U.S. Capital Historical Society

What U.S. Capital Historical Society does

The U.S. Capitol Historical Society (USCHS) is a congressionally chartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit educational organization founded in 1962 by Congressman Fred Schwengel and chartered by Congress in 1978. It is headquartered in Washington, D.C. with 11-50 employees and operates with the stated mission of preserving and sharing the history of the U.S. Capitol, Congress, and the people who work therein. The Society produces symposia, lectures, public events, historian-led Capitol tours, scholarly publications, and civics education programming for K-12 teachers and students. Its core programmatic products include the Capitol Civics national teacher professional development program, the We the People Constitution Hub (a free online civics education resource distributed via OER Commons), the Capitol Dome scholarly journal, oral history interviews, a speakers bureau, the Capitol Fellows program, and an online Capitol Quiz.

Underlying technology is limited to standard web and digital communications infrastructure: a WordPress-based website, a Constant Contact email newsletter, a DonorPerfect donation and membership processing platform, and a separate e-commerce storefront at shop.capitolhistory.org. No proprietary technology platforms or AI/ML capabilities are described in the source material. The Society has been recognized with a Charity Navigator Four Star rating, a GuideStar Platinum Transparency Seal, and a 2022 Catalogue for Philanthropy designation.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model. Streams include recurring annual membership dues (individual and corporate tiers), one-time donations and planned giving/legacy gifts, and gift shop sales of Capitol-themed merchandise including holiday ornaments and books. Membership acquisition is community-led, driven by direct engagement at events and tours, the We the People Constitution Hub, the website, and email newsletters. Sponsorship and corporate membership packages are also offered. Free educational resources are distributed to all K-12 teachers at no cost. The Society is governed by a Board of Trustees with academic oversight provided by a Council of Scholars, and is not owned by or affiliated with any parent company or private equity sponsor.

Name

U.S. Capital Historical Society

Legal name

United States Capitol Historical Society

Website

https://uschs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The U.S. Capitol Historical Society is a congressionally chartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves and teaches U.S. Capitol and Congressional history through teacher training, free civics curricula, historian-led tours, scholarly publishing, and public events, serving K-12 educators, students, and history-enthusiast members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Education and Historical Preservation

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts, Culture, Heritage & Tourism Congresses (THAHAJAN)

Keywords

• Civics education
• Historical preservation
• Capitol tours
• Teacher professional development
• Constitutional history

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

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 Dues: Annual membership donations from individuals and corporations that directly support educational programs, public history initiatives, and civic engagement efforts. Multiple membership tiers are offered including Individual Membership, Corporate Membership, and sponsorship opportunities.
2. Gift Shop Sales: Sales of Capitol-themed merchandise including holiday ornaments, books, and unique gifts. The shop operates through an e-commerce storefront at shop.capitolhistory.org.
3. Donations and Planned Giving: General donations, planned giving/legacy gifts, and special fundraising campaigns. The organization offers multiple ways to give including leave a legacy programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The U.S. Capitol Historical Society is a congressionally chartered 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit that preserves and shares the history of the U.S. Capitol, Congress, and the people who work therein. It delivers K-12 civics education programs (Capitol Civics, We the People Constitution Hub), historian-led Capitol tours, scholarly publications (The Capitol Dome journal), lectures and webinars, and a gift shop selling Capitol-themed merchandise, funded through memberships, donations, and sponsorships.

Product overview

The U.S. Capitol Historical Society operates as a unified educational nonprofit offering a portfolio of civics education and public history programs. The core offerings include the Capitol Civics teacher professional development program, the We the People Constitution Hub (free online resource platform), and historian-led U.S. Capitol Tours. These are complemented by content publications including The Capitol Dome scholarly journal, the Capitol History Blog, and Historical Presentations/Webinars. The Society also offers a Speakers Bureau, Capitol Fellows Program, Oral History Interviews collection, and Capitol Quiz for engagement. A Membership Program provides access to exclusive tours and benefits, while the Society Gift Shop sells commemorative ornaments and Capitol-themed merchandise. All programs serve the Society's educational mission to foster informed patriotism and civic understanding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Capitol Civics: National professional development program for K-12 teachers focusing on Article I of the U.S. Constitution and the role of Congress.
• We the People Constitution Hub
• The Capitol Dome

Products and services

• Capitol Civics National professional development program for K-12 teachers that educates about Article I of the U.S. Constitution, the purpose and role of Congress, and civic pedagogy using historic examples, primary sources, and lesson plans. Includes stipend-supported workshops held at venues such as the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library.
• We the People Constitution Hub Free online civics education resource hub offering videos, lesson plans, and quizzes to help teachers engage students with the Constitution's history and role in government. Distributed through OER Commons.
• U.S. Capitol Tours Exclusive historian-led tours of the U.S. Capitol providing in-depth exploration of the building's history, architecture, and pivotal events, available as part of the membership program.
• Speakers Bureau Program connecting organizations with expert speakers for events discussing Capitol history and civic education topics.
• The Capitol Dome Journal Scholarly journal published by the Society covering various aspects of Capitol History and American legislative heritage, available to members.
• Membership Program Annual membership program supporting educational programs, public history initiatives, and civic engagement efforts, offered in Individual and Corporate tiers with benefits including exclusive Capitol tours, lectures, webinars, and publications.
• Society Gift Shop Online retail store offering Capitol-themed merchandise including holiday ornaments, gifts, books, and collectibles, with proceeds supporting the Society's educational mission.
• Capitol Fellows Program Fellowship program providing opportunities for individuals to engage with Capitol history and civic education initiatives.
• Historical Presentations and Lectures In-person and virtual presentations and lectures on United States Capitol history for public audiences, available as part of the Society's public history programming.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential LibrarycoreOthersThe Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library in Austin, Texas serves as the venue for the 2026 Capitol Civics teacher professional development workshop. Participants receive stipends for travel and lodging expenses to attend this two-day program focused on teaching the Constitution through theater and civic engagement.
• OER Commons (We the People Constitution Hub)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Society's We the People Constitution Hub educational resources are distributed through OER Commons, a public digital library of open educational resources. This partnership enables broad distribution of free civics education materials to teachers nationwide.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• White House Historical Association: A congressionally chartered nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the White House. Closest structural analog to the U.S. Capitol Historical Society—both are federally chartered, history-focused nonprofits with memberships, gift shops, scholarly publications, and exclusive building tours.
• National Constitution Center: A nonprofit chartered by Congress to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution. Directly comparable in civics education mission, K-12 teacher programming, and Congressional chartering status, though operating a dedicated museum venue in Philadelphia.
• Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation: An educational organization operating living-history museums focused on American colonial and Revolutionary history. Comparable in operating state-chartered history museums, educational programming, and gift shop revenue streams tied to a specific historic theme.
• American Association for State and Local History: A membership-based nonprofit association supporting state and local history organizations nationwide. Comparable as a membership-driven history nonprofit providing educational resources, conferences, and publications to its members.
• Mount Vernon Ladies' Association: A private nonprofit that owns and operates George Washington's Mount Vernon estate. Comparable as a privately chartered historic-site operator running tours, educational programs, gift shops, and membership programs around an iconic American historical figure.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: A leading privately funded nonprofit focused on historic preservation nationwide. Comparable in heritage preservation mission and membership-based revenue model, though broader in scope and significantly larger in scale than the U.S. Capitol Historical Society.
• Smithsonian's National Museum of American History: Part of the Smithsonian Institution, this museum preserves and interprets American political, cultural, and technological history. Comparable in mission to share American history with the public, though vastly larger in scale, budget, and visitor reach.

Others

• National Archives (NARA): A federal agency preserving U.S. government documents including Congressional records. Related ecosystem participant whose holdings underpin USCHS's research, though NARA is a government agency rather than a nonprofit peer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/uscaphis
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/uschs01
• Facebookfacebook.com/today-in-capitol-history-221586020345
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/u-s-capitol-historical-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/uschs

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 U.S. Capital Historical Society