Looking for a place to meet?   We have a meeting room with audio-visual capabilities that will hold up to 85 people for a conference, training session, or informational meeting.

Guidelines for Rental of History Center Meeting Areas

The Goodhue County History Center is a smoke-free facility.  The Goodhue County History Center Meeting Room is available to the public on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs, affiliations, or economic standing of individuals or groups requesting its use.  GCHS neither advocates nor endorses the viewpoints of meetings or meeting room users.  The Goodhue County History Center Meeting Room is available only as the proposed use (a) fosters and promotes the Society’s mission and (b) does not conflict with scheduled programmatic activities of the Society.

1.   The meeting room may be used for educational, cultural, and civic purposes.  Businesses may use History Center meeting room space for education and training, but may not sell or dispense their product, distribute advertisin or schedule appointments for follow-up sales.  With the exception of History Center-sponsored events, fundraisers or general sales cannot be scheduled.  Political activities/advocacy or religious activity/advocacy are not allowed.

2.    The History Center reserves the right to ask any group to change the time or place of their meeting if the room is needed for a History Center-related function.

3.    According to the fire marshal, the meeting room capacity is 85 people with chairs, and 60 people with tables.  Single or small groups of musicians are permitted, but sound levels must be kept to 85A weighted decibels or less.  No dancing in the History Center is permitted, unless previously approved as part of a program.

4.   After-hours meetings should end by 10:00 p.m.  You must end your meeting 10 minutes prior to closing time so that all participants are out of the meeting room by History Center closing.

5.    Any food served must remain in the designated areas (meeting room and meeting room lobby).  There are no cooking or refrigeration facilities on site.  Alcoholic beverages are prohibited.  A $50.00 cleaning fee will be charged for catered meals.  The sponsoring organization is responsible for the removal of all garbage and other debris related to the event and, if cleaning is needed beyond the $50.00 cleaning fee for catered meals, the sponsoring organization will be billed.  The History Center is not responsible for items left in the meeting room.

6.   The Society will provide a written agreement that will include the date, hours, number of guests, use fee and a release from liability.  The sponsoring organization is responsible for any licenses (food, drink, etc.) that may be required and assumes all liability for the actions of their guests.  Return of the signed form will stand as confirmation of the event reservation.

7.    Payment is due on the day of the meeting.  Checks are payable to Goodhue County Historical Society.  No refunds can be processed.  Call the History Center 24 hours in advance if it is necessary to cancel the meeting.  No-shows will be invoiced for the time reserved. 

8.    A representative of the sponsoring organization or individual host must be present at all times during the event.  The sponsoring organization/individual host assumes responsibility for any and all expenses related to the event and for any and all damages that occur as a result of the event.  The History Center may require a Certificate of Insurance prior to the confirmation of space rental and/or a deposit against damages.

9.   Set up for an event may not begin more than three (3) hours prior to the event.  A representative of the sponsoring organization/individual must be present for any deliveries for the event and prior to the arrival of any other personnel related to the event.  All equipment must be removed within two (2) hours of the scheduled end of the event.  No equipment or other materials may be stored on the Museum premises either before or after the event.  The sponsoring organization or individual host is responsible for all setup/breakdown.  All events should end by 10:00 p.m. and the History Center totally vacated by 12:00 a.m. (midnight).

10.   The climate in the History Center is intended to provide the best environment for the collections housed in the building.  No handling of History Center objects or adjustment of climate controls is allowed without prior  authorization by History Center staff.

11.  If videos are being shown, Video Public Performance Law must be complied with.  This law requires that groups showing videos while using the History Center’s meeting room must use videos with public performance  rights, or secure necessary public performance licenses to the videos.

12.  Americans with Disabilities Act requires that groups using the History Center’s meeting room provide accommodations for persons with disabilities.  Public notices of groups’ meetings should include this statement: “Persons who need special accommodations should notify (group’s contact person at a phone number) 2 weeks in advance.”  Groups then must notify the History Center at 651.388.6024 of any special needs 2 weeks  in advance.  The History Center will work with groups to arrange for special accommodations with any additional costs being the groups’ responsibility.  The History Center handicapped-accessible entrance is only open during regular History Center hours.  If groups rearrange furniture in the meeting room, ADA requires that a 36” walkway be maintained.

13.   In case of fire: If the History Center’s fire alarm system is activated, the meeting room doors will close automatically to control smoke and fire.  They will NOT be locked.  Groups are responsible for the information in the  Fire Exit Procedures (see attached).

14.   The foregoing conditions may be changed without prior notification.  Any exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Goodhue County Historical Society’s Board of Directors.

FEE SCHEDULE:

During business hours (8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.):

Non-profit groups:

$75.00 for three hours or less 

$25.00 each additional hour or part thereof 

For-profit groups:

$40.00 per hour or part thereof 

Before/After hours (before 8:30 a.m. and after 5:00 p.m.):

Non-profit groups:

$30.00 per hour or part thereof 

For-profit groups:

$60.00 per hour or part thereof  

A $50.00 cleaning fee will be charged for catered meals.  Additional fees may be charged if the cleaning needed exceeds the cleaning fee charged.