Rhode Island Historical Society

What Rhode Island Historical Society does

The Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS) is a private nonprofit founded in 1822 and the fourth-oldest state historical society in the United States, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Rhode Island history. It operates four sites in Rhode Island: the John Brown House Museum (a National Historic Landmark built in 1788) and Aldrich House (built 1822, serving as headquarters) in Providence, the Museum of Work & Culture in Woonsocket, and the Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center in Providence. Its collections span five centuries and include approximately 25,000 museum objects, over 100,000 printed books, 110,000 photographs, 9 million feet of moving picture film, and over 1,100 manuscript collections (7,000 linear feet), making it the largest and most important historical repository relating to Rhode Island.

RIHS generates revenue through a diversified nonprofit model including individual memberships (starting at $50/year), museum admissions ($10 adults, $8 seniors/students/veterans), donations and fundraising (including the Golden Ball gala), research services ($50/hour, $30/hour for members), image reproduction fees, Rhode Island History journal subscriptions ($40/year domestic), institutional library memberships, event sponsorships (Concerts Under the Elms), and grants. The organization also operates digital platforms — The Cabinet online catalog, EnCompass free digital textbook, Bloomberg Connects mobile guide app, Rhode Tour app, Navigator database, and the RHODI sector directory — extending access beyond physical sites. RIHS served 25,000 in-person visitors and 130,000 virtual visitors annually, delivered over 41,000 school tours to K-12 students, and is staffed by 30+ employees supported by 145 volunteers. Key partnerships include the Smithsonian Institution (first Rhode Island Affiliate), Library of Congress Teaching With Primary Sources Consortium, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation (RHODI funding), and the RI Department of Education.

RIHS is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Roberta Gosselin (Vice President at Amica Insurance), with the Treasurer being Artin Taskin (President/CFO of Kenney Manufacturing Company). The organization holds American Alliance of Museums accreditation and participates in Blue Star Museums and Museums for All federal programs. Its current strategic focus centers on America's 250th anniversary commemorative programming in 2026, digital product expansion through the Mellon-funded RHODI directory initiative, and sector convening across Rhode Island's history and heritage ecosystem.

Name

Rhode Island Historical Society

Legal name

Rhode Island Historical Society

Website

https://rihs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1822

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Rhode Island Historical Society, founded in 1822 and the fourth-oldest U.S. state historical society, preserves and shares Rhode Island history through two museums, a research center, educational programs, and digital platforms, serving the public, K-12 schools, researchers, and heritage organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage and Museum Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Libraries and Archives (51921), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Historical society services
• Museum operations
• Archival research
• Educational programming
• Cultural heritage preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Providence

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Memberships: Annual memberships providing unlimited museum admission, Smithsonian access, reciprocal museum benefits, and exclusive events. Starting as low as $50.
2. Museum Admissions: Ticket sales for museum entry at John Brown House Museum ($10 adults, $8 seniors/students/veterans) and group tours. Free for children under 10, members, and EBT cardholders.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Private donations, annual fund contributions, sponsorships, bequests, and special event proceeds including gala fundraising.
4. Research Services: Fee-based research services at $50/hour (or $30/hour for members), museum collection research visits at $50/hour, and image reproduction fees ranging from $45-70 per image.
5. Publications: Sale of Rhode Island History journal subscriptions ($40/year domestic, $50/year international) and single issues ($20 US, $25 international).
6. Library Memberships: Institutional memberships for public and private libraries providing free access to RIHS museums and the journal.
7. Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Concerts Under the Elms season passes ($10 non-members), event sponsorships, and vendor partnerships for events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Rhode Island Historical Society (RIHS) collects, preserves, and shares Rhode Island's history through its museum sites (John Brown House Museum and Museum of Work & Culture), research center, historic house venue, educational programs for K-12 students and teachers, public programs and events, a peer-reviewed history journal, and digital resources including online catalogs, digital textbooks, and mobile apps.

Product overview

The Rhode Island Historical Society operates a multi-site museum and educational organization with two main museums (John Brown House Museum and Museum of Work & Culture), a research center (Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center), and a historic house/event venue (Aldrich House). The Society provides educational programming through the Goff Center, including school tours and professional development. Digital offerings include the Bloomberg Connects mobile app for the John Brown House, EnCompass digital textbook, The Cabinet online catalog, and Rhode Tour mobile app. Publications include the peer-reviewed Rhode Island History Journal. The 250th anniversary commemorative initiative includes Sabin's Spirit whiskey. Membership provides access to museums, events, and benefits including reciprocal museum admissions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• John Brown House Museum: National Historic Landmark museum at 52 Power Street, Providence, featuring colonial-era artifacts and exhibits on Rhode Island history
• Museum of Work & Culture
• Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center
• Aldrich House
• Goff Center for Education & Public Programs
• RHODI
• EnCompass

Products and services

• John Brown House Museum National Historic Landmark mansion (built 1788) in Providence showcasing Rhode Island history through furniture, artwork, silver, textiles, and exhibits on the Revolution, slavery, and the mahogany trade. Open to the public with paid admission.
• Museum of Work & Culture Regional history museum in Woonsocket devoted to the history of immigrants who came to Rhode Island's mill towns along the Blackstone River, featuring nine immersive exhibits including an 1890s farmhouse, textile mill floor, and triple-decker home parlor.
• Mary Elizabeth Robinson Research Center Research center providing public access to RIHS collections including archival materials, printed books, photographs, newspapers, maps, moving picture film, and sound recordings spanning five centuries. Offers fee-based research services.
• Aldrich House National Historic Landmark built in 1822, serving as RIHS headquarters, located on Providence's East Side and available by appointment for special events and programs.
• Goff Center for Education & Public Programs Educational center connecting people with Rhode Island's past through K-12 programs, museum tours, and professional development for history educators, operating at RIHS sites and throughout the state.
• EnCompass Digital Textbook Free online digital textbook of Rhode Island history featuring essays, primary sources, and collection items for K-12 students and educators.
• School Tours Program Educational museum-based programs for K-12 students including guided tours, hands-on activities, and virtual school programs covering topics such as colonial life, the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, and immigration history.
• Rhode Island History Journal Award-winning, peer-reviewed scholarly journal published semi-annually covering Rhode Island's rich and varied history, included as a benefit of RIHS membership.
• RHODI (Rhode Island History Online Directory Initiative) Digital directory platform connecting history and heritage organizations in Rhode Island through communication, learning opportunities, and shared resources.
• The Cabinet (Online Collections Catalog) Online searchable catalog providing access to RIHS collections including photographs, manuscripts, museum objects, printed materials, and moving image/audio recordings.
• Rhode Island History Navigator Database of publications on Rhode Island history enabling research by subject, format, and other criteria.
• Rhode Tour Smartphone app and website using text, sound, and images to bring Rhode Island stories to mobile users.
• Bloomberg Connects Digital Guide Free mobile app serving as a digital guide for the John Brown House Museum, offering expert-curated audio guides, videos, behind-the-scenes insights, new exhibit content, and collections highlights.

Quantifiable outcome

• Served 25,000 in-person visitors and 130,000 virtual visitors annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Smithsonian InstitutioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIHS is the first Smithsonian Affiliate in Rhode Island, providing reciprocal benefits for members, access to Smithsonian resources, national programming partnerships, and educational content sharing.
• Library of CongresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIHS is a Library of Congress Teaching With Primary Sources (TPS) Consortium Member, providing teacher professional development sessions and educational materials aligned with primary source pedagogy.
• Rhode Island Services for the Blind & Visually ImpairedsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting accessibility at the Museum of Work & Culture, including tactile maps and resources for blind and low vision visitors.
• Québec DelegationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenerous support for French-language programming and exhibits at the Museum of Work & Culture recognizing the region's French-Canadian heritage.
• Made By UssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partnership for the Wish Wall initiative, a nationwide program capturing Americans' hopes and dreams for the future, coordinated across dozens of museums.
• Rhode Island Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination on African American history resources, social studies standards implementation, and state-wide educational initiatives including National History Day.
• Autism ProjectsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerStaff training partnership for autism and sensory sensitivity programming at the Museum of Work & Culture.
• White Dog DistillingsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership to create Sabin's Spirit whiskey for the 250th anniversary commemoration, with proceeds benefiting RIHS.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian Institution: National museum and research complex of which RIHS is a Smithsonian Affiliate. Provides reciprocal benefits, programming partnerships, and accreditation pathways; broader incumbent spanning all U.S. heritage sectors.

Regional players

• Providence Public Library: Local public library partner that previously owned the Robinson Research Center building. Comparable to RIHS's research and library-membership programming and shares overlapping audience and institutional history in Providence.
• Plimoth Patuxet Museums: Living-history museum complex in Massachusetts interpreting colonial and Indigenous history. Comparable as a regional historic-site operator with immersive educational programming, though focused on a single theme rather than statewide coverage.

Direct peers

• Virginia Museum of History & Culture: Virginia's statewide history museum and archives, operating exhibitions, a research library, and educational programs. Directly comparable to RIHS in combining museum operations, archival collections, and statewide educational reach.
• New England Historic Genealogical Society: Regional genealogical and historical research society offering research services, a library, publications, and educational programming. Comparable to RIHS in archival research services, fee-based research model, and scholarly journal publishing.
• Massachusetts Historical Society: One of the oldest state historical societies in the U.S., operating a research library, manuscript collections, and publications similar to RIHS. Directly comparable in mission (statewide historical preservation), revenue model (memberships, research fees, publications), and structural profile.
• Connecticut Historical Society: Connecticut's statewide historical society operating a museum, research center, and educational programs. Closely comparable to RIHS in scale, governance structure, and mix of museum/archives/education.
• New-York Historical Society: Major state-level historical society combining a museum, research library, and educational programming in New York. Comparable to RIHS in operating model, with a substantially larger footprint that frames RIHS's growth path.
• American Antiquarian Society: Founded in 1812, an independent research library and national member institution dedicated to collecting and preserving materials from early American history. Highly comparable to RIHS's archival and preservation mission, scholarly journal, and fellowship programs.
• Minnesota Historical Society: One of the largest and most comprehensive state historical societies in the U.S., operating multiple museums, historic sites, a research center, and publications. Comparable as a multi-site state historical society with extensive educational programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rihistory
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/RIHistoricalSociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/RIHistoricalSociety
• Instagraminstagram.com/rhodeislandhistory

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Rhode Island Historical Society