International Museum of Surgical Science: Here’s How You Can Rent This Venue

Based in Chicago and looking for an awe-inspiring space for your next event or production? Keep reading and we’ll explain why the International Museum of Surgical Science could be the perfect venue.

What is the International Museum of Surgical Science?

First opened in 1954, the Chicago-based International Museum of Surgical Science has the distinction of being the only museum in North America that focuses specifically on the medical field of surgery. It’s also within a stunning 1917 Lakeside mansion designed to emulate Versailles’ world-famous Petit Trianon, the beloved country getaway of Marie Antoinette.

In addition to this fascinating and historic lineage, the mansion that houses the museum is categorized as one of the “Seven Houses on Lake Shore Drive”. In fact, it is the only one of these mansions that the public can access.

Besides visiting the museum and exploring its exhibitions, you can actually rent out all four spectacular floors of the museum for yourself!

Address: 1524 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60610

Make your next event one to remember by hosting it at the epic International Museum of Surgical Science!

Why rent out the International Museum of Surgical Science?

The mansion is an important piece of history, listed in the National Register, the registry of Chicago landmarks, and the Illinois Register of Historic Places.

Renting this space means your event can benefit from the mansion’s luxurious and beautifully preserved aesthetic – original finishes in polished limestone and Italian marble, brass hardware and fixtures, a gilded metal staircase, and a total of eight (!) stone fireplaces are some of its most impressive visual features.

Not to mention that the mansion offers fantastic views of the adjacent Lake Michigan. Plus, it’s conveniently located only a few minutes from downtown Chicago.

Rent the museum for your next event

Using this gorgeous mansion as a backdrop is the perfect way to elevate whatever gathering you might be planning, whether it’s a wedding ceremony, seated dinner, cocktail reception, or business meeting. Your guests are sure to be thoroughly impressed by the variety of spaces here.

These include:

• The historic library. It is decorated with a combination of marble and green leather and is the most well-preserved room when it comes to the mansion’s original details and floorplan.
• The Hall of Murals. One of the original exhibits from when the museum first opened in the 1950s, its walls display an array of murals depicting significant moments in surgical history.
• The Hall of Immortals, a marble hall with a grand display of twelve stone statues of various important figures in the fields of science and medicine.

You’ll have plenty of space to work with, with access to all four floors of the museum during your rental. In fact, the enormous space has capacity for up to 200 guests at a standing event like a cocktail reception, and up to 100 guests for a seated event.

An additional benefit: your rental comes with the included assistance of two museum employees for every event. They will help you greet your guests, coordinate with vendors and caterers as needed, and offer parking validation, among other logistical support.

These staff members will even answer questions and provide fascinating info about the museum’s exhibitions and collections, as well as the history of the mansion itself. This turns your event into an exciting, customized educational experience for your guests.

Or rent it out as the location for a production

The International Museum of Surgical Science is also a wonderfully opulent and inspiring setting for productions of all kinds. Book it for your next video shoot, photoshoot, and other creative projects.

Imagine filming a music video in the otherworldly Hall of Immortals. You can also snap edgy fashion photographs in which the building’s lavish marble, limestone, and brass complement the clothes.

Whatever project you might be cooking up, it will only be that much more impressive when you use this space as your location.

Amenities

Curious about the amenities you can expect when you rent the International Museum of Surgical Science?

Here are some if its top features:

• Parking: There are 2 to 4 free, on-site parking spaces included with your booking. Although there is no guest parking and limited street parking, the museum can validate parking for several nearby public parking lots (within walking distance) so that guests receive an hourly discount. They recommend that you hire a valet or shuttle service for larger groups of guests.
• Furniture: Tables and chairs are not included free with your rental. However, the museum has a total of seven highboy tables, six 6-foot tables with tablecloths, and a number of folding/banquet chairs for an additional fee ($35 for each table and $5 for each chair). They also have a list of approved vendors for furniture rental that they can share with you. There is also a podium available for your use in case you are giving a presentation.
• Accessibility: There is a wheelchair accessible entrance on the building’s north side. Inside the museum, there are two ramps as well as an elevator.

Rules for this space

Since this is a historical space filled with artifacts, the host has simple rules in place to keep you and the space safe.

Keep these rules in mind before you decide to rent the space:

• The museum has a list of approved vendors, including many of Chicago’s top caterers. But if you have your own selections in mind, you can request additional vendors for their consideration.
• The museum does not allow open flames anywhere in the building. But with its approval, you may use votive candles on fireplace mantles and tables.
• Glitter, confetti, and smoke or fog machines are not allowed and will incur an added cleaning fee.
• You must include an extra hour for setup time and an extra hour for cleanup time when you book this rental.

Need a grandiose, historic setting for your next Chicago production? Then head to the International Museum of Surgical Science’s Peerspace listing and book it!

How can I rent out the International Museum of Surgical Science?

Because the International Museum of Surgical Science is available through Peerspace, the process of renting it is straightforward. Peerspace is the largest digital marketplace for venue rentals, connecting you with unique spaces in cities across the globe.

All you have to do is visit the museum’s Peerspace listing and enter your rental date and time, then click “Start Booking” and wait for a response from the host of the space.

The Peerspace listing contains an overview of pretty much all the info you might need when deciding to rent the space. The listing includes a detailed description of the space, high-res photos of all its most impressive rooms, and lots of honest reviews from past renters. But if all this isn’t quite enough and you still have a question or request, you can reach out to the host, Lindsey H., by clicking the “Message Host” button toward the top of the listing.

Rent the International Museum of Surgical Science on Peerspace