1871

The central Chicago address for tech

Apply Log In

Host your event at 1871

The vibrant town hall where people come to learn, grow, and be inspired.

  • All-inclusive pricing
  • Customizable event spaces
  • Fully AV and WiFi-equipped
  • Facilities and day-of event staff
  • Convenient river north location
Inquire about hosting

Amenities

  • 13,500+ square feet of customizable event spaces
  • All-inclusive, competitive pricing
  • Modular furniture and equipment
  • Fully AV & WiFi-equipped event spaces

Included staff & services

  • Day-of event staff
  • Room setup and breakdown 
  • Janitorial services

Featured spaces

Auditorium

Our largest event space is perfect for your next panel, keynote speaker, demo day, or reception.

1871 East

Complete with five breakout rooms, modular furniture, and a

kitchen-equipped cafe, 1871 EAST is ideal for your team off-site, workshop, or interactive event.

2.03 Classroom

Centrally located within 1871, this space is best for mid-sized events including panels, leadership meetings, and workshops.

North Hallway

With its amazing views of the city, this space is ideal for receptions, vendor displays, and networking breaks.

Conference Rooms

1871 has several conference rooms that can be utilized for small meetings, breakout spaces, war rooms, or meetups.

Hear from past hosts

I was amazed with Betsy and her team. It’s lean, but extremely professional and organized. If I was to have a guest speaker come to Chicago I would choose 1871 again. 1871 over the past eight years is an inspirational model of how to educate and inspire young tech professionals.
Brad Keown
Managing Director at Twitter
The IHCC believes in exposing our membership to the 1871 ecosystem is vital for entrepreneurs. The 1871 team is very welcoming and professional which is key to making our events a success. The space itself is equipped with state of the art A/V which is simple to use and elevates our events.
Ivette Trevino
Senior Director at IHCC
MakerGirl, a not-for-profit, offers our CAD and 3D printing workshops primarily at no cost to girls in underserved and rural communities. We have hosted 100+ person events, recorded podcasts, conducted meetings, and worked in the many spaces at 1871. Every team member brings their own unique insight, expertise, and guidance to MakerGirl and our teammates
Julia M. Haried
Co-Founder & Executive Director at MakerGirl

Location

1871 is located within Chicago’s iconic Merchandise Mart (theMART) in the bustling River North neighborhood. Your attendees will be steps away from some of Chicago’s most popular sites including the Loop, the Riverwalk, and fantastic restaurants. 

Getting to 1871

1871 can be found in Suite 1212 on the 12th floor of theMART, which is located on the North side of the river between Wells and Orleans. For easy access, enter through the Orleans entrance on the west side of theMART and take those elevators to the 12th floor.

1871
222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Suite 1212
Chicago, IL 60654

Perks of hosting your event in the MART

  • Marshall’s Landing on the 2nd floor is perfect for post-event cocktails 
  • USPS and FedEx Office Print & Ship Center are both located in theMART
  • The Holiday Inn Chicago is accessible via an enclosed skywalk Central location
  • The Brown and Purple lines even drop you directly at theMART

Parking

Use SpotHero, an 1871 Alum, to secure and pay for parking in advance! Download their app to get started.

Self-Park at the 210 N. Wells lot (enter on Wells between Franklin and Wells St) and validate your ticket at 1871 for discounted rates.

Sponsorship

Interested in helping 1871 stay the vibrant town hall for technology? Reach out to our Corporate Innovation team for information on available sponsorships: [email protected]

Learn more

Contact our events team

For more information on our competitive, all-inclusive pricing, please fill out the contact form to the right.

events@1871.com
312.239.0310

222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza
Floor 12, Suite 1212
Chicago, IL 60654