Maine Historical Society

What Maine Historical Society does

Maine Historical Society (MHS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1822 and headquartered at 489 Congress Street in Portland, Maine, where it operates a museum campus, the Wadsworth-Longfellow House (a National Historic Landmark built 1785-86), the Brown Research Library, the Longfellow Garden, and an off-site P.D. Merrill Collections Center in partnership with the Portland Public Library. Its mission is to preserve and share Maine's story, executed through a portfolio of physical and digital offerings: rotating museum exhibitions, historic-house guided tours (June-October), a fee-based research library and professional research-request services, K-12 field trip and curriculum programs, and a network of walking tours operated through partner organizations.

The digital surface spans the Maine Memory Network (a statewide archive aggregating content from 900+ contributing partners), Vintage Maine Images (an e-commerce/licensing storefront with 30,000+ historical images), HWLongfellow.org, the Maine Connection monthly e-publication, the Maine History Journal, and the Minerva shared catalog integrating 60+ Maine libraries. Revenue is generated across six streams: membership dues across tiers from $25 to $1,000+, tax-deductible donations and annual fund contributions, museum and historic-house admission fees (gallery $12, house $18, discounted for students and free for members), museum store retail, image licensing and print sales, and professional research services.

MHS is led by Executive Director Steve Bromage with a Deputy Director and four functional directors (Institutional Advancement, Finance & Business Development, Audience Engagement, and Audience Engagement support staff) plus a Collections & Program function spanning curators, archivists, librarians, digital specialists, and facilities roles. The organization is governed as an independent nonprofit under Maine state law with no parent company, funded by individual donors, members, corporate sponsors, and reciprocal network participation through NARM/ROAM (900+ partner museums).

Name

Maine Historical Society

Legal name

Maine Historical Society

Website

https://mainehistory.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1822

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Maine Historical Society, founded in 1822 in Portland, Maine, is a nonprofit that preserves and shares Maine's story through museum exhibitions, the National Historic Landmark Wadsworth-Longfellow House, the Brown Research Library, K-12 education programs, statewide walking tours, and digital platforms including the Maine Memory Network, Vintage Maine Images, and the shared Minerva library catalog.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Museum and Cultural Heritage Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Historical society services
• Museum exhibitions
• Archival research services
• Historic house tours
• Cultural preservation programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees at multiple tiers ($25-$1,000+) providing core benefits including free admission, discounts, and exclusive access
2. Donations and Annual Fund: Tax-deductible contributions supporting preservation and sharing of Maine's story
3. Museum Admission: Revenue from general admission tickets to museum galleries ($12), Wadsworth-Longfellow House ($18), and walking tours
4. Museum Store: Retail sales of Maine-themed gifts, books, accessories, and image reproductions
5. Image Services: Sales of digital image files, prints, and publication rights for historical images
6. Research Services: Fee-based research assistance and library services for researchers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Maine Historical Society preserves and shares Maine's history through a museum complex in Portland featuring rotating exhibition galleries, the National Historic Landmark Wadsworth-Longfellow House, the Brown Research Library, and digital platforms including the Maine Memory Network and Vintage Maine Images. It operates educational programs for K-12 schools, walking tours, research services for scholars and genealogists, a museum store, and a tiered membership program with reciprocal benefits at 900+ cultural institutions.

Product overview

Maine Historical Society operates as a multi-faceted historical and cultural institution offering a combination of physical and digital services. The core offerings include museum exhibition galleries (Main, Shettleworth Hall, Showcase, and King galleries) presenting rotating exhibitions on Maine history; the Wadsworth-Longfellow House National Historic Landmark; the Brown Research Library for scholarly research; and the digital Maine Memory Network providing statewide digital archive access. Supporting services include K-12 educational programs, walking tours, the Maine Connection e-publication, Vintage Maine Images for image licensing, library services via the Minerva catalog system, and museum store operations. Membership programs provide access benefits and reciprocal admissions with other cultural institutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Revolutionary Maine: America at 250: Year-long initiative commemorating the United States' 250th birthday (Semiquincentennial) featuring statewide programs, exhibitions, and a 16-county tour of the Declaration of Independence
• Brown Research Library

Products and services

• Museum Galleries Changing exhibition galleries (Main, Shettleworth Hall, Showcase, and King) featuring art, artifacts, documents, objects, stories, and textiles spanning over twelve centuries of Maine history, accessible via general admission tickets.
• Wadsworth-Longfellow House National Historic Landmark built in 1785-86, childhood home of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, offering guided tours and self-paced visits during the June through October season.
• Brown Research Library The premier research destination for studying Maine history, offering access to archival, library, and special collections including books, maps, manuscripts, periodicals, photographs, and museum objects, open Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday by appointment.
• Maine Memory Network A statewide digital archive providing public access to thousands of historical items, stories, and exhibits from Maine Historical Society and hundreds of contributing partners across Maine and New England.
• Vintage Maine Images Licensing and sales platform offering high-quality reproductions and digital files of 30,000+ historical Maine images for print, publication, gifts, decor, web, and film use.
• Walking Tours Guided and self-guided walking tours of historic Portland including the Longfellow Trail, Portland Freedom Trail, Portland Women's History Trail, and Portland Maine Chinese-American Walking Tour, delivered in partnership with Portland By The Foot.
• K-12 Education Programs Field trip programs, classroom visits, and educational resources for K-12 school groups covering Maine history through museum and historic house experiences, priced at $5 per student for approximately 60-minute programs.
• Research Services Professional fee-based research assistance for those unable to visit in person, including research requests, ask-a-librarian services, and archival consultations.
• Membership Program Annual membership tiers ranging from $25 (student/educator) to $1,000+ (1822 Leadership Circle), providing free admission, discounts, exclusive content, and reciprocal benefits at 900+ museums through NARM/ROAM.
• Museum Store On-site and online retail store offering Maine-themed gifts, books, accessories, and image reproductions.
• Minerva Library Catalog A shared online public access catalog bringing together MHS's collections with 60+ Maine libraries, including books, rare books, archival collections, periodicals, maps, and newspaper titles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free admission to 900+ museums through NARM/ROAM reciprocal membership
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• Maine Maritime Museum (Bath)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Sagadahoc County (July 17-18). Part of Revolutionary Maine 2026 statewide initiative.
• Bigelow Laboratory (Boothbay)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Lincoln County (July 24-25).
• Brick Store Museum (Kennebunk)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for York County (July 30-August 1).
• Camden Public LibrarymajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Knox County (August 7-8).
• Belfast Free LibrarymajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Waldo County (August 13-15).
• Abbe Museum (Bar Harbor)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Hancock County (August 21-22).
• Tides Institute & Museum of Art (Eastport)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Washington County (August 28-29).
• Foxcroft Academy (Dover-Foxcroft)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Piscataquis County (September 3-5).
• University of Maine at Presque IslemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Aroostook County (September 11-12).
• Bangor Public LibrarymajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Penobscot County (September 18-19).
• Margaret Chase Smith Library (Skowhegan)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Somerset County (September 25-26).
• University of Maine at FarmingtonmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Franklin County (October 2-3).
• Norway Memorial LibrarymajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Oxford County (October 9-10).
• Maine MILL (Lewiston)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Androscoggin County (October 16-17).
• Maine State Cultural BuildingmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for Kennebec County (October 22-23). Includes Maine State Library, Archives, and Museum.
• Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Declaration of Independence tour host site for final stop in Cumberland County (October 30-31).
• Portland Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Partnership since 2013 to develop P.D. Merrill Collections Center, an off-site collections management facility. Critical strategic step for both organizations providing secure, temperature/humidity-controlled storage. Facility includes 112kw solar installation funded by National Endowment for the Humanities.
• Portland By The FootcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial walking tour partner of Maine Historical Society. Offers guided tours daily, April through early November, sharing stories of people from all backgrounds who shaped Portland. Topics include Indigenous Wabanaki leaders, public art, Black Mainers, immigrant neighborhoods, and maritime industries. A portion of every purchased tour ticket supports MHS.
• George Washington's Mount VernoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Pathways to Freedom Teacher Workshop. Joint program offering K-12 teachers professional development on Revolutionary Maine curriculum, including exploration of Wadsworth-Longfellow House and Pathways to Freedom exhibition. Includes sessions led by museum educators and historian Libby Bischoff.
• Chinese American Friendship Association of MainesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides self-guided walking tour exploring Portland's historic Chinese community neighborhoods.
• Maine Freedom Trails, Inc.supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCreator of Portland Freedom Trail, a self-guided two-mile tour of 13 sites marking Black history and abolition movements.
• Maine Granite Industry Historical SocietysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerContributing partner to Working Granite exhibit via Maine Memory Network.
• Hubbard Free LibrarysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerContributing partner to Working Granite exhibit via Maine Memory Network.
• Maine Historic Preservation CommitteesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerContributing partner to Working Granite exhibit via Maine Memory Network.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vermont Historical Society: Vermont's statewide historical society operating museum and library services. Direct regional peer with similar programming model, member-driven nonprofit structure, and state-level heritage focus.
• Plimoth Patuxet Museums: Living history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts featuring historic sites and educational programming. Comparable as a regional historic site museum with National Historic Landmark designation and tourism-driven revenue model.
• Connecticut Historical Society: Connecticut's statewide historical society with museum, library, and education programs. Comparable New England state historical society offering exhibitions, research services, and member-supported operations.
• Old Sturbridge Village: Living history museum in Massachusetts recreating early 19th-century New England life. Comparable as a New England heritage attraction with educational programming, historic structures, and member-supported nonprofit operations.
• Maine Maritime Museum: Maine-based maritime history museum in Bath operating historic site, collections, and educational programs. Direct regional peer — explicitly partnered with MHS as Declaration of Independence tour host site for Sagadahoc County.
• New Hampshire Historical Society: New Hampshire's statewide historical society operating a museum, research library, and educational programs. Closest geographic peer and direct comparable in scale, programming, and member-based nonprofit model.
• Strawbery Banke Museum: Outdoor living history museum in Portsmouth, NH featuring restored historic houses spanning 300+ years. Direct comparable as a New England historic site museum with National Historic Landmark designation and seasonal operations.
• Massachusetts Historical Society: The oldest historical society in the United States (founded 1791), operating as a learned society with research library, publications, and exhibitions. Direct parallel to MHS as a state-level historical society in New England with archival collections and member-based governance.

Regional players

• Portland Museum of Art: Portland, Maine's primary art museum operating within the same metropolitan market. Comparable as a Maine-based cultural nonprofit with exhibitions, education programs, and member support, though focused on art rather than history.

Broad incumbents

• Mount Vernon (George Washington's Mount Vernon): National Historic Landmark estate and museum of George Washington. Larger-scale comparable as a historic house museum with preservation mission, educational programming, and active partnership with MHS on Revolutionary Maine curriculum.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mainehistory
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRBz84N-KpJaVSPNlGMlejQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/mainehistory
• Instagraminstagram.com/mainehistory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mainehistorical-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Maine Historical Society