Cleveland Museum of Natural History

What Cleveland Museum of Natural History does

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution founded in 1920 in Cleveland's University Circle, operating as a combined museum, scientific research facility, and conservation land trust. It serves four primary customer segments: general public and families visiting the main galleries; PreK-12 school groups attending STEM programming; corporate and private event clients hosting weddings, corporate functions, and proms; and annual members receiving unlimited admission privileges. The museum stewards more than 12,500 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio through its Natural Areas Program (spanning Erie, Huron, Lorain, Medina, Cuyahoga, Summit, Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula counties) and conducts active scientific research across anthropology, evolutionary medicine, astronomy, and natural history. Headcount stands at 101-250 employees.

Core visitor experiences and products include the Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium running Evans & Sutherland Digistar 7 software with laser projectors, the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden featuring five Ohio ecological communities and native species (bobcats, bald eagles, otters), the Smead Discovery Center for children ages 7 and younger, the Ralph Mueller Observatory housing an 1899 10.5-inch Warner & Swasey refracting telescope, and galleries organized around the Dynamic Earth Wing and Evolving Life Wing. The museum maintains millions of artifacts and specimens in active research collections, employs Ph.D.-credentialed curators, and runs school programs, teen programs, summer camps, and public lectures. Supporting technology includes Blackbaud for ticketing/payments processing, Google Analytics GA4, Meta and Google Ads for paid digital acquisition, and Muzemerch for online retail.

Revenue combines transactional and recurring streams: general admission tickets, annual memberships (self-amortizing in two visits), PreK-12 school programs ($10-15 per student), private and corporate event rentals (10-1,000 guests), tax-deductible donations supporting operations and conservation, and retail merchandise. Marketing runs across science blog content, the Stargazer astronomy newsletter, weekly Museum Insider eNews, paid social and search, PR/earned media, and reciprocal admission partnerships. Corporate sponsors providing major funding include KeyBank (Wildlife Center naming rights), PNC (Discovery Center naming rights), Levy Hospitality (catering), Goodyear (education), and Ohio Lottery (Title I school access).

Name

Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Legal name

Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Website

https://cmnh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cleveland Museum of Natural History (CMNH) is a 1920-founded Cleveland nonprofit operating a natural history museum, conducting scientific research, and stewarding 12,500+ acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio for general public visitors, PreK-12 school groups, event clients, and members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural History Museum

NAICS

Museums (71211), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural History Museums (THAJADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Rainforest, Jungle & Canopy Experiences (THAJAIAE)

Keywords

• Natural history museum
• Science education
• Wildlife conservation
• Planetarium programs
• STEM learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. General Admission Tickets: Visitors purchase tickets for museum entry, with discounted rates for advance purchase.
2. Memberships: Annual memberships offering unlimited visits, parking discounts, store discounts, and exclusive events.
3. School Programs: Educational programs for school groups including guided tours, self-guided visits, planetarium shows, and outreach programs at rates from $10-15 per student.
4. Event Rentals: Private event hosting including weddings, corporate events, and special occasions in museum spaces including the Visitor Hall, Murch Auditorium, and planetarium.
5. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations supporting museum operations, conservation efforts, and the Transforming the World of Discovery campaign.
6. Retail Store: Museum merchandise sold through the on-site store and online partner MuzEmerch.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cleveland Museum of Natural History operates a natural history museum featuring permanent galleries (Visitor Hall, Dynamic Earth Wing, Evolving Life Wing), the Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium, Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden, Smead Discovery Center, and Ralph Mueller Observatory. It delivers PreK-12 STEM school programs, public programs, summer camps, behind-the-scenes tours, virtual programming, and Science-to-Go outreach, while hosting private and corporate events. Through its Natural Areas Program it stewards 12,500+ acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio.

Product overview

The Cleveland Museum of Natural History offers a diverse portfolio of products and services centered around natural history education, science research, and conservation. The museum's core offerings include physical galleries and attractions (Visitor Hall, Dynamic Earth Wing, Evolving Life Wing, Ames Family Curiosity Center), the Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium with Digistar 7 software, the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden featuring five Ohio ecological communities, and the Smead Discovery Center for young learners. The museum extends beyond its physical walls through its Natural Areas Program stewarding 12,500+ acres of protected lands across northern Ohio, school and public programs including STEM education and summer camps, virtual and Science-to-Go offerings, and event hosting services. Additional offerings include membership programs, astronomy newsletters (Stargazer), the Science Blog, and behind-the-scenes Into the Wild tours. The museum operates in partnership with KeyBank for wildlife center sponsorship, PNC for discovery center sponsorship, and Levy Hospitality Group for catering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden: Outdoor immersive gallery showcasing native Ohio plants and animals, featuring elevated walkways through beech and oak tree canopies
• Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden—Presented by KeyBank
• Smead Discovery Center—Presented by PNC
• Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium
• Ralph Mueller Observatory
• Natural Areas Program
• Know Your World Lecture Series

Products and services

• Galleries & Attractions Permanent museum exhibit spaces including Visitor Hall (anchored by Happy the Haplocanthosaurus), Dynamic Earth Wing, Evolving Life Wing, and the Ames Family Curiosity Center, showcasing natural history collections and specimens for general visitors.
• Nathan and Fannye Shafran Planetarium Planetarium featuring Digistar 7 software from Evans & Sutherland, accommodating up to 98 guests with laser projectors for cosmic journeys across the Solar System, Galaxy, and beyond. Live, astronomer-led interactive programs.
• Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden — Presented by KeyBank Outdoor gallery featuring five distinct Ohio ecological communities with native wildlife including bobcats, bald eagles, river otters, and more. Soaring elevated walkways provide immersive wildlife viewing through beech and oak tree canopies.
• Smead Discovery Center — Presented by PNC Hands-on learning center on the museum's lower level designed primarily for children ages 7 and younger, enabling up-close specimen examination and interactive science and nature activities.
• School Programs Interactive STEM programs for PreK-12 students including guided museum visits, live animal presentations, self-guided tours, and planetarium shows. $15/student for guided programs and $10/student for self-guided visits; $300/$200 minimum fees apply for groups under 20 students. Title I schools qualify for free programming via Ohio Lottery sponsorship.
• Science-to-Go Outreach Museum learning brought directly to classrooms at $400 for 2 programs at the same school on the same day (Mondays and Tuesdays only). Programs include Munch Move Multiply, Digging for Dinos, Ohio Animal Adaptations, and more.
• Virtual Programming Live museum learning delivered via Zoom at $210/program for single connection (up to 30 students) or $300/program for multiple connections/over 30 students. Programs include What's Inside Stuffee, Balto, Exploring Dinosaurs, Bodyworks, and Human Evolution.
• Teen Programs Educational programs designed for teenage visitors including SLAM Dunk science learning program and Inspire program aimed at STEM career preparation and mentorship.
• Summer Camps Summer camp programs for children offering hands-on science and nature education experiences at the museum.
• Public Programs Diverse public programming including Storytime with Josh, Into the Wild tours, Chill @ CMNH after-hours events, Planetary Yoga, Science After Hours, Know Your World Lecture Series, and The Science of lecture series for general audiences.
• Into the Wild Tour Behind-the-scenes tour of the living collections and animal care facilities including Natural Areas Gallery, Wildlife Resource Center, and Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center. Includes meet-and-greet with animal ambassadors. $75/person for nonmembers, $50/person for members; Leadership Circle attends free. Groups up to 12 guests, ages 7+.
• Museum Membership Annual membership subscription offering unlimited visits, discounted parking, exclusive savings in the Museum Store, reciprocal admission to partner institutions, special-event discounts, and access to exclusive experiences. A membership pays for itself in two visits.
• Event Hosting Private and corporate event hosting including corporate events, weddings, special occasions, and proms. Venue accommodates 10 to 1,000 guests with spaces including Visitor Hall with Happy the Haplocanthosaurus, 440-seat Murch Auditorium, planetarium, and Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center, with catering by Levy Hospitality Group.
• Natural Areas Program Stewards more than 12,500 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio through numerous preserves including Mentor Marsh, Kelleys Island Preserves, North Kingsville Sand Barrens, and dozens of other nature preserves accessible to the public.
• Planetarium Programs Live, interactive astronomy shows led by museum astronomers covering seasons, the Solar System, and the Universe. Includes One World One Sky, Starry Starry Night, The Solar System, Reasons for the Seasons, Target Moon, The Universe, Stars from Beginning to End, and The Atmosphere.
• Museum Store / Retail Merchandise Museum-branded merchandise sold through the on-site store and through online partner MuzEmerch (https://www.muzemerch.com/partner/cleveland-museum-of-natural-history).

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 organizations received funding support through arts funding initiatives
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Levy Hospitality GroupcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerExclusive caterer for museum events, providing customizable menus and full-service bar options for private events, weddings, and corporate functions at the museum.
• KeyBankmajorOthersPresenting sponsor of the Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center & Woods Garden, providing naming rights and significant support for the outdoor wildlife gallery.
• PNCmajorOthersPresenting sponsor of the Smead Discovery Center, the museum's hands-on learning center for young scientists.
• Ohio LotterycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsors free programming and transportation funding for Ohio Title I schools, enabling economically disadvantaged students to access museum education.
• GoodyearsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEducational sponsor supporting museum educational programs and initiatives.
• BlackbaudcoreTechnology or IntegrationThird-party ticketing portal and payment processor for online ticket purchases, donations, memberships, and event registrations.
• Meta (Facebook/Instagram)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerThird-party advertising network used for targeted advertising and retargeting campaigns to reach potential visitors.
• Google AdssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerDigital advertising partner for displaying relevant museum advertising and reaching potential visitors through search and display campaigns.
• Ohio Department of Natural Resources—Ohio State ParkssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Scheele Preserve improvements and conservation work on Kelleys Island.
• Inner Bliss Yoga StudiosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing Planetary Yoga programming in the Shafran Planetarium, offering monthly yoga classes under the stars.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Milwaukee Public Museum: Mid-sized Midwest natural history museum with similar visitor profile, education programming, and exhibit-based revenue model. Operates in a comparable secondary metropolitan market in the U.S. Midwest.
• Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County: Major natural history museum with comparable mix of permanent and temporary exhibits, research collections, school programs, and membership-driven revenue model. Similar combination of in-house research and public programming.
• Cincinnati Museum Center: Midwestern natural history and science museum complex serving a similar geographic market in Ohio. Offers comparable mix of exhibits, education programs, school field trips, and event rentals, and serves overlapping regional audiences.
• Field Museum: Chicago-based natural history museum operating a comparable combination of scientific collections, permanent and traveling exhibits, research programs, and public education. Directly comparable in scope, target audience (families, schools), and revenue model (admissions, memberships, events, donations).
• Carnegie Museum of Natural History: Pittsburgh-based natural history museum with similar size, scope, and mix of galleries, research, and education programming. Operates within a comparable mid-sized city cultural district and competes for the same regional museum-going audience.
• Denver Museum of Nature & Science: Large natural history and science museum combining permanent exhibits, IMAX/planetarium programming, school programs, and scientific research. Highly comparable operating model including digital dome theater and field research initiatives.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: Nationally dominant natural history institution with free admission, federal funding, and the largest collections footprint in the U.S. Sets the ceiling for what a flagship natural history museum can offer and competes for touring exhibits and donor attention.
• American Museum of Natural History: Larger, nationally recognized natural history institution with broader scope and global brand. Offers overlapping capabilities (permanent galleries, research, school programming, planetarium/space shows) but at materially greater scale and reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/goCMNH

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cleveland Museum of Natural History