As we take time to remember and honor past U.S. presidents, it’s also worth remembering the historically important venues throughout the country that are inextricably tied to presidents and, most importantly, available for meetings and events. Here’s a look at 10 such venues to consider.
1. Carpenter's Hall
In Philadelphia—home of the benchmark 1787 Constitutional Convention (sort of a big deal with the whole signing of the U.S. Constitution) and, OMG!, the newly minted Super Bowl champion Eagles—venues connected with presidential history flourish. Carpenters’ Hall hosted the First Continental Congress (1774) and remains available for groups of up to 125—intimate and certain to induce revolutionary ideas.
2. The Liberty View
The Liberty View at Independence Visitor Center can accommodate groups from 10 to 1,000; the 1,600-square-foot Liberty Bell Terrace is adjacent to the famed bell.
3. The National Constitution Center
Two blocks away, the National Constitution Center can host 2,500 guests across eight spaces.
4. Mount Vernon
George Washington’s family home and plantation, Mount Vernon, spans 500 acres today. Meetings at this historic location can be held in the Robert H. & Clarice Smith Auditorium (seats up to 200) and Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant (35-80 capacity, depending on the room). Evening events have even greater options, ranging from the 1,200-capacity East Lawn overlooking the Potomac River to the intimate, 60-capacity Distillery & Gristmill.
5. The Jefferson
Less than a mile north of the White House, The Jefferson, Washington, DC, has hosted countless diplomats, cabinet members, presidents and Fortune 500 executives within its six meeting rooms. The high-power deals and important decisions historically made within those walls could well provide inspiration and motivation for a group’s own goals.
6. Hilton Chicago
Boasting 234,000 square feet of meeting space, the iconic Hilton Chicago, nicknamed the “Midwest White House,” has hosted every president from Truman to Clinton in its two-story, 5,000-square-foot Conrad Suite. President Obama held eight press conferences in the 10,080-square-foot Continental Ballroom during his election season, including his acceptance speech as president-elect and the appointments of many members of his first cabinet, and held his first-ever cabinet meeting in the Waldorf Room. Attendees can explore more of the hotel’s powerful history by taking a private tour of the recently launched historic corridor.
PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES
There are dozens of libraries/centers across the U.S. dedicated to securing, documenting and sharing the history of a specific president. From coast to coast, most of these varied venues can be rented for private events. Here are some of the most recent presidential spaces.
7. The Carter Center
Atlanta’s The Carter Center, which includes the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum, has nine rooms available for meeting and event usage, ranging from 800 to 5,500 square feet each.
8. The Clinton Presidential Center
The Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Ark., has more than 10,000 square feet of indoor meeting and event space and the 18,000-square-foot Scholars Garden.
9. Ronald Regan Presidential Library and Museum
Meet under and inside of Air Force One at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, Calif. That impressive indoor space can accommodate 1,400 for a sit-down meal. If your group wants an outdoor space, the Library Courtyard is a fit for up to 1,500.
10. The George W. Bush Presidential Center
The George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University in Dallas offers three distinct venues for private groups ranging from 150 to 400.
Juan Brizuela also contributed to this post.
