Penn Museum to Host Private Events in a Monumental Space, Ahead of its Egypt and Nubia Galleries Transformation

High resolution renderings are available for download here.
PHILADELPHIA, January 28, 2025—Starting September 15, the Penn Museum will offer a rare, limited-time opportunity to host private events in a monumental space before it transforms into the Egypt and Nubia Galleries.
Boasting colossal 50-foot ceilings and restored 100-year-old original terrazzo floors, this versatile 3,200 sq. ft. space on the historic building’s Upper Level can be adapted for weddings, cocktail receptions, anniversary celebrations, birthday parties, and corporate events—only through February 28, 2027.
A seated dinner in the Egypt and Nubia Galleries can accommodate up to 190 guests and a standing cocktail reception can serve up to 200 attendees. For professional seminars and workshops with theater- style seating, the new event space will welcome a maximum of 250 participants.
Each private event in the Egypt and Nubia Galleries will receive premier hospitality service from Restaurant Associates—the Penn Museum’s exclusive on-site caterer.
“This is a very special opportunity to host an unforgettable event amid this stunning space, which closed to the public in 2023 to begin a dramatic redesign,” says Atiya German, Senior Director of Sales and Event Operations at the Penn Museum. “Because of the limited timeframe, only a few will be able to host their celebrations in this historic architectural marvel before it becomes the highly-anticipated Ancient Egypt and Nubia Galleries.”
Artifacts will continue to stay in conservation until their installation in the Ancient Egypt and Nubia Galleries, an ongoing renovation unfolding in two phases: The Egypt Galleries on the Main Level will open to the public in late 2026. The Egypt and Nubia Galleries on the Upper Level are targeted for completion in 2028.
The Penn Museum’s Venue Rentals team are now accepting limited reservations for private events in the Egypt and Nubia Galleries. For more information, e-mail rentals@pennmuseum.org or call 215.898.3024.
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About the Penn Museum
The Penn Museum’s mission is to be a center for inquiry and the ongoing exploration of humanity for our University of Pennsylvania, regional, national, and global communities, following ethical standards and practices.
Through conducting research, stewarding collections, creating learning opportunities, sharing stories, and creating experiences that expand access to archaeology and anthropology, the Museum builds empathy and connections across diverse cultures
The Penn Museum is open Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 am-5:00 pm. It is open until 8:00 pm on first Wednesdays of the month. The Café is open Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00 am-3:00 pm and Friday and Saturday, 10:00 am-3:00 pm. On Sundays, the Café is open 10:30 am-2:30 pm. For information, visit www.penn.museum, call 215.898.4000, or follow @PennMuseum on social media.