Southeast Ohio History Logo with four outlines of Ohio together at the point to create a compass with the words "Southeast Ohio History Center" in a circle around it.

Rent the history center for your next event

Event Venues

Event Venues

Gallery at the Southeast Ohio History Center displays photographs from the Art & Artifacts Exhibit 2022. Photo Credit Josh Zielinski

Gallery

With a capacity of 24 - 30, the Gallery is perfect for smaller gatherings.
The Southeast Ohio History Center stage with set pieces from the musical "Song of Singapore" and a cabaret setup with tables & chairs. Photo Credit Josh Zielinski.

Great Hall

With a capacity of 80 - 100, the Great Hall is perfect for large celebrations & performances.
Exhibit floor of the Southeast Ohio History Center showing the Art & Artifacts Exhibit

Great Hall & Gallery

This combination of spaces has the largest capacity at 80 - 150.
The Southeast Ohio History Building

Hocking Valley Bank Education Room

With a capacity of 15, our room is ideal for small meetings.

The Great Hall

Located on the Main Level, the Great Hall is ideal for larger events such as concerts, programs, performances, celebrations, and wedding ceremonies. It can accommodate 100 people with auditorium-style seating and a central aisle or 80 people seated at 10 round tables.

This space is equipped with a sound system, two screens with HDMI adaptors, a large screen with a high-resolution short-throw projector, a baby grand piano, and, of course, the organ. At the back of the Great Hall is the Eric Coon Memorial Reception Area, which is ideal for setting up food and beverage service. The reception area also includes a bar that can be opened or closed during your event.

The dividing wall between the Great Hall and the Gallery will be down for the rental of the Great Hall only.

*Please note that this space may not be available during certain traveling or special exhibitions, and this combined space is only available when the History Center is closed to the public.

The Gallery

Located on the Main Level, the Gallery is ideal for smaller events & gatherings such as lectures, gallery shows, and smaller celebrations. It can accommodate 30 people standing and 24 seated.

The dividing wall between the Great Hall and the Gallery will be down for the rental of the Gallery.

*Please note that this space may not be available during certain traveling or special exhibitions, and this combined space is only available when the History Center is closed to the public.

Great Hall & Gallery

One of the wonderful architectural features of our historic building is the movable wall that divides the Gallery and the Great Hall. When the wall is up, the two spaces blend seamlessly together, giving you and your guests the opportunity to be surrounded by history during your event! Opening the wall increases the Great Hall’s capacity to 150 people with auditorium-style seating, and comfortably seats 80 at 10 round tables, with additional space for cocktail tables or rectangular tables.

The space is equipped with a sound system, two screens with HDMI adaptors, a large movie screen with a high-resolution, short-throw projector, a baby grand piano, and, of course, the organ.

At the back of the Great Hall is the Eric Coon Memorial Reception Area, which is ideal for setting up food and beverage service. The reception area also includes a bar that can be opened or closed during your event.

*Please note that this space may not be available during certain traveling or special exhibitions, and this combined space is only available when the History Center is closed to the public.

Hocking Valley Bank Education Room

Located on the Lower Level, this room is ideal for meetings or retreats. The space includes a large conference table, 15 chairs, two whiteboards, and a screen with HDMI adaptor.

Event Venue Rental Inquiry

Below you will find all the information you need on our venues available for events, policies, rates, and how to contact us. Please make sure to read all information before filling out and submitting a rental application form or making an inquiry about one of our spaces.

Rental policies & faq

Hours Available for Rental

Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00 to 10:00 PM 

Event Space Hourly Rates

RENTAL RATES

Hocking Valley Bank Community Education Room

  • 2 hour minimum rental
  • $25 per hour

Gallery (with dividing wall) 

  • 2 hour minimum
  • $100 per hour

Great Hall (with dividing wall down)

  • 4 hour minimum 
  • $150 per hour

Great Hall and Gallery

  • 4 hour minimum
  • $200 per hour

Fees for Additional Services (Flat Rate)

  • Chair and Table Setup and Teardown – $150
  • Use of the Kitchen –  $50
  • Use of A/V Equipment – $50
  • Movie screen and projector setup – $150
  • Use of the Organ – $100
  • Moving exhibition cases and displays – $150
  • F-2 Temporary Liquor Permit – $150

Deposit, Payment, and Cancellation Policies

DEPOSIT

For events for which alcohol has not been included by request: A $200 deposit is required for the rental of the Great Hall and Gallery. $100 of this deposit is nonrefundable to hold the date. $100 is refundable to you after
cleanup. Failure to remove trash and recycling from your event or otherwise damage the venue will result in a forfeiture of the $100 refundable portion of the deposit.
For events for which alcohol has been included by request: A $600 deposit is required for the rental of the Great Hall and Gallery. $100 of this deposit is nonrefundable to hold the date. $500 is refundable to you after
cleanup. Failure to remove trash and recycling from your event or otherwise damage the venue or failure to comply with the alcohol policy will result in a forfeiture of the $500 refundable portion of the deposit, in addition to any fine that may be imposed for failure to abide by the Southeast Ohio History Center.

 

PAYMENT

Payment for the rental of any space in the Southeast Ohio History Center must be received in full one week prior to the event.

 

CANCELLATION

If you need to cancel or postpone your event, the renter must notify the Southeast Ohio History Center no later than two weeks prior to date of the event. Rescheduling the event will be determined by the Southeast Ohio
History Center’s availability. Cancelling your event will result in forfeiting the $100 hold deposit.

Day-of-Event Policies

Kitchen Use

The kitchen includes counter space, a refrigerator, and three sinks. No other kitchen supplies are provided and there is no cooking inside the facility. The kitchen is for preparation, storage of off-site prepared foods and beverages, serving, and clean-up only. Warming dishes, such as crockpots and chafing dishes, are permitted.

 

Setup and Tear Down

The rental time begins with when you plan to arrive to setup and ends with when you leave the Southeast Ohio History Center.

  • To minimize damage to our building and exhibits, renters are not permitted to set up or break down tables, chairs, or move exhibit cases. Southeast Ohio History Center staff will set up tables and chairs prior to the event. Renters can work with staff prior to the event to direct where to place them.
  • Renters must remove all decorations, flowers, food, trash, and recycling at the end of the event.
  • Failure to remove trash or recycling will result in your forfeiture of your $100 cleaning deposit.
  • Only with prior written permission of the Southeast Ohio History Center executive director, a renter may leave some items at the Southeast Ohio History Center until the end of the next business day. These could include: large sets, furniture, or rented tables, chairs, or linens. Arrangements for this must be made in advance.

Failure to remove items by 4:00 PM on the next business day will result in a $50 per day fine.


During the Event

A minimum of one Southeast Ohio History Center staff member must be present for all events taking place after the Southeast Ohio History Center’s business hours. For events that end after 8:00 PM or events that serve
alcohol, a minimum of two staff members, not including bartenders, must be present. The staff will be on site as building managers during the event to answer questions and direct the renter and vendors. The staff does not act as security for the renter.

 

Cleaning


Renters are responsible for removing all trash and recycling from the Southeast Ohio History Center at the end of their event. A dumpster and mixed recycling receptacle are located beside the Southeast Ohio History Center. Please clean up any spills or accidents on our floors promptly. Failure to remove trash and recycling from the Southeast Ohio History Center will result in a forfeiture of your $100 cleaning deposit.

 

Prohibited Items and Activities
  • Illegal drugs or other banned substances are not permitted to be brought into the Southeast Ohio History Center
  • Except as otherwise provided in this agreement, the possession, serving, sale, or consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted in the Southeast Ohio History Center.
  • Betting and/or gambling in any form or maintaining any gambling equipment
  • Weapons of any kind are prohibited during rental events.
  • The Southeast Ohio History Center is a smoke-free venue. There shall be no smoking or vaping inside the building or on History Center grounds.
  • There are to be no lit candles, no fire, no propane, and no open flame of any kind in any area of the Southeast Ohio History Center.
  • Service animals are permitted at the Southeast Ohio History Center, but no pets.
  • Flowers and live plants must be removed at the end of the event.
  • Renter must use non-marking and non-damaging methods of securing decorations. Nails, tacks, tape, and staples are not allowed.
  • No confetti, glitter, sand, rice, birdseed, or fireworks are allowed inside the Southeast Ohio History Center or on
    the grounds.

Failure to comply with these policies will result in a $500 fine.

Damage & Liability Policy

DAMAGE

We understand that accidents can happen, however, you as the renter are responsible for your guests while they are at the Southeast Ohio History Center. Due to the irreplaceable nature of the artifacts and antiquities housed in the Southeast Ohio History Center, the renter will be responsible for any damage, breakage, or theft that occurs during their event. After an event, Southeast Ohio History Center staff members will inspect the building and grounds to ensure that there is no damage. If there is major damage to our building, landscaping, exhibits, or artifacts, you will be contacted for additional payment and restitution.

 

LIABILITY
  • The Southeast Ohio History Center shall not be liable for damages caused by an act of God, or other unforeseen event reasonably beyond the Southeast Ohio History Center’s control.
  • The Southeast Ohio History Center is not responsible for items belonging to Renter or Renter’s guests that are lost, stolen, or damaged during the rental period.
  • Renter is liable for the actions and behavior of Renter’s guests during the rental period, and at any other time such guest is on or around the rental space as a result of Renter’s use of the rental space. The Southeast Ohio History Center will not be liable for the safety of Renter’s guests. Renter agrees
    to indemnify and hold harmless the Southeast Ohio History Center from all liability arising from the activities of Renter and Renter’s guests during the rental period.
  • The Southeast Ohio History Center requires a copy of any caterer’s liability insurance and liquor license, where applicable.

Alcohol Policy

The Southeast Ohio History Center does not permit renters, their guests, or invitees to bring outside alcohol on the premises. Any alcohol served at the Southeast Ohio History Center must be either:

  • Brought into and served at the Southeast Ohio History Center by a third-party caterer who is properly licensed by the State of Ohio to provide alcohol at outside venues
  • Pre-ordered through the Southeast Ohio History Center. In this case, the Southeast Ohio History Center will apply for a temporary liquor license, and then order alcohol on your behalf once we receive the license. You will pay for the alcohol, but what you do not use is yours at the end of the night. The price of the alcohol itself depends on what you decide to order. Our staff can guide you through this process.
  • Use or distribution of outside alcohol in the Southeast Ohio History Center or on the grounds will result in a $500 fine and shall require all renters, their guests or invitees to immediately vacate the premises.

 

If you choose to preorder alcohol, the Southeast Ohio History Center will provide the bartenders. For events with fewer than 50 people we require one bartender. For events with 50-100 people, we require two bartenders. For events with more than 100 people we require three bartenders. The renter agrees to pay the bartenders $20 per hour with a 20% gratuity. The Southeast Ohio History Center reserves the right to refuse to allow alcohol on the premises if we are not satisfied that the renter’s caterer is properly licensed.

  • It is the renter’s sole responsibility to ensure that persons under the age of 21 do not consume alcohol at the facility, and that persons who have been overserved are denied further access to alcohol.
  • The Southeast Ohio History Center is not liable for any events or instances resulting from the availability or consumption of alcohol on our site.
  • Failure to comply with these policies shall result in immediate forfeiture of the premises and any deposit.

Rental Application Form

Before you fill out your rental application, complete the following steps to ensure your form is ready to submit:

  1. Read through the Rental Policies section 
  2. Look at the venues available and their restrictions 
  3. Make an inquiry (the button above) to confirm that the event space is available for your preferred date and time.
  4. Fill out the rental application form and email it to jessica@southeastohiohistory.org