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Facility Rental | Available Spaces

The Museum of Life and Science is open 7 days a week. Facility Rental Home

Available Spaces

Event Planning Services

Rates and Fees
Daytime rental hours: 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in the Mercury Meeting Room and Special Events Tent only 
Evening rental hours:
 6:30 p.m. until 2:00 a.m.
With an atmosphere like none other, the Museum of Life and Science provides a unique quality to any social or civic organization's group function. The relaxed atmosphere provides spontaneity and exploration and is ideal for meetings and events. The Museum offers:
  • 90,000 square feet of exhibit space
  • Nature Park excursions
  • Ellerbee Creek Railway rides
  • Preferred Caterers
  • Handicap accessible features
  • Ample parking



Magic Wings Butterfly House and Bayer CropScience Insectarium

 
The Butterfly House is a separate building further into the Museum's campus that has a beautiful lobby with a butterfly mobile, the Insectarium, a 5,000 square foot tropical butterfly conservatory with live butterflies and a very spacious outside patio area. When renting the Butterfly House, use of the patio area along with the inside space is utilized for groups over 50 guests. It is recommended that you use both the indoor and outdoor space together to accommodate all of your needs. We also recommend coupling the Special Events Tent with the Butterfly House space. Spend an evening in our tropical butterfly conservatory with a lush atmosphere for an unforgettable event. Our Insectarium will have your guests crawling with excitement!

Capacity:

Inside:
50 seated; 100 standing reception

Outside Patio:
50–70 seated with food and beverage; 175 reception with food and beverage

 


 

Special Events Tent

  
This is a large bricked patio area (separate from the Butterfly House patio) that is directly beside the Butterfly House. This area has a large 12' tall white top tent with white lights surrounding the inside perimeter. It holds approximately 75-100 guests for a seated reception. This is an additional space that is available for rent at any time during the day and evening during the warm months when the tent is up. It also includes a grassy knoll behind the tent that can be used to add additional tented rental space. This would provide additional covered seating directly adjoining our current tent. This area can be used separately or in conjunction with the Butterfly House. Using this with the Butterfly House can possibly increase your guest capacity to approximately 160 guests depending on your particular needs. The Tent is available spring through fall.

Capacity:
50-70 seated with dance floor; 100 seated with no dance floor; 125 standing reception. Butterfly House Patio may be needed to accommodate Food and Beverage needs.

 


 

 

Café Patio/Plaza

  
This is a wonderful setting for any outdoor function! There is room for a wedding reception, rehearsal dinner, casual picnic, awards ceremony and more. This is an uncovered area near the Museum’s Train Station that can be used in conjunction with the Butterfly House and Special Events Tent or on its own. Events held in this location begin no earlier than 7:00pm due to the required time needed to properly prepare the space for an evening event.

Capacity:

130–170 seated

 


 

 

Mercury Meeting Room (MMR)

  
This is a large multi-purpose room within the main Museum. It has hardwood floors (great for dancing), use of easels, LCD projector and drop-down screen. It also has 12 different light settings programmed for low light, flood light, perimeter and spotlighting. The rental price of the room includes the drop-down screen, easels, set-up and use of our tables and chairs. We recommend using the Atrium lobby directly outside of the MMR to set up food and beverage stations, cake & gift table, bar, etc. and marry the two spaces together with décor and lighting. The MMR is one of the few spaces that is available for rent during all daytime hours and after hours.

Capacity:
150 theater; a maximum of 130 seated with no dance floor and food and beverage in the lobby; 100 seated dinner with a dance floor, food and beverage in the lobby

 


 

 

Atrium Lobby

  
Skylights, contemporary architectural detail, and an artistic mobile make the Lobby ideal for cocktail parties and Mercury Meeting Room overflow.

Capacity:
40 seated; 100 reception

 

 

Entire Museum

  
The entire main building can be rented and includes both the Nature Center and Science wings, the MMR and the Lobby. The Contraptions and Carolina Wildlife Exhibits are not accessible during evening hours. The Play to Learn exhibit for small children is only open for groups with children under 6 years of age and provide proper supervision.

Capacity:
1,500 people, standing reception with scattered seating

 

 

Nature Center Wing

  
This section of the Museum includes the Atrium Lobby, Mercury Meeting Room, and the ABC News Channel 11 Weather Exhibits. This is a great location for cocktail receptions and seating overflow for the Mercury Meeting Room.

Capacity:
400 people, standing reception with scattered seating; 150-170 people seated

 

 

Science and Technology Wing

  
The second wing of the Museum is the Science and Tech Wing. This wing is two stories and is further into our Museum. The exhibits in this area are all of our Space exhibits, Life’s Devices and our Health Lab with a lot of “how to” hands on fun. This wing does not have a large multi purpose room for an inclusive gathering but does have two smaller areas for speeches, dinner and/or dancing. (This includes a portion of the first floor and the entire second floor.)

Capacity:
400–500 people, standing reception with scattered seating

 

 

Special Combination Space: First Floor Main Museum

  
 

Capacity:
400–700 people, standing reception with scattered seating for approximately 150-250 guests

 

 

 


To reserve your Event or for more information:


Email: Rental & Events Manager
Phone: 919-220-5429 x400

 

 

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