Rental

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Historical Background

Plan a Visit

Hill Family Collections

Friends of the Hill House

The James J. Hill House is a historic house museum providing public history education on Hill, the house, and household. Organizations interested in gathering in a museum setting of interpreted history are welcome to use the site for meetings, conferences, classes, lectures, concerts, receptions, luncheons, and dinners.

The site is not available for weddings, wedding receptions, birthdays, family reunions, anniversaries, or similar types of events. For these kinds of events please consider the Minnesota History Center or Mill City Museum.

Availability

Monday–Tuesday: 8:00 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Wednesday–Sunday: 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Rooms

The music room, drawing room, and first floor hallway, plus smaller meeting rooms on the second and third floors, are available for special-use functions (see first floor plan). The exterior terraces are available in warmer weather, and the picture gallery is available for concerts. Other historic rooms are open for guests to see as part of the event.

Group Size

Seated dinners: 120 people maximum using both the music room and drawing room
Theater seating: 120 people maximum using the drawing room or picture gallery
Receptions: 400 people maximum using first floor hallway and adjacent rooms

Equipment

The Hill House will provide tables, chairs, and standard A/V and meeting equipment:

140 folding chairs (fabric padded seats and backs)
Ten folding tables (30" x 72")
15 round banquet tables (60"/seat 8)
TV/VCR/DVD with speakers
podium with microphone and lamp
slide, overhead and LCD projectors, and screens
flip charts, whiteboards, and blackboards
Four music stands with lamps
hand-held microphone and general public-address system

Food and Drink

Alcohol may only be served by a caterer with a valid liquor license. Red wine is not permitted. Smoking is not allowed inside the house. Menus must avoid foods that would easily stain and damage the historic interiors. The event user selects and pays all catering costs. A pantry work area is available but cooking is not allowed on the premises. Catering staff are responsible for removing all trash and leaving the site in a clean, orderly state. Catering equipment may not be delivered the day before or left overnight after an event.

Decorations and Signs

No signs or decorations may be placed on historic furnishings, woodwork, or surfaces. Lit candles and decorations with glitter are not allowed.

Musicians and Concerts

A restored pipe organ located in the picture gallery may be played by a professional organist as part of an event. Event users may contract with other solo musicians and small ensembles. A Steinway grand piano from the Schubert Club is available in the Art Gallery. For ticketed concert events, the site can provide telephone reservation and box office support.

Are you looking for a great venue to hold your next concert or recital? Read more about concert and recital rental at the James J. Hill House.

Tour guides

Guides are scheduled for all special-use functions at a 1:25 visitor ratio to answer questions, provide site security, and offer tours (30-60 minutes) as part of the event program. Event staffing also includes a site manager.

Parking

Street parking is available along Summit Avenue in front of the Hill House. The Cathedral parking lot may be used with permission from the Archdiocese (651-228-1766). Parking is not allowed on the property except for catering vehicles parked behind the site.

Fees

The Use Fee for an event is based on day, time, length, size, set-up needs, and type of function. Fees range from $150 for small weekday meetings to $2000 for large evening receptions and dinners.