Guidelines For Special Events

Thank you for your interest in the Merchant’s House Museum. The guidelines outlined below will answer many of your questions about the use of the site for special events. If you have any other questions, or wish to reserve the site for your event, please contact the executive director, Margaret Halsey Gardiner, at 212.777.1089 or pi@merchantshouse.org.

Room Usage
Food and drink may be served on the ground floor (original kitchen and family room) and in the garden. The double parlors may be rented for seated dinners only.

Smoking is prohibited in the Museum, but permitted in the garden.

Objects in the collection may not be touched, nor may the furniture be sat upon. Only Museum personnel may move object in the Museum’s collection.

Staff
At least two staff members of the Museum must be on site during the event. Docents are available @ $12/hour to give tours or provide information about the house and its collections.

Catering and Deliveries
Supplies and portable furniture for special events must be delivered as close to the event as possible and retrieved as soon as possible following the event. Storage is not available. Upon request, the Museum will provide a list of recommended caterers.

Decorations
Decoration of the Museum is allowed only under the direct supervision of the staff. The use of nails, stickpins, tape, paint, or any other material that could have irreversible effects on the Museum building or its collections is not allowed. All decorations must be removed from the Museum at the end of the event.

Fires in the fireplaces are not permitted.

Approval
All applications for special events are subject to approval by the Executive Director of the Museum.

A signed Rental Agreement and a non-refundable deposit of 50% is required to confirm your date. A Rental Agreement is available by request.

A damage deposit of $500 is due at time of deposit and will be held for one week after the event.

Payment of balance (by check or money order) is due on the day of the event.

Insurance
In the case of an event sponsored by a corporate or non-profit entity, the Museum requires coverage of your activities at the Museum by general liability insurance. A proof of insurance must be submitted prior to the event.