Event Spaces, Capacity, and Pricing

Whether your event is an intimate gathering of close family and friends or an annual conference for thousands of professionals from across the country, Milwaukee Public Museum has a variety of spaces to fit your needs and vision.

Event Rentals

  • Pricing is based on a six-hour event.

  • Rental price includes event staffing, tables and seating, and full access to rented exhibit areas.

Rental Options

  • Full floor rental: Guests are given full access to all exhibits on the floor that is rented.*

  • Partial floor rental: Guests are given access to a portion of the selected exhibit floor. Please inquire about pricing.*

*Excluding special exhibit


FIRST FLOOR

 
 
 
 
 
 
ENTIRE FIRST FLOOR RENTAL - $3,200

The First Floor has much to offer. Set the scene for your event in a bustling Milwaukee at the turn of the 20th century, or create a whimsical experience in the Puelicher Butterfly Wing.

Streets of Old Milwaukee

Reception Capacity - 150
Dinner Capacity - 88

European Village

Reception Capacity - 100
Dinner Capacity - 48

Puelicher Butterfly Wing/ Exploring Life on Earth

Reception Capacity - 250
Dinner Capacity - 208

The Third Planet: Earth

Reception Capacity - 100

Costa Rican Rainforest

Reception Capacity - 150

SECOND FLOOR

 
 
 
 
ENTIRE SECOND FLOOR RENTAL - $2,000

The Second Floor features the best of our sprawling country, including dramatic portrayals of Native American life.

A Tribute to Survival

Reception Capacity - 200
Dinner Capacity - 32

Wisconsin Woodlands

Dinner Capacity - 88

North America

Reception Capacity - 300
Dinner Capacity - 186

SPECIAL EXHIBIT GALLERIES

These spaces rent separately from the Second Floor.

Bert L. & Patricia S. Steigleder Special Exhibits Gallery - $1,250

7250 sq. ft.
Reception Capacity - 500
Dinner Capacity - 450

Erwin C. Uihlein Special Exhibits Gallery - $700

3425 sq. ft.
Reception Capacity - 200
Dinner Capacity - 150

THIRD FLOOR

 
 
 
 
 
 
ENTIRE THIRD FLOOR RENTAL - $2,500

MPM's Third Floor is our most geographically diverse! Experience the vibrant cultures of South, Central, and Middle America, trek through exotic Africa, or treat your guests to a “cool” event in the Arctic.

Middle America and Pacific Islands

Reception Capacity - 75
Dinner Capacity - 88

Africa

Reception Capacity - 150
Dinner Capacity - 128

Arctic

Dinner Capacity - 32

Asia

Dinner Capacity - 32

Living Oceans

Reception Capacity - 100
Dinner Capacity - 48

Crossroads of Civilization

No food or beverage currently permitted.

GROUND FLOOR

 
 
THE KADISH COURTYARD - $500

Featuring native Wisconsin plants and greenery, MPM's newly designed 9,500-square foot courtyard is the natural fit for your outdoor wedding ceremony or cocktail hour. Please note rental pricing includes one hour. Additional rental hours are available at $200 per hour.

The Kadish Courtyard Outdoor Space
Reception Capacity - 200
Wedding Ceremony Capacity - 160

DANIEL M. SOREF DOME THEATER AND PLANETARIUM

The Dome Theater and Planetarium features a six-story curved hemispheric screen, Digistar 6 projection technology, and wraparound digital surround sound. This space utilizes a hemispheric screen, so regular films and presentations are usually displayed in a rhombus shape. Presenters in this space should expect to coordinate with MPM to adapt the space (i.e. to rent a follow spot if spotlighting is desired).

Capacity: 260 stadium-style seats + areas for accessible seating

KOHL'S GARDEN GALLERIES - ALL DAY $500 / EVENING $750

The Kohl's Garden Galleries are ideal for meetings, breakout spaces, lectures, and so much more. Featuring a projector, screen, sound system, and other AV capabilities, the Kohl's Garden Galleries can be rented as one large space or partitioned into separate spaces. The Kohl's Garden Galleries are available for $100 per hour with a two-hour minimum rental, or can be rented all day for $500 during regular Museum operating hours. In the evenings, the Kohl's Garden Galleries are available for a standard six-hour rental for $750.

ENTIRE GROUND FLOOR RENTAL- $750

The highlight of the Ground Floor is the Hebior Mammoth, a cast of a nearly complete mammoth skeleton found less than 30 miles from MPM. The Kadish Courtyard and Kohl's Garden Galleries rent separately from the Ground Floor.

The Hebior Mammoth/Atrium

Reception Capacity - 1,000
Dinner Capacity - 328

FULL MUSEUM RENTAL

A full Museum rental includes the Ground Floor and the Kohl's Garden Galleries, 150,000+ sq. ft. of world-class exhibit space spanning three floors, and the Dome Theater and Planetarium. As one of Milwaukee's top-ten largest meetings and event venues, a full Museum rental supplies you with 80,000 sq. ft. of unique event space.

Capacity: 3,500


EXAMPLE EVENT PACKAGES

Dinner Stations for 75
  • Cocktail Hour in Sense of Wonder
  • Dinner Stations or Buffet with Guests Seated in Streets of Old Milwaukee
  • Dancing in European Village
  • Total Rental Cost: $1,800
Wedding Ceremony and Seated Dinner for 125
  • Ceremony in front of the Butterfly Vivarium or Wendy the Dromaeosaur
  • Cocktail Hour in Streets of Old Milwaukee and Sense of Wonder
  • Seated Dinner and Dancing in Exploring Life on Earth, in front of the Butterfly Vivarium
  • After Dinner, all First Floor Exhibits Open for Guests, including Third Planet and Costa Rican Rainforest
  • Total Rental Cost: $3,200
Seated Dinner and Program for 400
  • Cocktail Hour throughout the First Floor, including Streets of Old Milwaukee, European Village, Third Planet, and Costa Rican Rainforest
  • Seated Dinner and Program in Steigleder Gallery
  • After Dinner, First Floor Exhibits Reopen with Dessert Stations
  • Total Rental Cost: $4,450

Start planning your event

Plan Your Event

Please tell us a little about your event

Fill out the form below so we can see your basic information and ideas.