ll enjoy unforgettable experiences and exclusive insider access to the Natural History Museum of Utah.

Donation:

  • Make a gift to support the Natural History Museum of Utah: The Natural History Museum of Utah is committed to offering world-class, science-based programming that matches the extraordinary quality of its incredible home, the Rio Tinto Center. To help sustain the Museum’s suite of essential science and education programs — programs that enhance the quality of life for Utahns throughout our state and visitors from around the country — Please make a tax-deductible gift to the Museum’s Annual Fund. You may give in several ways, including gifts in memory of and in honor of friends and family.
  • Support the Sarah B. George Director’s Innovator Fund: After nearly 27 years of service as NHMU’s Executive Director, Dr. Sarah B. George has concluded her work with the Museum. To commemorate Sarah’s tremendous service — and set up our new Executive Director, Dr. Jason Cryan, up for success — a number of Sarah’s colleagues and friends established this endowed fund in her honor. Sarah’s bold vision helped create the remarkable Museum we all love today. In this spirit, the Sarah B. George Director’s Innovation Fund will provide Jason with the opportunity to foster — and support — bold new ideas that will power NHMU into the future.
  • Planned Giving: For generations, the Natural History Museum of Utah has been a place of exciting discovery and illumination. If the Museum has been important to you – or those close to you – a planned gift is a wonderful way to ensure that our important work continues in the community for generations to come. Anyone can leave a legacy, and your gift will be highly valued and carefully invested in meaningful projects throughout the Museum. There are many creative and flexible options to meet your financial goals, maximize your philanthropic giving – and benefit you, your loved ones, and the Museum. It could be as simple as naming the Museum as a beneficiary of your insurance policy or retirement plan, including a bequest provision in your will, or establishing a charitable gift annuity.
  • Gifts in honor of Margo Silvester: To make a gift in memory of longtime Museum friend and supporter Margo Silvester, please contact NHMU Director of Philanthropy Chris Eisenberg at (801) 585-1437 or click here to give online (be sure to note the gift is in memory of Margo Silvester.) Gifts will be added to the Margo Silvester Endowed Fund for Excellence benefiting student employees at the Natural History Museum of Utah. The Margo Silvester Endowed Fund for Excellence was established in 2018 in honor of Margo’s lifelong curiosity of the natural world and her fierce belief in the power of education to transform lives.
  • Gifts in honor of Mike Getty: To make a gift in memory of Mike Getty, the truly remarkable Paleontology Collections Manager and Chief Preparator at NHMU, please click here. To honor Mike Getty’s wonderful legacy, we have established an endowment in Mike’s name. Your gift will be added to the Mike Getty Vertebrate Paleontology Fund, which will be used to support vertebrate paleontology fieldwork and research at the NHMU. An endowed fund at the University allows the Natural History Museum of Utah to continue to achieve excellence in vertebrate paleontology.
  • Gifts in honor of Ann Kelsey: On August 16, 2013 the Natural History Museum of Utah lost a dear friend and team member when Ann Kelsey, the Collections Manager of the Museum’s Garrett Herbarium, passed away. We were deeply honored that Ann invited friends and loved ones to make a contribution to the Natural History Museum of Utah in her memory. Gifts made in Ann’s memory will be dedicated for use in the herbarium, advancing the work she cared so passionately about.

Donate an Object (Artifact and Specimen): The Natural History Museum of Utah’s Collections and Research Department is grateful when an individual or organization considers donating their specimens or artifacts to our institution. Careful consideration goes into the decision of whether an object is best placed here or if it would be better suited at another institution. Objects or specimens should fit within the research scope and mission statement of the museum. At a minimum, specimens and artifacts must be legally acquired and have appropriate documentation, which may include copies of permits when required for legal collection. Collection staff will not accept objects left at the Museum unless prior arrangements have been made.

Volunteer: Volunteers play a vital role at the Natural History Museum of Utah. They work in every department of the Museum to help us to achieve our mission of illuminating the natural world and the place of humans within it. Whether you want to work behind the scenes with our collections, share your passion for natural history with guests, facilitate field trips for school kids, or put your organizational skills to work for our Registrar, we’ve got a volunteer position that will spark your interest and utilize your talents. Volunteer today!

Support the NHMUby simply joining, giving,or volunteering here:

https://nhmu.utah.edu/give

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301 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA

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