Steamship Historical Society of America

Name

Steamship Historical Society of America

Legal name

Steamship Historical Society of America

Website

https://sshsa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1935

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Heritage Preservation

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Libraries and Archives (51921)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Maritime history preservation
• Steamship historical society
• K-12 STEAM education
• Maritime archival collections
• Heritage nonprofit membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Warwick

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees providing access to member benefits including the quarterly PowerShips magazine, access to collections, and member-only events
2. Publication Sales: Sales of PowerShips magazine, new books, used books, and notecards through the organization's shop and eBay platform
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including hats, personalized bricks, and other maritime-themed items
4. Donations and Fundraising: Direct donations, gift memberships, and the Full Ahead! fundraising campaign. The organization met a $75,000 challenge from the Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh generating $150,000 in June 2026
5. Grants: Funding from government and private foundations including the National Park Service's National Maritime Heritage Program and the Heritage Harbor Foundation for the STEAMing Into The Future educational program

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Steamship Historical Society of America records, preserves, and shares the history of engine-powered vessels through its 100-plus archival collections housed at the Ship History Center in Warwick, RI. It delivers this mission via a quarterly PowerShips magazine, an online Virtual Museum, the K-12 STEAMing Into The Future educational program, broadcast programming, and a multi-tier membership program that funds ongoing preservation and educational outreach.

Product overview

The Steamship Historical Society of America (SSHSA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1935 dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of engine-powered vessels. The society operates a multi-channel offering centered on its archival collections and educational programs. Its core products include the quarterly PowerShips Magazine, an online Virtual Museum, the K-12 STEAMing Into The Future educational program, the Collections and Archive Access system, Ship History Radio and Presentations broadcasts, Membership Program, and the physical Ship History Center in Warwick, RI. The society's mission focuses on recording, preserving, and educating through these interconnected resources designed to share the impact of steamships and engine-powered vessels with future generations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PowerShips: Quarterly magazine featuring articles on the history of ships and shipping, as well as current news in the maritime industry.
• STEAMing Into The Future
• Ship History Center
• Steamboat Bill

Products and services

• PowerShips Magazine Quarterly society magazine covering articles on the history of ships and shipping, as well as current news in the maritime industry. Serves maritime collectors, historians, and enthusiasts.
• Virtual Museum An online virtual museum providing digital access to the society's collections, allowing visitors to explore hundreds of models, photos, maritime artworks, and artifacts from the archives.
• STEAMing Into The Future K-12 educational program providing free, standards-aligned online educational modules blending Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) disciplines. Targeted at K-12 educators, students, and curriculum coordinators.
• Collections and Archive Access Access to hundreds of thousands of images, artifacts, ephemera, memorabilia, and artwork archived in more than 100 collections plus a maritime reference library, available through an online catalog and the physical Ship History Center.
• Ship History Radio and Presentations Broadcast programming including Ship History Radio and presentations series, featuring the SHIPS series covering Immigration, Trade, and Leisure topics related to maritime history.
• Membership Program Organizational membership program with Individual, International, Gift, and Corporate tiers providing access to the Ship History Center, publications, member-only content, and the PowerShips magazine.
• Ship History Center Physical visitor and research center located at 2500 Post Road, Warwick, RI 02886, where members and visitors can peruse ship models, view collections, or conduct research in person.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Mystic Seaport Museum: The largest maritime museum in the United States, located in Mystic, Connecticut. Directly comparable as a specialty maritime museum preserving historic vessels, artifacts, and a research library with educational programming for general audiences.
• The Mariners' Museum and Park: A major maritime history museum in Newport News, Virginia, housing one of the world's largest international maritime collections. Comparable as a peer specialty maritime institution with archival stewardship and educational programming.
• South Street Seaport Museum: A New York City-based maritime museum focused on the historic port's role in trade, immigration, and shipping. Comparable as a specialty maritime museum with collections, exhibits, and educational programming.
• National Maritime Historical Society: A nonprofit dedicated to maritime history preservation, education, and publications. Closely comparable mission, membership-based revenue model, and member-publication orientation to SSHSA.
• San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park: A federally operated maritime heritage site in San Francisco preserving a historic fleet, visitor center, and research library. Comparable as a maritime heritage and education institution, although government-operated rather than nonprofit.
• Independence Seaport Museum: A Philadelphia-based maritime museum preserving ship models, historic vessels, and archival materials along the Delaware River. Comparable as a smaller specialty maritime museum with collections and K-12 educational programs.

Broad incumbents

• Naval History and Heritage Command: The U.S. Navy's official history program, operating archives, museums, and educational resources. Comparable as a much larger government maritime-heritage institution with overlapping archival and educational scope.
• Peabody Essex Museum: A large general museum in Salem, Massachusetts, with significant maritime and maritime-trade collections including Yin Yu Tang and historic New England maritime galleries. Comparable through overlapping maritime-heritage collections but with a much broader institutional scope.
• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA): The U.S. federal national archives, holding government records, immigration documentation, and maritime-related records. Comparable as a much larger archival institution with overlapping collections such as immigration and passenger records relevant to SSHSA's genealogist audience.
• Smithsonian National Museum of American History: A flagship Smithsonian museum holding nationally significant transportation, maritime, and technology collections. Comparable as a much larger heritage institution with overlapping subject matter (engine-powered vessels, transportation history) but a far broader collection and audience scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SSHSA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Steamship Historical Society of America