Historical sites and museums leave a lasting impact on attendees
With the trend toward unique event experiences and locations, destinations offering an array of historical attractions and museums can give them an advantage. As the country enters a historic year, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, meeting and event planners have the opportunity to ride the interest in our past to create memorable moments for groups. Museums, regardless of their subject matter, can serve as the perfect backdrop for events that inform and entertain attendees.
While our nation’s capital is home to many Smithsonian Institution venues, Cartersville, Ga., proclaims itself “Museum City USA.” Given its size, the small town northwest of Atlanta boasts an extraordinary number of cultural venues. Planners had the opportunity to experience Cartersville’s museums firsthand during a recent FAM tour.
“Museums are a nice way to encourage natural networking,” says Lauren Steele, global events manager for OneStream Software. “You can go through the exhibits and see something that starts a conversation. If you are an introvert, it gives you something to do.”
Steele, along with other Georgia-based event planners participating in a progressive dinner during the Cartersville FAM tour, got a glimpse of three of its top attractions: Booth Western Art Museum, Tellus Science Museum, and Savoy Automobile Museum. The night at the museums encouraged mingling and showcased the power of atypical meeting spaces, Steele says.
Here, we explore some of the South’s premier museums and historical sites to consider for your next meeting or event.
America’s turning points
With 250 years’ worth of American history to explore, sites around the South are gearing up to welcome hordes of guests.
What better place to start than with Virginia’s colonial capital, Williamsburg? The town is a veritable living museum, offering a diverse mix of amenities to create an enjoyable experience for youth groups, associations, and corporations. Williamsburg pays tribute to the country’s origins and its legacy as the first colonial capital across 301 acres of attractions and exhibits, including tradespeople dressed in colonial costumes, historic taverns, and two art museums. Remarkably, 88 original 18th-century structures still stand in the historic part of town.
Lodging options include high-end resorts and budget hotels. For offsite and teambuilding activities, groups can consider golf outings, excursions to Jamestown and Yorktown, and Busch Gardens amusement park.
Another colonial site worth considering is Old Salem Museums & Gardens in Winston-Salem, N.C. Cobblestone sidewalks lead to more than 100 preserved and restored buildings, where costumed interpreters perform daily tasks of the 18th and 19th centuries. Old Salem offers several sites with meeting options, including the Horton Museum Center at the home of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.
As the battle cry goes, “Remember The Alamo” when eyeing historic sites. Scheduled to open in 2027, The Alamo Visitor Center and Museum will include a 4D theater and special event spaces, including a rooftop terrace with a scenic view of San Antonio. The 160,000-square-foot facility will feature 5,000 artifacts tracing The Alamo’s notable 300 years of existence. In the meantime, Alamo Gardens, Alamo Plaza, Ralston Family Collections Center, Alvarez Family Terrace, and two courtyards are available for private rental.
Trying to convey all the stories of the Civil Rights Movement in one building would be a challenge. Instead, the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) created the Legacy Sites in Montgomery, Ala., featuring three sites: The Legacy Museum, The National Memorial for Peace and Justice, and Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. EJI’s website notes the ambitious learning experience is “situated on lands occupied by Indigenous people for centuries, in a region that once held the largest population of enslaved Black people and would later become the heart of the Civil Rights movement.” The recent opening of Elevation Convening Center and Hotel adds an extra layer of ease for meeting planners to access the sites. The convening center has space for 200 attendees. Aya Soulful Dining, an onsite restaurant, continues the experience with offerings inspired by African, Caribbean, and Southern roots.
Groups meeting in Little Rock, Ark., can tour Little Rock Central High School, where the battle over integrating U.S. schools came to a head in 1957.
Arts & culture
Art galleries and museums are visual reminders of the importance of creativity. Drawing a record profit or a new five-year strategic plan may not seem like a beautiful achievement,
but to planners, achieving such a goal is a work of art.
Crystal Bridges and the Momentary prove there is more to Bentonville, Ark., than Wal-Mart. Set on 134 acres against the Ozark landscape, the acclaimed arts center and creative hub offer several visually stunning venues for receptions and gatherings, including the Great Hall, onsite restaurant Eleven, and the Modern Art Gallery, which is an elegant space for cocktail hours. Walker Landing, Frank Lloyd Wright House Lawn, and the South Lawn make for memorable outdoor events. A complete venue buyout provides space to accommodate up to 1,000 attendees.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, located in Sarasota, Fla., is as heralded as it is eclectic. It is a tribute to art, circus, history, architecture, and performance. The gardens and waterfront views of Sarasota Bay are a marvelous backdrop. Indoor meetings and retreats will gravitate toward the Chao Lecture Hall.
“The Ringling really sets the stage for unforgettable meetings and events,” says Kelly Harb, vice president of marketing and communications for Visit Sarasota County. “It’s such a unique setting—where world-class art, stunning architecture, and those beautiful waterfront views all come together. Hosting a gathering there naturally sparks creativity and connection.”
The former capital of the Confederacy has played a significant role in the country’s culture since its inception. The Virginia Museum of History and Culture (VMHC) is a testament to that fact, as its roots predate the Civil War.
Founded in 1831 as the Virginia Historical Society, the museum cares for a renowned collection of more than nine million items representing centuries’ worth of the Commonwealth’s history. Offering a mix of indoor and outdoor space, VMHC accommodates 50 to 300 guests.
Richmond Region Tourism often directs groups to VMHC. The International Motorcoach Group (IMG), for instance, held its summer 2025 conference at the museum. Clymer Berry, executive vice president of IMG, says the museum blended history with modern touches, making for a memorable reception, hosted by the Richmond CVB. “The venue itself provided a great open-concept hall with a stage with live music and wonderful food stations throughout,” says Berry, noting each station highlighted cuisine from different parts of the Commonwealth. “Upstairs, the exhibits showcased the state from both a historical and modern perspective, and allowed attendees to understand the depth of the city and the state in a way they otherwise wouldn’t have. The event and venue allowed us to connect with the city and the culture beyond that of a standard venue.”
The VMHC is living up to the moment with its 250th Initiative, a multi-year collection of commemorative activities for the semiquincentennial. Buoyed by more than $30 million in philanthropic support, the museum, in partnership with the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, produced Virginia’s official 250th commemorative exhibition. The artifacts will be displayed at Richmond International Airport (RIC) and at more than 50 museums and community venues across the Commonwealth.
Planners interested in Cold War history with a touch of pop culture will find the International Spy Museum in southwest Washington, D.C., an intriguingly good time. The museum’s various exhibits celebrate the contributions of James Bond, Julia Child, and Austin Powers. Erica O’Brien De, general manager of the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore markets for Hosts Global, gives an enthusiastic “Yeah, Baby,” when clients sign off on an event at the International Spy Museum.
“We’ve designed highly curated evenings there, featuring custom ‘spy-inspired’ cocktails on the terrace, followed by a dramatic king’s table dinner inside—complete with a mysterious smoke-filled cloche presentation for the first course, lifted in perfect unison by waitstaff for a truly cinematic moment,” says De, noting Hosts Global has hosted myriad events at the museum.
De recommends an immersive cocktail hour within the galleries to allow guests to explore the museum’s interactive experiences, including photo ops with James Bond’s Aston Martin, known as “Mr. Bond.” Amanda Lincoln, director of private events at the museum, adds, “The International Spy Museum’s content has a special ‘cool’ factor.”
The venue is more than special effects. The rooftop features a climate-controlled indoor lounge and an open-air terrace with sweeping views of the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol, and The Wharf; it can accommodate up to 40 guests. Larger groups (150 to 500 guests) can host receptions and dinners across the exhibits, ballroom, and rooftop levels.
Engineering & science
Museums dedicated to innovation and invention are among the most visually stunning venues in Southern destinations.
The Great Hall inside the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., is among the most dramatic settings within one of the world’s most powerful cities. The building is a marvel unto itself and has quite the backstory. Built between 1882 and 1887, the museum was designed for three distinct purposes: to house the headquarters of the U.S. Pension Bureau, to provide a suitably grand space for Washington, D.C.’s social and political functions, and to commemorate the service of Union soldiers during the Civil War.
The American Institute of Architects held its awards gala at the National Building Museum in June 2024. The Great Hall, with a capacity of 2,000 attendees, is the largest of five venues. The museum is steps from the Chinatown/Gallery Place Metro Station, making it easily accessible for visitors.
As the largest natural science museum in the Southeast, the NC Museum of Natural Sciences in Raleigh, N.C., offers some of the region’s most Instagrammable photo ops. Its dramatic two-story waterfall, mammoth dinosaur fossils, and whale skeletons provide incredible backdrops for events. The venue can accommodate up to 2,000 attendees across its two connected buildings.
Julie Keith, director of administration and event logistics for the Association Executives of North Carolina (AENC), says she loves hosting the group’s annual legislative reception at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
“The facility offers lots of flexibility for setup options and a unique space for conversations.”
NC Museum of Natural Sciences is an ideal venue for corporate board meetings and VIP dinners, with spaces to accommodate up to 400 attendees. Groups can create different experiences by trying out the various venues. AENC has held events at the Nature Exploration Center and the Nature Research Center, located on the other side of the museum.
Military
The bravery and camaraderie of our armed forces, captured at museums and historical sites, can be inspirational for attendees. These venues can evoke strong emotions and foster bonds among coworkers.
Since opening in 2020, the National Museum of the United States Army, located at Fort Belvoir in northern Virginia, has hosted galas, board meetings, receptions, and other events. Immersive features include ride simulators and virtual reality activities. The 8,600-square-foot lobby is the facility’s largest indoor venue, capable of hosting receptions for up to 400 people.
The National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center, located approximately 20 minutes from Fort Benning in Columbus, Ga., features exhibits spanning from the Revolutionary War to present-day efforts. It specializes in hosting teambuilding and networking activities, including interactive moments in its Virtual Reality Center. With indoor and outdoor venues, the museum can host up to 800 attendees. The museum offers flexible setup options and programming, including murder mystery events.
The National WWII Museum is one of the most popular attractions in New Orleans, a destination renowned for its rich cultural heritage. Private tours are available to journey through relics of the German and Pacific war fronts. Onsite catering features dishes inspired by the “Greatest Generation,” as well as local Louisiana traditional favorites. The Boeing Center holds 650 guests for seated dinners or 1,000 for receptions. Six World War II-era planes hang overhead and can be viewed up close via a catwalk. Other venues include boardrooms, pavilions, and a theater.
Transportation
Looking to help your attendees reach new heights or fast-track their progress? Transportation-themed museums are enjoyable options, often including interactive experiences.
The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky., will fill your need for speed. Its four venues can accommodate up to 1,500 attendees or can be divided into smaller spaces, depending on group size. Corvette Boulevard is a unique spot for receptions and trade shows, while the conference center is its largest traditional venue. Two onsite dining areas are available. Coming in fall 2026 is the 66,000-sqare-foot Collections facility, which will serve as the future home for some of the world’s most important historic Corvettes, Corvette artifacts, and Corvette preservation efforts.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) serves as the premier hub for Delta Airlines. The onsite Delta Flight Museum provides an incredible backdrop for group events. Unique opportunities include seated dinners staged under the wing of Delta’s first Boeing 767, The Spirit of Delta, within the Spirit Hangar, which can accommodate 800 guests for seated dinners or 1,200 for receptions. Other unique offerings include a full-motion flight simulator and the 747 Experience—a retired plane now serving as an event space, featuring a custom-designed wing walk overlooking the airport.
Back in Cartersville, the Savoy Automobile Museum is a love letter to vintage cars. It includes a great hall, two private dining rooms, the Presentation Theatre (with stadium seating for 297 guests), and a pavilion. The museum has hosted corporate meetings, retreats, car shows, donor dinners, holiday parties, and TEDx events.
the Delta Flight Museum offers historic charm with striking modern design throughout. Courtesy Delta Flight Museum
Meredith Dollevoet, director of sales for Cartersville Museum City, says the museum experience typically exceeds attendee expectations, which is why the organization leans into its “Museum City” reputation.
“A meeting planner recently shared a sentiment we hear often: ‘A ballroom can feel the same no matter the city; but when you choose a museum or historic attraction, the venue itself becomes part of the experience,’” Dollevoet says. “‘It gives guests a sense of place and makes the experience feel uniquely local.’”
