The Magoffin Home is a Texas State Historic Site that engages visitors in the history of West Texas and the Southwest Borderlands. A visit to El Paso’s only house museum is an experience you don’t want to miss. We are pleased to offer rentals of the museum’s courtyard and grounds for business meetings, banquets, receptions and other events. Special tours of the interior of the home can be arranged to coincide with your event but activities must not interfere with the normal public operation of the museum. Thank you for considering the Magoffin Home for your special occasion. To schedule a visit to view the grounds and discuss your plans, please call our office at 915.533.5147.
The following outlines our general rental policy. All events scheduled during regular operating hours require special authorization. For a rental contract, please contact the Magoffin Home at 915.533.5147.
Rental Hours/Number of Guests
The courtyard or grounds can be rented from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sundays depending on availability. No more than 70 people are allowed in the courtyard at one time. The grounds around the home can be rented to parties of no more than 175 but only with additional rentals (see below). We have no interior rooms available for rent at this time. With permission, caterers may use our small kitchen for water and washing small numbers of serving items.
Reservations/Rates/Deposits
Reservations for facility rental must be made at least 2 months in advance. Please call our office for an appointment to discuss your reservation and to fill out rental forms.
A signed agreement and a deposit of 50% the estimated total is required to confirm your date. Cancellation of your event less than two weeks before the event date will result in forfeit of the deposit. A security deposit of $200, due one month before an event, is required to cover any miscellaneous penalties (trash removal, minor damage, etc.).
Rental rates include 2 hours of set up time and 1 hour of clean-up. Tours of the Magoffin Home interior can be arranged at the time of your event reservation at a cost of $3.00 per person.
Meeting rental rate:
- Courtyard –– $100 for 2 hours (less than 35 people; tables & chairs included.)
Standard rental rate:
- Courtyard –– $400 for 4 hours
- Courtyard and grounds –– $600 for 4 hours
Nonprofit rental rate:
- Courtyard –– $300 for 4 hours
- Courtyard and grounds –– $500 for 4 hours
- Meeting rate: $80 for 2 hours (less than 35 people; tables & chairs included.)
Billing
Full payment is due on rented spaces five days before the event takes place. Any additional charges incurred during the event will be billed to the renter. Payment will be due within 30 days of the invoice date. Make checks payable to The Magoffin Home State Historic Site. Refunds of security deposits will be mailed within three days following the event.
Overtime Policy
An hourly charge of $200 will be added to the bill for every hour or any portion thereof after the contracted end time of the event. This does not include one hour of clean-up you pay for in the rental fee. (Example: If you rented the facility until 9 p.m. and you actually finished at 10 p.m. you would have until 11 p.m. to clean up, but you would be charged for the extra hour between 9 and 10 p.m.)
Insurance/Liability
Renters must obtain event insurance with coverage of one million dollars for parties of 35 or more people and two million dollars for events where beer or wine is served. Renters must assume liability for their own event. A copy of the insurance certificate must be submitted 5 days before the event.
Catering
The Magoffin Home does not have a food service or catering facility. Any caterer hired by the renter must be licensed and provide the museum staff with proof of licensure and a certificate of insurance, at least two weeks in advance, in order to serve food on site. Homemade food may not be served on state owned property. Individual groups who want to prepare their own food must obtain a food permit from the Texas Environment Department and provide museum staff with a copy at least two weeks before the event. Renters must meet all requirements of the permit while on site.
Alcoholic Beverages
Renters themselves are not permitted to bring alcohol to the site. Alcoholic beverages will never be served at the Magoffin Home State Historic Site during operating hours. Caterers serving beer and wine only must have a permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). All TABC laws must be followed at all times. Any person under the age of 21 will not be served alcohol under any circumstances. Alcohol only events are not permitted. Rental events may not use donated alcohol.
Deliveries
The museum will not accept any freight or other delivered item on behalf of the renter. Items must not be delivered prior to the day of the event.
Parking
Parking is limited on Magoffin Ave. to street parking. Larger events may require the rental of the lot across the street. Rental rate for the lot is $200 per event. This does not include a parking attendant.
Security
Renters must hire one licensed peace officer to provide security for events of 80 people or more. If you have over 125 people attending, you will need to hire another guard.
Restrooms
The restrooms on site accommodate only 100 people. Renters must rent portable toilets for additional guests.
Table, Chair, Tent & Floor Rentals
The Magoffin Home does not provide event furniture, tents or dance floors. All of these items must be rented from an outside source. Rental companies placing items on the site must provide the staff with a certificate of insurance.
Animals
Guide animals are the only animals permitted on the museum grounds.
Audio/Visual
Renters must provide their own or rent audio visual equipment. All cords and cables must be secured and approved for safety.
Music/Entertainment/Noise
The band, disc jockey or other entertainment will be required to notify the museum staff in advance of their equipment type, electrical set-up and requested delivery schedule. They are responsible for their own equipment and set-up. The Magoffin Home is located in a residential neighborhood so sound levels must respect and conform to community standards and local ordinances. Very loud music will not be allowed and no amplified music is allowed after 9 p.m.
Event Information/Messages
The museum is not responsible for providing event information to the public. A telephone number for your own organization or family should be included with your event literature. The museum is not responsible for taking messages for event attendees.
Smoking
Smoking is only allowed in one designated area of the grounds south of the building.
Invitations/Promotional materials
Invitations for non-museum events may not use the name of the museum except as the designated location of the event. Renters may not use the name or likeness of the museum to promote any event. All promotional materials must be approved by the Texas Historical Commission, in Austin, before they are released.
Children
Children must remain under the direct supervision of an adult at all times.
Clean-up
The renter/caterer must leave the grounds in its original condition. Facility rental includes general trash removal at the end of the event. In the case of excessive trash, a cleaning fee will be added to the final bill. All leftover decorations and other items will be considered trash. Food and drink trash must be collected and removed by the caterer immediately at the end of the event with their own trash bag liners.
Decorations/Banners
The museum provides no decorator services. Under no circumstances will decorations be attached directly to the historic structure. Most common decorations can be brought and used for special events outdoors. However, hanging streamers and other hanging decorations must be hung in a way that does not damage trees or landscaping and require prior approval. All decorations and the items used to attach them must be completely removed from the museum grounds. Failure to do so will result in the loss of the security deposit. Event-related banners must be hung, with prior approval, by museum staff only.
Fundraising Events
The Magoffin Home State Historic Site cannot be rented for fundraising events.
Prohibitions
- Use of illegal substances is strictly prohibited.
- Guests may not enter the museum building for any reason without the permission of staff.
- Rice or confetti throwing is not allowed.
- No climbing on museum buildings, trees or fences.
- No guns, ammunition or pyrotechnics are allowed.
Museum staff will monitor events at all times and have authority to stop any unauthorized activity. Violations of any of the rules may result in the immediate termination of the rental agreement and the expulsion of the renter and all guests.