Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

Imagine your guests entering this grand hall with the plains of central Wyoming as their backdrop. A magnificent heard of bison quietly drink from a small pond with the towering Big Horn Mountains in the distance. To the side a gray wolf can be spotted hiding in the bushes, waiting to pounce. Each and every diorama tells a different tale, and none will cease to captivate your guests. The North American Mammal Hall is the largest of all of the museum's galleries and is the prime location for anything from dinner parties to rock concerts. The possibilities are as wide as the plains themselves.

Home to the museum's iconic Dueling Dinosaurs, the Grand Foyer is a stately hall with 40-foot ceilings, twin half domes, travertine columns, marble floors, and oversized chandeliers. Despite the fact that these complete skeletons of a Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops are locked in battle, the dinos have presided over many happy occasions including wedding ceremonies, cocktail receptions, and corporate holiday parties. Flanked on each side by the North American Mammal Hall and the African Mammal Hall, the Grand Foyer serves as the ultimate starting point for any event at NHM.

Take your guests on their own African safari, with the majestic backdrop of savanna elephants, Cape buffalo, and a family of giraffes in a diorama so real you'll be surprised you can't hear them breathing. The African Mammal Hall is one of the most beloved spaces in the museum. Slightly smaller and more dramatic than its counterpart, the exotic tableaus make the perfect backdrop for any kind of ceremony, reception or lounge.

Originally dedicated when NHM opened its doors in 1913, the Rotunda is one of the museum's most elegant spaces. Lined with Corinthian pillars and crowned by a glorious stained-glass dome and coffered ceiling, the room boasts the first bronze sculpture designed for a public building in Los Angeles: a Beaux Arts statue entitled Three Graces, which represent the disciplines of Art, History, and Science. The Rotunda is the perfect space for smaller wedding ceremonies, intimate dinners, and any kind of private or corporate reception. With glass doors and a portico that looks out over Exposition Park Rose Garden, it is the ideal space to be used for an indoor/outdoor experience.

This lush, ever-changing vegetable, fruit, and herb garden is the perfect place for an evening reception or dinner. We can't think of a better venue to introduce your guests to the idea of eating local and learning about the vast array of produce that can be sustainably grown in Southern California. Work with one of our preferred caterers to develop a menu using ingredients that could be grown right here in Exposition Park.

Located in the northeast corner of the Nature Gardens, the pond provides a stunning backdrop for wedding ceremonies and small dinners. The area is bordered by the Pollinator Garden, which is a magnet for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, and provides a quiet respite from the hustle and bustle of downtown L.A.

Host your event under our beloved 63 foot-long fin whale specimen. The Otis Booth Pavilion serves as the gateway from the interior museum to the surrounding Nature Gardens. This glass enclosed space presents a modern aesthetic and features sliding glass doors providing a true inside-outside feel. Your guests will enjoy views of our urban waterfall and amphitheater while dining or lounging in this space.