Full descriptions of rental spaces within the Museum of the Rockies are listed below. Please note rates differ for events held during
museum hours. Rental information may also be accessed in chart view for comparison and summary purposes. If you wish to view the rental spaces, please contact Amber Udelhoven at
morrentals@montana.edu.
Available Spaces:
Bair Lobby
The Museum of the Rockies’ Bair Lobby is ideal to host a formal or informal reception, social gathering, or similar event. The proximity of the Bair Lobby to the Hager Auditorium, Taylor Planetarium, and exhibit galleries make it the prime space to host a reception before or after an event held in one of these adjacent spaces. Upon availability, additional furniture and/or equipment can be rented with at least a week notice (electronic equipment carries an additional charge). Food and beverages/alcohol are permitted in this area. Please note: This is the only formal rental space where red wine is permitted. Take advantage of group pricing and allow your guests to experience the full culture of Montana by adding on access to our exhibit galleries.
- Capacity: 150 standing, 80 seated
- After Business Hours Rental Rate: $500 for the first two hours $100 per additional hour.
- The Bair Lobby can only be reserved after regular Museum business hours
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Hager Auditorium
The Museum of the Rockies’ Hager Auditorium contains theater style seats, a 28’ x 13' white projection screen, a LCD projector, a VCR/DVD player, a Blue-Ray player, a podium with a stationary microphone, one wireless lapel microphone, and a 4’ table located on the stage. You are responsible for supplying your own computer/laptop; please let the Museum know at least one week in advance of the event if you will be using a Mac. Additional furniture may not be rented for this space. Upon availability, and with at least one week notice, additional audio/visual equipment can be reserved (electronic equipment carries an additional charge). Food and beverages are not permitted in the Auditorium. After regular Museum business hours, and for an additional charge, you may book either the Bair Lobby or the Lower Lobby for your catering purposes. Take advantage of group pricing and allow your guests to experience the full culture of Montana by adding on access to our exhibit galleries.
- Capacity: 215 seated
- During Business Hours Rental Rate: $150 for the first two hours $50 per additional hour
- After Business Hours Rental Rate: $350 for the first two hours $100 per additional hour
Per fire code regulations, no one may stand, sit, or linger on the stairways, hallways, or area behind the Auditorium’s seats. Security will be required to enforce this policy in an effort to keep Museum guests safe at all times.
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The Lower Lobby
The Museum of the Rockies’ Lower Lobby can be rented to host your informal receptions, social gatherings, or similar events. The Lower Lobby comes equipped with four 60” round tables and 16 chairs, which can be removed upon request. Upon availability, additional furniture can be rented with at least a week notice. Additional equipment can be reserved, upon availability, with at least one week notice prior to the event. Food and beverages/alcohol, with the exception of red wine, are permitted in this area. Take advantage of group pricing and allow your guests to experience the full culture of Montana by adding on access to our exhibit galleries.
- Capacity: 80 standing, 40 seated
- After Business Hours Rental Rate: $150 for the first two hours $50 per additional hour
- The Lower Lobby can only be reserved after regular Museum business hours.
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Redstart Classroom
The Museum of the Rockies’ Classroom is a great place for classes, lectures, seminars, workshops, and meetings. The room comes with a sink, a 16’ (l) x 4’ (h) white board, and a 10’ (l) x 8’ (h) white projection screen. You may bring your own LCD or overhead projector, or one can be reserved from the Museum with at least one week notice prior to the event date. You must bring your own computer or laptop; please let the Museum know at least one week in advance of the event if you will be using a Mac with the Museum’s projector. The Classroom comes equipped with ten 60” round tables, one 8’ rectangle table, one 5’ trapezoid table, and 80 chairs allowing you to alter the layout to meet your event needs. Setup of tables and chairs is the renter’s responsibility. Please note the way you lay out the room will determine the maximum room capacity. Upon availability, additional furniture can be reserved with at least a week notice. Additional equipment can be reserved, upon availability, with at least one-week notice prior to the event date (electronic equipment carries an additional charge). Food and beverages/alcohol, including red wine, are permitted in this area. Take advantage of group pricing and allow your guests to experience the full culture of Montana by adding on access to our exhibit galleries.
- Capacity: 120 standing; 80 seated
- During Business Hours Rental Rate: $75 for the first two hours $25 per additional hour
- After Business Hours Rental Rate: $150 for the first two hours $50 per additional hour
- Wireless capable
Rental of the Classroom does not automatically include rental/use of the Lower Lobby (beyond use as a passageway). During regular Museum hours the Lower Lobby cannot be rented or reserved as it is offered to Museum patrons as one of our few public eating spaces. However, after business hours, the Lower Lobby or Bair Lobby can be added to your rental at an additional charge.
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Harry H. Janke Board Room
The Museum of the Rockies’ Board Room is a great place for formal or informal meetings and comes equipped with one 7’ x 24’ table that seats 20, as well as 8 additional chairs around the perimeter of the room, a 10’ L x 8’ H white retractable projection screen, a 2’ x 3’ serving table, and a nook with a sink and coat rack. The room’s layout cannot be changed. Due to the size of the room, additional furniture cannot be rented for this space. However, additional equipment can be reserved, upon availability, with at least one-week notice prior to the event date (electronic equipment carries an additional charge). Food and beverages/alcohol, with the exception of red wine, are permitted in this area. Take advantage of group pricing and allow your guests to experience the full culture of Montana by adding on access to our exhibit galleries.
- Capacity: 28 seated
- During Business Hours Rental Rate: $75 for the first two hours $25 per additional hour
- After Business Hours Rental Rate: $150 for the first two hours $50 per additional hour
- Wireless capable
Rental of the Board Room does not automatically include the rental/use of the Lower Lobby (beyond use as a passageway). During regular Museum hours the Lower Lobby cannot be rented or reserved as it is offered to Museum patrons as one of our few public eating spaces. However, after business hours, the Lower Lobby or Bair Lobby can be added to your rental, at an additional charge.
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Seminar Room
The Museum of the Rockies’ Seminar Room is the ideal space for luncheons, classes, seminars, workshops, and meetings. The room comes equipped with six 6’ rectangle tables, one 5’ trapezoid table, and 30 chairs, allowing you to alter the layout to meet your event needs. Setup of tables and chairs is the renter’s responsibility. Please note the way you lay out the room will determine the maximum room capacity. Due to the size of the room and its existing furniture, additional furniture cannot be rented for this space. However, additional equipment can be reserved, upon availability, with at least one-week notice prior to the event (electronic equipment carries an additional charge). Food and beverages/alcohol, with the exception of red wine, are permitted in this area. Take advantage of group pricing and allow your guests to experience the full culture of Montana by adding on access to our exhibit galleries.
- Capacity: 30 seated
- During Business Hours Rental Rate: $75 for the first two hours $25 per additional hour
- After Business Hours Rental Rate: $150 for the first two hours $50 per additional hour
- Wireless capable
Rental of the Seminar Room does not automatically include rental/use of the Lower Lobby (beyond use as a passageway). During regular Museum hours the Lower Lobby cannot be rented or reserved as it is offered to Museum patrons as one of our few public eating spaces. However, after business hours, the Lower Lobby or Bair Lobby can be added to your rental at an additional charge.
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Taylor Planetarium
The Taylor Planetarium is closed for remodeling, but will reopen Saturday, March 2, 2013!
The Museum of the Rockies’ Taylor Planetarium provides an out-of-this-world experience. The Planetarium can be reserved after regular Museum business hours for regularly featured planetarium shows or laser shows, and for personalized birthday parties. The Planetarium can seat a maximum of 100 guests per show. Additional furniture cannot be rented for this space. Food and beverages are not permitted in the Planetarium. After regular Museum business hours, and for an additional charge, you may book either the Bair Lobby or the Lower Lobby for your catering purposes. Take advantage of group pricing and allow your guests to experience the full culture of Montana by adding on access to our exhibit galleries.
- Capacity: 110 seated
- After Business Hours Rental Rate: $350 flat rate for regular features
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Tinsley House
Hold your reception or event on an authentic Montana homestead! The Museum of the Rockies’ Tinsley House may be used for parties or receptions from 5pm to 8pm between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The house is fully equipped with antique furniture including 2-6’ dinner tables that seat 6 each (one in the dining room and one in the kitchen), and an additional 7 chairs along the perimeter of the two rooms. Upon availability, additional furniture can be reserved with at least one week notice to be placed on the adjacent lawn if additional seating is necessary. Additional furniture or electronic equipment cannot be rented for inside the Tinsley House. Food and beverages/alcohol are permitted in this area and on the grounds adjacent to the Tinsley House. Take advantage of group pricing and allow your guests to experience the full culture of Montana by adding on access to our exhibit galleries.
- Capacity: 25 standing, 19 seated
- Rental Rate determined on a case-by-case basis
The Tinsley House functions as a true homestead. There are limited electrical capabilities and no food preparation space. A primitive outhouse adjacent to the house is available for use and modern restrooms are available inside the museum.
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Exhibit Galleries
With rental of any of our facilities, you have the option to provide your guests with the full Museum experience. During business hours, your guests can gain admission (at our group rate pricing) to our exciting exhibit areas including the Siebel Dinosaur Complex, Enduring Peoples, the Paugh History Hall, and the Front and Back Galleries. After-hours rental of the Museum of the Rockies’ galleries allows your group to privately view these exciting exhibits.
Please note that access to our two traveling exhibit spaces—the Front and Back Galleries—will depend upon the traveling exhibits schedule. Check our Upcoming Exhibits webpage for exhibit information. The Museum cannot rent traveling exhibit spaces that are in transition. Food and beverages are not allowed in any of the Museum galleries. After regular Museum business hours, and for an additional charge, you may book either the Bair Lobby or the Lower Lobby for your catering purposes.
- Business Hours Rental Rate:
- Groups of up to 10: $1 off the price of each individual admission
- Groups of 10 or more: $2 off the price of each individual admission
- After Business Hours Rental Rate:
- $1,500 for two hours, up to 250 people for all exhibit spaces
- $200 for two hours for individual exhibits
The Museum Galleries can only be reserved after regular Museum business hours.
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Additional Equipment/Furniture Rentals
Upon availability, the following equipment can be reserved with at least one week notice prior to your event date, at no additional charge unless otherwise listed. Note that some rental spaces come equipped with tables and chairs; please review the above room descriptions. The Museum does NOT rent or loan laptop or desktop computers; you must bring your own if needed. The Museum also does NOT provide or rent table linens. Additional media can be rented from MSU Media Services at 406.994.6461.
- LCD Projector: (1 existing; $50/day, fee waived in Hager Aud.)
- Overhead Projectors: (2 existing; $15/day)
- TV/VCR/DVD Combo: (1 existing; $50/day)
- Standing White Projection Screen: (1 existing; 4’ L x 4’ H; unneeded in Hager, Redstart Classroom, and Janke Board Room)
- White Dry Erase Board: (1 existing; dimensions: 68” L x 44” H)
- Electrical Outlets: (Availability depends on space rented)
- Podium with Microphone: (1 existing)
- Non-folding Chairs: (100 existing)
- 60” Round Tables: (22 existing; seat 6 each)
- 8’ Rectangle Tables: (13 existing; seat 8 each)
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