DuSable Museum

What DuSable Museum does

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution founded in 1961 by Dr. Margaret T. Burroughs in Chicago, and recognized as the nation's oldest independent African American museum. The museum maintains a permanent collection of more than 15,000 objects — paintings, sculpture, prints, historical memorabilia, and archives — alongside rotating exhibitions such as Paris in Black, Freedom: Origin and Journey, The Harold Washington Story, and Equiano.Stories. A single physical location at 740 East 56th Place on Chicago's South Side serves visitors Tuesday through Sunday with extended hours during Black History Month.

The museum operates without proprietary technology, instead integrating third-party platforms including Etix for ticketing, Tripleseat for private event bookings, the Bloomberg Connects digital guide app for virtual exhibit access, and smartphone-wallet digital membership cards launched in 2023. Its product portfolio spans on-site exhibitions, educational programs (Code Black series, Lunch & Learn, Black Fine Art Month), special events (DuSummer Music Series, Juneteenth, Camp GUD Youth Leadership & Sports Camp), a 10-tier membership program ($30-$1,500), facility rentals, a museum store, and seven virtual exhibits.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of admissions, memberships, donations, corporate sponsorships, facility rentals, event tickets, and merchandise. The museum is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Carol Moseley Braun with Perri L. Irmer as President and CEO, and is supported by a Women's Board established in 1983 that has contributed over $1 million. Strategic partnerships include Smithsonian Affiliate status, NARM and ROAM reciprocal networks covering 1,000+ institutions, and corporate sponsorships with United Airlines, Walgreens, and Bank of America.

Name

DuSable Museum

Legal name

The DuSable Museum of African American History, Inc.

Website

https://dusablemuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the nation's oldest independent African American museum since 1961, serving visitors, students, and corporate partners through exhibitions, educational programs, memberships, and events anchored by a 15,000-object collection.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

History Museum

NAICS

Museums (71211), Historical Sites (712120)

akta.pro primary industry

History Museums (THAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

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

Keywords

• African American history
• Cultural museum exhibitions
• Educational programs
• Museum membership programs
• Heritage collections

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Visitors pay admission fees to access museum exhibitions. Pricing varies by residency status (Chicago resident vs non-resident), age (adult, child, senior, student), with free admission for members, military, first responders, and specific free days (Wednesdays).
2. Membership Subscriptions: Annual membership program with multiple tiers offering free admission, member events, exclusive viewings, merchandise discounts, and reciprocal benefits with other institutions. Memberships range from $30 (Senior) to $1,500 (Burroughs Society).
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations supporting museum operations, acquisitions, conservation, learning programs, and general operations. Text-to-donate option available.
4. Facility Rentals: Private event hosting at the museum venue, with 10% discount for members on facility rentals.
5. Museum Store/Merchandise: On-site and e-commerce store selling commemorative coins, apparel, ornaments, accessories with proceeds supporting museum mission.
6. Events and Programs: Revenue from event tickets, sponsorships, and special program fees including DuSummer Music Series and gala events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is a nonprofit cultural institution that operates a single-location museum in Chicago dedicated to African American history, art, and culture. Its core offerings include rotating and permanent exhibitions drawn from a collection of 15,000+ objects, educational and public programs, cultural events and concerts, a tiered membership program, facility rentals for private events, and a retail museum store.

Product overview

The DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is a single-location cultural institution offering a unified portfolio of exhibitions, educational programs, events, and membership services. The core offering centers on rotating and permanent exhibitions (Paris in Black, Freedom: Origin and Journey, Harold Washington Story, etc.), educational programming (Code Black series, Lunch & Learn, Black Fine Art Month), and special events (DuSummer Music Series, Juneteenth, Camp GUD). The museum supplements its core experience with a membership program (offering physical and digital cards), a museum store, virtual tours, and the Bloomberg Connects digital guide integration. No platform-plus-modules architecture exists; the museum operates as a traditional cultural institution rather than a SaaS product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Exhibitions Rotating and past exhibitions showcasing African American history and culture, including Paris in Black (featuring 100+ objects from the permanent collection), Freedom: Origin and Journey, The Harold Washington Story, Fighting Racism in the Trenches, and Equiano.Stories. Visitors access current and historical exhibitions on-site and via virtual tours.
• Educational Programs Ongoing educational offerings including the Code Black series addressing social justice issues, Lunch & Learn sessions, Black Fine Art Month celebrations, and virtual educational content. Designed for students, educators, and the general public.
• Cultural Events Ticketed public programs and events including the DuSummer Music Series (outdoor concert series), Camp GUD Youth Leadership & Sports Camp, Juneteenth celebrations, Jazz + Gumbo Studies Book Talks, and Nelson Mandela Day observances. Programs serve families, youth, and cultural enthusiasts.
• Museum Membership Program Annual subscription membership with ten tiers ranging from Senior ($30/year) to Burroughs Society ($1,500/year). Benefits include free admission, member events and exclusive viewings, merchandise and facility rental discounts, Smithsonian Affiliate options, and reciprocal access to NARM and ROAM institutions.
• Virtual Tours Seven virtual exhibits available online providing educational content through oral histories and civil rights movement narratives. Available for group reservations and accessible by general public remotely.
• Facility Rentals and Private Events Private event hosting at the museum venue for corporate galas, private functions, weddings, and community gatherings. Reservations and inquiries are handled through the Tripleseat platform, with a 10% member discount on facility rentals.
• Museum Store (Du Shop) On-site and online retail store selling commemorative coins, apparel (t-shirts, hoodies), accessories (umbrellas, folding chairs, totes), drinkware, and ornaments. Sales proceeds support the museum mission.
• Camp GUD Youth Leadership & Sports Camp Youth empowerment residential program for ages 11-16 held in partnership with G.U.D. (Global United Diaspora). Five-day camp offered at $40/day or $200/week with need-based scholarships.

Quantifiable outcome

• 65 years of continuous operation as nation's oldest independent African American museum
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Smithsonian InstitutioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2026The DuSable is a proud Smithsonian Affiliate, connecting local histories to a broader national and global narrative. Smithsonian Affiliate membership provides benefits including magazine subscriptions, free admission to Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and discounts at Smithsonian venues.
• Ben Crump LawminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump received The Gladiator Award at 65th Anniversary Gala for his work representing families of Trayvon Martin, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.
• United AirlinesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Corporate sponsor of DuSable Gala events. United Airlines employees receive free museum admission as a benefit.
• WalgreensminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Exclusive merchandise collaboration for Black History Month celebration.
• IHEART MEDIA CHICAGOminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Media sponsor for 2025 Juneteenth Celebration and other museum events.
• G.U.D. (Global United Diaspora)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partner for Camp GUD Youth Leadership & Sports Camp, a youth empowerment program for ages 11-16.
• Jack and Jill of America, Inc. (Chicago Chapter)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 202575th anniversary multimedia exhibit 'Rooted in Legacy, Growing Toward the Future' featured on Bloomberg Connects platform.
• NARM (North American Reciprocal Museum Association)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Reciprocal membership provides DuSable members free admission to over 1,000 cultural institutions throughout North America including art museums, historical museums, botanical gardens, and children's museums.
• ROAM (Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2022Network of museums in North America and beyond that extend reciprocal free admission benefits to members.
• Women's BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1961Established in 1983 by Mrs. Peggy Montes and Mrs. Velma Wilson, the Women's Board has contributed over $1 million to sustain museum programs, exhibits, and cultural initiatives through fundraising, advocacy, and community engagement.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Museum of African Art (Smithsonian): Smithsonian museum dedicated to the arts and cultures of Africa. Related thematically to DuSable's collection of African diaspora art and prints; broader in geographic and artistic scope.

Regional players

• Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD): San Francisco museum dedicated to African diaspora art, culture, and history. Comparable in mission and diaspora framing; differs in art-vs.-history orientation and West Coast geography.
• Spelman College Museum of Fine Art: Atlanta-based HBCU museum focused on art by and about women of the African diaspora. Overlaps with DuSable's fine-art programming; smaller scale and embedded in an academic institution.

Direct peers

• Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History: Baltimore-based African American history museum with comparable exhibition, education, and event programming. Closely aligned mission and operating model; serves a different regional audience.
• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture: NYPL research center in Harlem dedicated to preserving Black history and culture, with major exhibitions and educational programs. Comparable mission and content; differs as a New York Public Library unit rather than an independent nonprofit.
• Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: Detroit-based independent African American history museum founded in 1965, also operating as a Smithsonian Affiliate. Closely comparable in mission, nonprofit structure, and content focus, serving a Midwest audience similar to DuSable's.
• The African American Museum in Philadelphia: First museum built by a major U.S. city to preserve and interpret African American life. Comparable mission and content; smaller scale and older facility base parallel DuSable's profile.
• Hampton University Museum: One of the oldest African American museums in the U.S., housed within Hampton University, with a focus on African American and African art. Comparable in mission and curatorial focus; differs as a university-affiliated institution.
• National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC): The Smithsonian's national museum dedicated to African American history, life, and culture. Most directly comparable in mission and content focus; differs in scale, federal funding, and Washington, D.C. location.

Emerging players

• Studio Museum in Harlem: Harlem-based museum focused on art by people of African descent. Overlaps with DuSable's paintings, sculptures, and prints focus; specializes in contemporary Black art rather than historical narrative.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DuSableMuseum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 DuSable Museum