Virginia Museum of History & Culture

As a VENUE: Host your event…

Our two unique properties offer a variety of spaces and layouts to suit your needs, whether you are planning an: * elegant wedding * corporate meeting * academic seminar * family gathering, or community celebration. Nine distinctive spaces are offered:

The Virginia Museum of History & Culture, centrally located on N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard, offers a variety of unique spaces for ceremonies, receptions, and other special events. Our events team will work with you to find the right combination of indoor or outdoor locations across the property to suit events of almost any size. Museum spaces can accommodate anywhere from 50 to 150 guests.

• Helga Koch Gottwald Gateway to History: Expansive and open, with high ceilings, a wall of windows, and great acoustics. Adjacent to the Cabell Gallery, the Robins Family Forum (theater), and the Halsey Family Lecture Hall. Only available for rental after 5 pm.
  • Standing reception: 15
  • Banquet-style seating: 120
• Robert G. Cabell III and Maude Morgan Cabell Gallery: This versatile space is perfect as a reception area before entering the Halsey Family Lecture Hall for a program or meal or can be combined with the Helga Koch Gottwald Gateway to History for a larger event area. Adjacent to the Gateway to History, the Robins Family Forum (theater), the Halsey Family Lecture Hall, and the Bluford Classroom.
  • Standing reception: 150
  • Banquet-style seating: 40
• Halsey Family Lecture Hall: This spacious, multi-purpose room is the ideal space to express your individual creativity. Perfect for a seated dinner, meeting, large reception, or community gathering. Features a raised stage that can accommodate a lectern or small musical group, a large drop-down screen (120 inches x 160 inches), public WiFi, and sound booth. Adjacent to the Cabell Gallery.
  • Standing reception: 300
  • Theater-style seating: 200
  • Banquet-style seating: 150
• Olsson Family Gallery: Features high ceilings, stunning parquet floors, and the Landscapes of Virginia exhibition. Adjacent to the Cochrane Lobby, if additional space is needed. Only available for rental after 5 pm.
  • Standing reception: 120
  • Banquet-style seating: 80
• Louise B. and J. Harwood Cochrane Lobby: The original historic entrance hall off of the Boulevard, with high ceilings and graceful marble floors and columns. Adjacent to the Olsson Gallery. Only available after 5 pm.
  • Standing reception: 35
• Robins Family Forum (theater): One of the best acoustical spaces in Richmond, this large fixed-seat theater and auditorium has a stage, large drop-down screens, wheelchair cut-outs, comfortable cushioned seats, soft lighting, two access aisles, and public Wi-Fi. Perfect for larger meetings, concerts, theatrical performances, and lectures.
  • Theater-style seating: 488
• Harry M. Bluford Classroom: Situated in its own wing, with public Wi-Fi and a flexible wall partition.
  • Standing reception: One side: 40 / Both sides: 80
  • Banquet-style seating: One side: 20 / Both sides: 40
  • Theater-style seating: One side: 40 / Both sides: 80
• Robins Conference Room: Spacious board room with natural light, public Wi-Fi, and large table with seating for 20.
  • Banquet-style seating: 45
  • Conference table seating: 20

Virginia House, a romantic English Tudor manor house, was relocated to Richmond’s Windsor Farms neighborhood in 1925. Nestled on a hillside overlooking the James River and surrounded by nearly eight acres of grounds and gardens designed by Charles Freeman Gillette, it is the perfect backdrop for: * portraits * retreats * dinners * ceremonies, and * receptions. Preserved with original woodwork and antiques, the house itself maintains its original character while offering modern amenities necessary for large gatherings and special occasions.

• Standing reception, indoor: 150
• Banquet-style seating, indoor: 60
• Standing reception, outdoor: 250
• Seated dinner, outdoor: 150

Support the Virginia Museum of History & Culture …by simply booking your next special occasion here:
https://www.virginiahistory.org/events/host-event

As a SHOP: Find unique gifts…

Your purchase at the Museum Shop supports the Virginia Museum of History & Culture. Merchandise is catalogued within these collections: * Gourmet Goods * Books and Media * Kids * Apparel and Accessories, and * Home Décor.

Support the Virginia Museum of History & Culture …by simply purchasing your specialty merchandise here:
https://www.shopvirginiahistory.org/

Be a DONOR: Show that you care…

Since our founding as the Virginia Historical Society in 1831, we have been dedicated to preserving, sharing, and engaging with Virginia’s history to inspire current and future generations. As a private institution with no state funding, we rely entirely on charitable contributions from supporters like you. You know the value of our shared history. Browse our membership and giving opportunities to help us ensure others experience it, too.

Membership:

Your membership support helps provide vital educational programming for schools, develop multi-generational learning experiences, preserve important artifacts of Virginia’s history, and foster community engagement. Gift memberships are encouraged. Give the perfect gift to the history lover in your life and so they can explore the diverse and ever-changing story of Virginia. When you purchase a gift membership to the VMHC, you are giving the gift of history! Memberships at specified levels are offered: * Student * Military * Teacher * Senior * Individual * Couple * Family * Benefactor, and * Associate.

Corporate Membership: Corporate Benefits Include: employee engagement and client entertainment opportunities; visibility and branding through sponsorships of various VMHC events and programs; access to our Reynolds Business History Center; invitations to special events, lectures, and travel programs; discounts on facility rentals at the VMHC and Virginia House. Corporate membership at specified levels is offered: Benefactor * Associate * Fellow * Senior Fellow * James Madison Council * John Marshall Council, and * Founders.

Donations:

Your gift provides powerful support. As a private institution with no state funding, we rely entirely on charitable contributions from supporters like you. You know the value of our shared history. Financial gifts power the heart of our mission, helping to underwrite exhibitions, events, and programs. These gifts also support school and community group tours and activities, multi-generational learning experiences, and teacher training and re-certification workshops. There are many ways to give. Thank you for considering making a contribution.

• Give to the VMHC Annual Fund: As a private, non-profit cultural organization, the Virginia Museum of History & Culture does not receive government operating support. We rely on gifts from generous donors like you to underwrite exhibitions, events, and educational programs – especially today we face an unprecedented challenge and remain committed to keeping our entire staff employed. A donation of any amount is appreciated and will help us weather this storm and continue to serve our community and Commonwealth long into the future. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
• Tribute Gifts: Give a gift in honor or memory of friends and family.
• Matching Gifts: Maximize your contribution to the VMHC by participating in your employer’s matching gift program. You and your company will be recognized for your company’s matching gift.
• Corporate Partnership: Connect your brand to the oldest cultural organization of its kind in the Commonwealth. Your support provides free student and teacher programming and public access to the full story of Virginia’s history through exhibitions, lectures by award-winning historians and more.
• The 1831 Society: Donors whose gifts total $1,000 or more during the Virginia Museum of History & Culture’s fiscal year (July 1 – June 30) are recognized as members of the 1831 Society and receive special recognition and event invitations. 1831 Society level members receive all general member benefits and more.
• Legacy Giving: You care about Virginia history… make it your legacy. Include the VMHC in your financial or estate plans and fulfill the promise that the next generation of Americans will continue to learn from Virginia’s past. When you include the Virginia Historical Society in your financial or estate plans, you fulfill the promise that the next generation of Americans will continue to learn from Virginia’s past. Bequests and other planned gifts give the Virginia Historical Society the necessary resources for this venerable institution to plan for its future.In addition to simple bequests, you can name the Virginia Historical Society, owner and operator of the Virginia Museum of History & Culture (VMHC) and Virginia House, as a beneficiary in your retirement plan or life insurance policy. You also can make a legacy gift now and receive income for the rest of your life. Gifts like these can offer you and your family significant tax benefits as well as greater financial flexibility in meeting your personal and philanthropic goals.
• Gifts of Appreciated Securities: Gifts of appreciated securities enable you to make a significant contribution to Virginia Museum of History & Culture while avoiding capital gains taxes on the donated shares. Gifts of appreciated securities offer a number of tax advantages over a cash gift: you receive a charitable income tax deduction for the fair market value of the securities and avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciated securities.

Support the Virginia Museum of History & Culture …by simply joining and giving here:
https://virginiahistory.org/support