Event Rentals

Thank you for your interest in the Pitot House Museum as a site for your special event. This is a unique environment and one that you and your guests are sure to enjoy.

The Pitot House is a restored eighteenth century Creole country house. In 1810 it was the home of James Francis Pitot, the first mayor of the incorporated City of New Orleans after the Louisiana Purchase. Since 1964 it has been owned and maintained by the Louisiana Landmarks Society.

The Pitot House Museum and Gardens are available for a variety of events - weddings, receptions, dinners, tea parties, or any special occasion.

The following guidelines have been set to make sure that your event runs smoothly and that the exhibits and facilities are maintained appropriately. We are a functioning museum, and ask that you treat the house, its furnishings, and its collections with care during your event. Any question you may have about these guidelines are welcome.

GENERAL POLICIES

1. The Pitot House site is available to individuals or organizations for special events on a limited basis. The maximum capacity the site can accommodate is 100 people inside and 300 outside.

2. The Pitot House will provide the renter with a clean, usable site which should be returned in the same condition in which it was found. The renter is liable for any damages or losses to Pitot House property. The renter is responsible for communicating Pitot House rules and policies to event vendors and guests prior to the event and enforcing them during the event.

3. Pitot House rentals are restricted to business, civic, and social gatherings deemed appropriate for the facilities and function of the Pitot House. Final approval for rental of the facilities, as well as any exceptions to these guidelines, may only be granted by the Pitot House Director.

4. The Pitot House welcomes corporate, civic, and social organizations who wish to hold meetings at the historic site. Special arrangements for weekday events may be made by contacting the Pitot House Director.

5. The Pitot House reserves the right to use photographs taken during event rental for promotional purposes.

EVENING AND WEEKEND RECEPTION RENTAL FEES/CONTRACTS/DEPOSITS

1. A proposal will be issued to potential renters. All requests for use will be considered tentative until receipt and acceptance of a signed contract and rental deposit. A deposit of 50% of the total rental fee is required to reserve the Pitot House. Full payment must be received thirty days prior to the event.

2. Rental entitles the renter to use two downstairs rooms in the Pitot House and the entire grounds of the site. The upper floor of the Pitot House is available for tours only. Movement of objects on display in the Pitot House ground floor may be permitted by the Pitot House Director. Food and beverage are permitted to be served in the garden and downstairs areas of the house only. One public restroom is available for event guest use. It is advisable to procure a portable restroom facility for parties over 150 in number. Kitchen space, furnished with one kitchen sink and one household refrigerator, is available for event caterer’s use.

3. On-street parking is usually available for event rental use, but cannot be guaranteed. Due to the limitations of this space, renters are encouraged to investigate the availability of Cabrini High School’s parking lot.

4. Rental will be at the rate of $500.00 per hour. In addition, one hour of setup time and one hour of cleanup time are required and shall be charged at the same rate. Use of the house beyond five hours will be charged at the rate of $700.00 per hour or increment of hour.

5. For rentals that include a wedding ceremony on the property, a one hour rehearsal conducted by the Pitot House's Wedding Coordinator may be held during Pitot House business hours for a charge of $100 or after hours for a charge of $150.

6. A damage deposit of $500.00 must be received thirty days prior to the event. A clean-up charge of $250.00 will be deducted from the damage deposit. The remaining damage deposit balance will be refunded to renter upon completed clean-up and daylight inspection of the Pitot House and grounds.

7. No other deposit refunds are granted under any circumstances, including but not limited to weather, national emergencies, acts of God, or cancellation of event by renter. However, in the event of a citywide mandatory evacuation or the enforcement of a citywide martial law curfew due to hurricane related events the renter’s deposit will be refunded. In the event that the Pitot House structure is rendered unusable, deposits will be refunded.

PITOT HOUSE STAFF/WEDDING COORDINATOR/SECURITY

1. The Pitot House will be staffed and police security will be positioned in the Pitot House for entire event rental. Docent-led tours of the house will be available for the first hour of the event. At the end of one hour the second floor will be closed for the duration of event. Downstairs rooms will be closed the last half hour of the event.

2. Wedding rentals are managed by the Pitot House wedding coordinating professionals. Renters may choose one of the three following packages:

I. The Pitot House’s Wedding Coordinator will provide “day of” services for renters who
wish to contract professional event planner(s)/coordinator(s) other than the Pitot
House’s. This service is included in rental fee and provides on-site event load in/load out
and site management for the duration of the event.

II. Renters may contract with the Pitot House’s Wedding Coordinator for complete event
coordination for a fee of $1500.00 to be paid directly to the Pitot House Wedding
Coordinator. The Pitot House Wedding Coordinator will provide 12 hours of direct service
to be delivered as follows: 6 hours for site inspection and meeting with vendors, 6 hours
for the day of the event. (Pitot House rental clients will not be billed for telephone or
email communications.) The Pitot House Wedding Coordinator will coordinate all load
in/load out and site management for the duration of the event.

III. Renters may contract with the Pitot House’s Wedding Coordinator for complete event
planning for a fee of $2500.00 to be paid directly to the Pitot House Wedding
Coordinator. With this package, the Pitot House Wedding Coordinator will manage site
inspections, vendor arrangements, timeline developments, floor plans, assist with
programs, make hotel and transportation arrangements, as well as coordinating all load
in/load out and site management for the duration of the event.

FOOD/BEVERAGE/ENTERTAINMENT

1. Smoking is not permitted inside the house or in downstairs loggia area. Renter is responsible for making provisions for smoking guests.

2. Minors must be accompanied by an adult inside the Pitot House at all times.

3. Arrangements for bride's staging room or entertainment green room may be made with the Pitot House Wedding Coordinator for a fee of $100.

4. Signs, banners and other forms of decoration may not be nailed, stapled, or taped to the house or fence.

5. Confetti, bird seed, and rice are not allowed to be thrown inside the house or on the walkways. Biodegradable throws are permitted on the street.

6. The use of candles, fires, or flames of any sort is not permitted in house or on outside galleries.

7. Music and entertainment plans must be approved by the Pitot House Wedding Coordinator. All amplified music must end at 11:00 p.m., in accordance to city noise ordinances. Dancing is not allowed inside the Pitot House.

8. All equipment and trash must be removed from the Pitot House grounds during clean-up hour. Exceptions for equipment pick-up at a later date must be prearranged with Pitot House Director.

For more information, contact:
Susan Lloyd McClamroch or Tarah D. Arcuri
(504-482-0312), Fax (504-482-0363)
E-Mail: info{at}louisianalandmarks.org