10 Best Museums To Throw A Party In Slideshow

Forget your dorm room, Warhol-themed party in college; go to the birthplace of the father of pop art. This four-floor vault of all-things Andy (more than 7,000 original works of art on display, plus 60 feature films and 200 screen tests) holds up to 150 people for a seated dinner and 400 for cocktails. And no matter whos in attendance, there are always plenty of celebrity faces around.

Rental Fee: $1,700 to $5,000

This six-story-high glass cube, set right next to Central Park West, contains a globe, called the Hayden Sphere, which illuminates and appears to float at night. The top half is a world-class planetarium and the bottom half is an exhibit leading guests through the entire history of the universe. The space fits 450 for dinner, and up to 2,000 for a reception.

Rental Fee: Rates may vary; for a quote, contact the Events Department at (212) 769-5350.

This grand museum is one of the biggest museums in the country. With about 63,000 works of art and 300,000 square feet of exhibition space, party hosts have a choice between five different locations (plus two auditoriums) for their event. The museums largest dining space inside the Caroline Weiss Law Building, designed by Bauhaus legend Ludwig Mies van der Rohe seats 400 for dinner and 750 for a reception.

Rental Fee: $5,000 to $10,000 (auditoriums start at $500)

Where else could you find one of the country's largest and leading saltwater aquariums but in the urban heart of the Midwest? Whether it's cocktails with dolphins in the Abbott Oceanarium (can hold 500 for a reception), or dining under the sea in the 90,000-gallon Caribbean Reef exhibit (seats up to 680), the lakeside Aquarium offers year-round rentals for special occasions.

Rental Fee: $5,000 to $8,000 depending on time of year

Located on the Inner Harbor of Baltimores Federal Hill neighborhood, this one-of-a-kind museum dedicated to the celebration of self-taught, quirky, and individualized art and artists, gives "Charm City" a good amount of its charm. Spaces include the Sculpture Barn and Wildflower Sculpture Garden (125 for dinner, 250 for a reception), and the third-floor JRVC Banquet Room (400 for dinner, 450 for a reception). Just make sure to say hi to Devon Smiths "Robot Family" on the way out.

Rental Fee: $2,000 – $7,000 for private parties; $1,500 – $6,000 for nonprofit organizations

One look at the ruins of this one-time flour mill (the worlds largest at the time), located right on the edge of Mississippi Riverfront, and its hard not to think the word "party." Learn about the history of the Minnesota flour industry while mingling in the picturesque Courtyard or industrial-sleek Mill Commons, together holding up to 520 guests in all.

Rental Fee: Contact the event mangers at D'Amico Catering at (612) 238-4444

The six-year-old building is a marvel of modern architecture, allowing for different perspectives of Bostons waterfront throughout the entirety of the indoor and outdoor space. One of the most dynamic settings is the Barbara Lee Family Foundation Theatre, where guests can dine and dance in front a full harbor-view panorama. The largest space for rent can hold up to 200 for dinner and 278 for reception, though the whole museum is available for rental as well.

Rental Fee: $3,500 to $15,000

Most parties, at their core, represent a timid though sometimes successful attempt at being kids again. Why not go full-throttle with the experience, then, and host your party at the nations top childrens museum dinosaurs, carousels, and all? The entire museum fits about 1,450 for dinner and 6,000 for a reception. And no, you wouldnt be the first adult to get married here, not by a long shot.

Rental Fee: $1,000 to $12,000

One of the worlds most comprehensive collections of Salvador Dal works is located... in Florida? Indeed it is. Of course, there's the Dali museum in Figueres, Spain, but the museum in St. Petersburg gets pretty wacky too. The building is as beautifully twisted as many of the surrealists famous paintings, containing the only Novum glass structure in the Western Hemisphere. Renting out the majority of the museum allows for about 260 seated guests, and up to 775 standing.

Rental Fee: $3,000 to $11,750

One of the world's most comprehensive collections of Salvador Dalí works is located... in Florida? Indeed it is. Of course, there's the Dali museum in Figueres, Spain, but the museum in St. Petersburg gets pretty wacky too. The building is as beautifully twisted as many of the surrealist's famous paintings, containing the only Novum glass structure in the Western Hemisphere. Renting out the majority of the museum allows for about 260 seated guests, and up to 775 standing

Rental Fee: $3,000 to $11,750