CAPACITIES

Event rental at Dumbarton House includes a gracious entry through the front door and first floor of the Museum (usually during the social and/or arrival time-period). All events with seated dining must take place in the Belle View Room (table seating on the lawn, or the addition of flooring, is prohibited). Along with the entry through the historic portion of the Museum, guests may use:

• The exterior North Garden (a lovely, flat yard behind the Museum), which may be tented;
• The exterior Upper Terrace (east of the Museum, and above the banquet space ), which may be tented;
• The interior Belle Vue Room (the banquet space two levels below the historic Museum, that is a hardwood floor, perfect for dancing) has a capacity of:
  • 140 Standing Reception (e.g., cocktail event, and/or food stations with limited, unassigned seating)
  • 100 Seated, lecture-style
  • 70 Seated with a band and dancing space
  • 80 Seated without a band and dancing space
• With the additional use of Lower Courtyard, for which tenting is required with over 80 guests*, the capacity increases to:
  • 200 Standing Reception
  • 170 Standing Reception with a band and dance floor
  • 150 Seated with a band and dancing space
  • 180 Seated without a band and dancing space

Strict adherence to the maximum capacities of the Dumbarton House facilities is enforced in compliance with fire regulations. The renter is responsible for keeping the number of guests attending the event within the maximum occupancy limits: 200 persons on the entire property; 75 persons inside the historic portion of the Museum at one time. At the renter's expense, a tent or tents may be erected to increase occupancy limits. If a seated dining event exceeds 80 persons, or 140 guests for a standing reception, the renter is required to secure a tent for the Lower Courtyard, for the Contracting Party's protection in the case of inclement weather using our Preferred Vendor for tenting, Sugarplum Tent Company, or other pre-approved tent vendors.

Rates & Contract Requirements [pdf]

RENTAL FEES

Fees for all rental events cover the specified amount of guest time (listed below) plus any set-up and breakdown time. Event rental hours are available after 9:00 a.m. Monday through Friday; after 3:00 p.m. on Saturdays; and after 12:00 noon on Sundays pending availability of adequate turn-over from any Saturday evening activities. (Note: All music on any evening must stop by 11:30 p.m.).

Weekend Events (Saturdays and Sundays)
$700.00 per hour including preparation, guest time, and clean-up:

$700 refundable security deposit required. Additional hours may be pre-purchased.

Weekday Events after Business Hours (Mondays through Fridays)
$500.00 per hour including preparation, guest time, and clean-up:

• Cocktail Party or Standing Reception
  $3,000.00 = 6-hour min. including 3 hours of guest time
• Cocktails & Dinner (seated or standing)
  $3,500.00 = 7-hour min. including 4 hours of guest time
• Meeting, Lecture, Program, or Ceremony
  $3,000.00 = 6-hour min. including 3 hours of guest time with food and beverage
• Meeting, Lecture, Program, or Ceremony
  $1,500.00 = 3-hour min. including 2 hours of guest time without food or beverage

$500 refundable security deposit required. Additional hours may be pre-purchased.

Weekday Events during Business Hours (Mondays through Fridays, 9:00am to 5:00pm)
$400.00 per hour including preparation, guest time, and clean-up, for example:

$400 refundable security deposit required. Additional hours may be pre-purchased.

CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS
Additional Responsibilities of the Contracting Party

Liquor License: Renter/Caterer is responsible to ensure securing a DC single event liquor license.

Event Insurance: Contracting Party must arrange liability insurance for bodily injury and property damage with a combined single limit of no less than $1,000,000, adding The NSCDA and Dumbarton House as additional insured.

Security Deposit: A Security Deposit in the amount equal to one hour of rental time is due and payable at the signing of the contract agreement. Dumbarton House retains the right to use any or all of the security deposit toward any claim it may have for overtime, clean up, damages to or destruction of Dumbarton House or any property located in or on the premises belonging to Dumbarton House, as a result of the Contracting Party’s use of the premises on the event date. Note: Events that extend 16 minutes beyond the contracted time period are charged the amount equal to one hour of rental time (based upon the departure of the last vendor).

Rental Fee Deposit & Balance Due: One-half of the contracted amount is due within two weeks of the agreement. If no deposit is received the contract is no longer valid. The balance of the rental fee is then due 180 days (6 months) prior to the event. Overtime is billed after the event is complete.