Columbus Athenaeum

32 N. 4th St, Columbus, OH
614-221-8609
Capacity: 1,500 people

About Columbus Athenaeum

The Columbus Athenaeum is a beautifully restored urban palace located in the heart of downtown Columbus. We host a variety of events including: weddings, banquets, luncheons, holiday parties, trade shows, lectures & seminars, fundraisers, benefits & galas, product launches, demonstrations, meetings and many more! We are an all-inclusive event space which means with our audio-visual experts, custom floral designer on staff, and in-house bakery -- we make your event planning easy. Citing our long tradition of successful events, we pride ourselves on our impeccable client services. Our rooms include: Our majestic Olympian Ballroom, with banquet seating for 900, has a mezzanine balcony about its perimeter. The center section opens to 25’ hand-painted ceilings. Its elegant gold accents, carved trim, antique light fixtures and classic maple ballroom floor complete this graceful one-of-a-kind space. Adjacent to the Ballroom is the Oak Room. Polished oak-paneled walls, teal velvet drapes and intricately carved oaken ceiling panels complete the décor. This room pairs nicely with the Ballroom for a change of theme and mood. Cocktails before dinner? This is your venue! The Small Theater and the Large Theater are appropriate choices for parties of 230 or fewer. The Small Theater features a 25’ foot stage, hand-painted ceilings and an antique pipe organ in the balcony. This room has a special aura, classically elegant yet intimate. Unique for its arena floor surrounded by 950 seats set at a steep rise, the Large Theater offers all the drama one could ask. Forty-foot ceilings, gold leaf accents, and professional theater lighting set the stage for your event. The special gem of the Athenaeum is the Priory. Dating from 1898, it features gothic buttressing, cathedral ceilings, hand-painted faux marble walls, and scenes of the crusades in the wings. This room has great Old World charm, and its frescoes offer a wonderful backdrop for that perfect wedding ceremony or any special occasion. When coupled with the Small Theater, you will find the perfect setting for both ceremony and celebration. The Athenian Room, the Hellenic Room and the Macedonian Room are ideal for groups of 75-150. The Athenian Room boasts luxurious dark blue carpeting with burgundy velvet drapes and ivory walls, a 16’ gold accented ceiling with classic lighting fixtures an 11’ carpeted stage. Natural light abounds in the Hellenic Room, where the windows are hung with gold drapes, and the floor is carpeted in gold, sage and blue. This room has a 13’ ceiling and elegant art deco light fixtures. It is a perfect setting for luncheons, parties or wedding receptions. Hand-painted Egyptian revival designs adorn the walls of the Macedonian Room. Completely internal, with no exterior walls or windows, and an elevated dais at its head, this room is perfect for a small reception, luncheon or meeting where privacy and quiet are valued. The Spartan Room and the Corinthian Room are appropriate for groups of fewer than 100. The Spartan Room is a light and airy salmon-toned room. The carpet is a modern Greek design of dark blue, red and salmon. Dark salmon drapes accent the 9’ carpeted stage. It is a perfect room for receptions, seminars and training classes. Next door, the Corinthian Room is a dashing room with navy velvet drapes and gold tassels. This room has a 16’ ceiling adorned with gold crown molding. The 9’ carpeted stage is also draped with navy velvet curtains. This is an ideal setting for a gathering of friends or a small formal dinner.

Event Pricing

Wedding Packages Starting at $10,000 (catering included)
Attendees: 100 min | $10,000 /event
Pricing for weddings only

Event Spaces

Olympian Ballroom
Large Theatre
Small Theatre
Oak Room
Athenian Room
Hellenic Room
Spartan Room
Additional Event Spaces

Recommendations

Perfect Wedding Reception location - An Eventective User from Columbus, OH

It is located in downtown Columbus and is a banquet hall that has existed since 1896. It has however been used for banquets, weddings, and the like since 1996. The staff and the food was amazing. Every aspect of the wedding reception went smooth and the staff were really easy to work with. With the food they provided tastings before the big day.

Something for Everyone - An Eventective User from Columbus, Ohio

Our wedding reception was held at The Columbus Athenaeum. This building houses many different types of rooms for your event. Some of the rooms available are a chapel, a small theater, a library and a ballroom. The space we utilized was the large theater room. It was so beautiful my mom and I were brought to tears when we first walked in because it was perfect. My husband and I made our grand entrance from the balcony that was above our guests' tables. The head table was located on the stage surrounded by twinkle lights and huge dramatic curtains. Our guests sat in tables set up on the floor in front of the stage and after dinner, the stage was transformed into a dance floor. The acoustics in the room were perfect so that the music was "center stage" while we danced, but not so loud that you couldn't have a conversation down by the tables. We have phenomenal photos from our event and we were complimented on the choice of venue by many of our 200 guests. The location was one of the highlights of our wedding day.

Wow!! - An Eventective User from Columbus, Ohio

I assisted a friend in planning her wedding at the Columbus Athenaeum. Their food was fantastic and the staff provided amazing service. It was just a gorgeous facility - there are so many rooms and food options to choose from! I have worked in hotels and was very impressed. The planning and service staff could not have been nicer - they made everything so easy and pleasant. Bravo! I will most certainly recommend anyone to your location!

Neighborhood
Venue Types
Amenities
  • ADA/ACA Accessible
  • Full Bar/Lounge
  • Fully Equipped Kitchen
  • On-Site Catering Service
  • Outside Catering Allowed
  • Wireless Internet/Wi-Fi
Features
  • Max Number of People for an Event: 1500
  • Number of Event/Function Spaces: 11
  • Total Meeting Room Space (Square Feet): 31,503
  • Year Renovated: 1990