Lombard Historical Society

What Lombard Historical Society does

The Lombard Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered at 23 W. Maple Street, Lombard, Illinois, founded in 1970 to preserve and interpret the local history of Lombard (originally Babcock's Grove, settled 1869). It operates a portfolio of six physical sites — the Victorian Cottage Museum (opened 1972), Carriage House (1887, expanded 2011–2014 and 2021–2022), Sheldon Peck Homestead (an 1839 abolitionist residence designated on the National Park Service Network to Freedom in 2011), William J. Mueller Gazebo (2014), The Peck Gardens, and Lombard Cemetery (established 1851). Programs include guided docent tours, K-12 and scout educational programs, fee-based genealogy and property-history research, and recurring community events such as the Music on Maple Street concert series, Food Truck Social, History After Hours, and the Power of Place America 250 outdoor art installation.

The Society's technology layer is modest and conventional: the CatalogIt Hub online platform for collection cataloging and researcher access; digitized newspaper archives of The Lombard Spectator, Lombard Suburban Life, and The Lombardian delivered through a partnership with Helen Plum Library via Advantage Archives; Google Calendar integration on event listings; and a Historic Downtown Lombard mobile app (iOS and Android) developed by Pigeon Tech and funded through a Lombard Local Tourism Grant, providing self-guided walking tours, event discovery, and local business exploration. No AI/ML components are present in the disclosed stack.

The revenue model is a hybrid non-profit mix dominated by charitable donations and contributions, supplemented by an annual/lifetime membership program, modest transaction fees on walking tours ($5 members, $7 non-members) and research requests ($20 non-members, free for members), gift shop sales through the Lilac Emporium (online and in-Carriage House), and event venue rentals of the Mueller Gazebo, Victorian Cottage, and outdoor spaces. Distribution is primarily in-person and regional (Lombard, IL), with the gift shop and digital archives extending reach globally. The Society is governed by a Board of Management and operates in close partnership with the Village of Lombard, Lombard Park District, Lombard Historic Preservation Commission, Lombard Garden Club, Helen Plum Library, Lombard Rotary, and Illinois Arts Council Agency; staff comprises four full-time roles (Executive Director Alison Costanzo, Education & Collections Manager Austin Heerama, Education Coordinator Laura Dubberke, Museum Assistant Caitlyn Dixon) supported by a large volunteer base.

Name

Lombard Historical Society

Legal name

Lombard Historical Society

Website

https://lombardhistory.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Lombard Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that preserves and interprets the history of Lombard, Illinois through six historic sites, a mobile app, and educational programs. It serves local residents, K-12 schools, genealogists, and event planners via tours, research services, community events, and a gift shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historical Society and Museum Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC), Specialty & Historic Venues (Landmarks, Estates) (THAHAAAK)

Keywords

• Historical society services
• Museum tours
• Local history preservation
• Heritage education programs
• Genealogy research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lombard

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The Society relies heavily on charitable donations from community members, supporters, and donors to fund operations, restoration projects, and programming.
2. Membership Program: Annual and lifetime membership dues providing access to benefits, free research requests for members, and engagement with the historical society community.
3. Gift Shop Sales: The Lilac Emporium (Lilac Time Gift Shop) located in the Carriage House sells Lombard-themed merchandise including books, magnets, pillows, posters, and other souvenirs.
4. Tour and Program Fees: Modest fees for walking tours ($5 members, $7 non-members) and donations suggested for museum visits. Free tours with donation appreciation model.
5. Research Services: Fee-based research requests for genealogy, local history, home research, and other historical inquiries. $20 per request, free for members.
6. Event Venue Rentals: Rental of facilities including the William J. Mueller Gazebo, Victorian Cottage, and outdoor spaces for weddings and special occasions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Lombard Historical Society preserves and interprets Lombard, Illinois history through a portfolio of historic sites, museum exhibits, educational programs, and community events. Core paid offerings include guided museum tours at the Victorian Cottage Museum and Sheldon Peck Homestead, fee-based walking tours, archive and genealogy research services, venue rentals at the William J. Mueller Gazebo, and gift shop sales at the Lilac Emporium. Free offerings include the Historic Downtown Lombard mobile app, community events such as Music on Maple Street concerts, and the Power of Place America 250 outdoor art installation.

Product overview

The Lombard Historical Society operates a collection of historic sites and educational programs centered around preserving and sharing Lombard's history. The core offerings include three physical museum sites—the Victorian Cottage Museum, Carriage House (with its permanent exhibit and gift shop), and Sheldon Peck Homestead (a verified Underground Railroad stop)—along with The Peck Gardens and William J. Mueller Gazebo. The society also provides a digital offering through the Historic Downtown Lombard mobile app, which enables self-guided walking tours and event discovery. Additional services include archives and research capabilities, educational programs, and seasonal events such as the Music on Maple Street concert series and the Power of Place America 250 art installation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Victorian Cottage Museum: Historic house museum at 23 W. Maple Street depicting life at the turn of the century
• Sheldon Peck Homestead
• Carriage House
• Lilac Emporium Gift Shop
• Historic Downtown Lombard App

Products and services

• Victorian Cottage Museum Tours 45-minute guided docent-led tours of the Victorian Cottage at 23 W. Maple Street, showcasing life in Lombard at the turn of the century. Open Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday with free admission and suggested donations.
• Sheldon Peck Homestead Museum Tours Self-guided and guided visits to the 1839 homestead of abolitionist and itinerant folk artist Sheldon Peck. The site is registered on the National Park Service Network to Freedom as a verified Underground Railroad stop. Open Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday noon-4pm with free admission.
• Carriage House Museum and Gift Shop An 1887 carriage house serving as the Society's staff offices, exhibition space featuring the permanent exhibit 'Footsteps on the Tall Grass Prairie' documenting Lombard's history, and home of the Lilac Emporium gift shop. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-4pm.
• Historic Downtown Lombard Mobile App

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,000 visitors during 1969 Centennial celebration
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lombard Park DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Power of Place America 250 Outdoor Art Installation at Lilacia Park. Co-manages Peck Gardens and collaborates on community events. Represents Lombard Historical Society on Lombard Cemetery Committee.
• Village of LombardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for America 250 celebration, co-funding of Victorian Cottage property (Village owns land and building), and collaboration on historic preservation initiatives. Partnership on William J. Mueller Gazebo construction.
• Pigeon TechcoreTechnology or IntegrationDevelopment of the Historic Downtown Lombard mobile app. Funded through Lombard Local Tourism Grant. Pigeon Tech provides ongoing app maintenance and updates.
• Helen Plum LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for digitization and online access to local newspapers using Advantage Archives platform. Creates searchable digital community history archive including The Lombard Spectator, Lombard Suburban Life, and The Lombardian.
• Illinois Arts Council AgencyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding and sponsorship of Music on Maple Street concert series and various artistic programs and events.
• Rotary Club of LombardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsorship of Music on Maple Street summer concert series held at the Bill Mueller Memorial Gazebo.
• Lombard Garden ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigns, establishes, and maintains the Sheldon Peck Homestead gardens for public education and enjoyment. Gardens are a Monarch Waystation. Joint collaboration on Pam's Garden accessible sensory garden.
• Lombard Historic Preservation CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on restoration projects, preservation initiatives, and cemetery management. Joint Historical Society and Historical Commission restoration team for Sheldon Peck Homestead.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• DuPage County Historical Museum: County-level historical museum located in Wheaton, IL preserving DuPage County history through exhibits, archives, and educational programming. Comparable as a regional historical institution serving the same western suburban Chicago market.
• Naper Settlement: Open-air living history museum in Naperville, IL operating 30+ acres of historic structures with educational programming, special events, and venue rentals. Comparable as a DuPage County / western suburban Illinois historical attraction, but materially larger in scope and resources.

Direct peers

• Wheaton History Center: DuPage County-based historical society preserving local history through a historic property, archives, and educational programming. Comparable in size, community-museum structure, and reliance on donations, memberships, and small program fees.
• Glen Ellyn Historical Society: Neighboring DuPage County suburb historical society operating a historic house museum and local history archive. Closely comparable in scale, mission, and operating model to Lombard Historical Society, serving a similar demographic within the same metropolitan region.
• Downers Grove Museum: Neighboring DuPage County suburb historical society operating within a historic 19th-century building with local history exhibits and educational programs. Comparable as a small suburban Illinois historical society with a similar funding model.
• Elgin History Museum: Suburban Chicago-area historical museum housed in a historic mansion, providing exhibits, educational programming, and research services. Comparable as a small-team, community-supported historical museum with multi-revenue-stream operations.
• St. Charles History Museum: Closest direct peer: a small suburban Illinois historical society/museum with similar visitor programming, gift shop, and community-event model. The Lombard Historical Society's current Executive Director previously served as Executive Director here, making operational and programmatic approaches highly comparable.
• Bensenville Historical Society: Small neighboring DuPage-adjacent suburb historical society preserving local history through a historic site and community programming. Closely comparable in scale, all-volunteer-heavy operations, and reliance on donations and small visitor fees.

Others

• Illinois Association of Museums: Statewide professional association supporting Illinois museums and historical societies with advocacy, training, and grant programs. Not a competitor but a directly relevant peer institution given overlapping membership, professional development pathways, and grant ecosystems.
• American Association for State and Local History (AASLH): National professional body that awarded the Society its 1974 Excellence Award. Not a competitor but a directly comparable peer ecosystem member that provides accreditation, training, and resources to small historical societies like Lombard Historical Society.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/lombardhistory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lombard-historical-society

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Lombard Historical Society