Name

Preservation Detroit

Legal name

Preservation Detroit

Website

https://preservationdetroit.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Preservation Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (712120), Historical Sites (71212), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural Heritage & Historic District Tours (THAJAAAB), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Historic preservation advocacy
• Walking tour programs
• Heritage education
• Community preservation
• Membership fundraising

Headquarters

HQ city

Detroit

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual and monthly membership subscriptions at various tiers ($4/month to $300/year) providing recurring revenue, with benefits including tour discounts and reciprocal museum access.
2. Tour Ticket Sales: Revenue from public walking tours ($17-$20 per person) and private tours ($100 for groups of 4 or less, $25/person for larger groups). Specialty tours like Theatre Tour command $50-60 per person.
3. Donations and Fundraising: The organization relies heavily on donations to fund advocacy and operations. They run year-end matching donation campaigns and accept major gifts. The 50th Anniversary Gala generated sponsorships.
4. Merchandise Sales: PD Merchandise including branded items sold through their website.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Preservation Detroit sells guided walking tours of Detroit's historic architecture, neighborhoods, and cultural landmarks, complemented by membership subscriptions, an annual lecture series, advocacy for endangered historic places, and branded merchandise. Its mission is to preserve Detroit's historic places through public education, community engagement, and advocacy, with ticket-based, membership-based, and donation-based revenue streams funding preservation programming.

Product overview

Preservation Detroit operates as a non-profit preservation organization offering a portfolio of walking tour products centered around Detroit's historic architecture, culture, and neighborhoods. The core offerings include regular Saturday walking tours (Downtown, Eastern Market, Midtown, Cultural Center), specialty tours (Theatre Tours, Cemetery Tours, Historic Churches, Public Lighting History), and private/custom tours. These are complemented by membership and volunteer programs, a lecture series for preservation education, and advocacy initiatives for endangered historic places. The organization functions as Detroit's oldest and largest preservation non-profit, founded in 1975, with tours serving both residents and visitors to raise awareness of the city's architectural heritage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Detroit Walking Tours Award-winning walking tours of Detroit neighborhoods including Downtown, Eastern Market, Midtown, Cultural Center, and specialty tours such as Historic Churches, Cemetery Tours, and Theatre Tours, led by knowledgeable volunteer guides. Priced at $17-$20 per person.
• Annual Detroit Movie Palaces Theatre Tour Annual behind-the-scenes tour of historic Detroit theaters including Music Hall, Fox Theatre, Detroit Opera House, Fillmore, Gem and Century Theatres, and Michigan Theatre, featuring complimentary lunch. Priced at $50 for members and $60 for general public.
• Private Walking Tours Customized private tours for groups, available for various Detroit neighborhoods and specialty topics, priced at $100 for groups of 4 or less and $25/person for groups of 5 or more. Requires 1 month advance booking with payment 2 weeks prior.
• Historic Cemetery Tours Guided tours of Detroit cemeteries including Mt. Olivet, Elmwood, Mt. Elliott, and Woodlawn Cemetery, highlighting notable Detroiters and historic art and architecture.
• Historic Churches Tour Annual walking tour of four historic Detroit churches around Greektown, showcasing the city's architectural religious heritage.
• Public Lighting History Tour Tour exploring Detroit's public lighting infrastructure evolution from gas lamps to LED installations, examining actual street fixtures and their historical significance.
• Public Art in the Cultural Center Tour Tour exploring sculptures and public art installations in Detroit's Cultural Center, featuring works by Michigan and international artists.
• Historic Ferry Street Tour Tour exploring the historic Ferry Street neighborhood in Detroit's Cultural Center, covering the history from Ferry Seed Company farm to affluent residences.
• Membership Program Annual membership program with tiers ranging from $4/month (Individual Monthly Supporter) to $300/year (Founders Society), including Student/Senior ($20), Individual ($40), Household ($60), Professionals ($75), Business/Organization ($150), and Preservation Detroit Founders Society ($300) tiers. Benefits include tour discounts, Time Travelers reciprocal museum access, event invitations, and partner listing.
• Lecture Series Monthly lecture series featuring preservation education topics, including LGBTQ history in Detroit and other cultural heritage subjects. In 2025, 9 lectures captivated over 560 attendees.
• Endangered Historic Places Advocacy Advocacy program identifying and protecting threatened historic buildings and sites in Detroit, including the Endangered Buildings List and public awareness campaigns.
• PD Merchandise Branded merchandise including Preservation Detroit branded items sold through the organization's website to support preservation activities.
• Custom Gift Certificates Gift certificates available for purchase for tours and special occasions, providing a flexible gifting option for Detroit historic walking tours.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 730 guests educated through tours in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Trust for Historic PreservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner providing support and resources for preservation advocacy efforts. Preservation Detroit works with the National Trust on advocacy campaigns and received a Brink Leadership Fund award for capacity building.
• National Preservation InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner organization for preservation professionals.
• Michigan Historic Preservation NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level partner collaborating on Brick & Beam Detroit initiative and shared advocacy efforts.
• Michigan State Historic Preservation OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner administering preservation programs, grants, and Historic Tax Credit initiatives.
• MotorCities National Heritage AreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPreservation Detroit was a proud winner of a MotorCities National Heritage Area Grant for their MotorCities Downtown Auto History Tour, working with the National Park Service.
• Historical Society of MichiganminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level historical organization partner.
• Detroit Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for Detroit history and preservation education.
• Charles H. Wright Museum of African American HistoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal cultural institution partner in the Jefferson-Chalmers District area.
• Motown Historical MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for Detroit cultural heritage preservation.
• Pewabic PotteryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for Detroit artistic and architectural heritage.
• Detroit Future CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Brick & Beam Detroit, a support network for Detroit's building rehab community.
• Detroit Sound ConservancyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for sound and music heritage preservation. Supported their application for preservation funding to rehabilitate the Blue Bird Inn.
• Knox HeritageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAward-winning preservation group in Knoxville, TN that provided mentoring to Preservation Detroit as part of a Brink Leadership Fund award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
• City of Detroit Planning DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey government partner for historic preservation initiatives, including Historic District Commission nominations and Planning Department collaborations.
• Docomomo_US/MIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-signer on Renaissance Center preservation advocacy statement.
• National Organization of Minority Architects, Detroit (NOMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-signer on Renaissance Center preservation advocacy statement.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Detroit Historical Society: Detroit's other major historical organization operating the Detroit Historical Museum. Listed as a partner of Preservation Detroit and serves overlapping audiences interested in Detroit history through exhibits and educational programming.
• Chicago Architecture Center: Nonprofit offering architecture-focused walking tours and educational programming in Chicago. Comparable tour product portfolio, volunteer guide model, and audience of architecture enthusiasts and tourists.
• Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia: Regional preservation nonprofit offering walking tours and advocacy in Philadelphia. Closely comparable operating model: heritage walking tours, member-supported advocacy, and historic designation education.
• Historical Society of Michigan: State-level historical organization partner with overlapping membership and educational programming missions. Comparable nonprofit preservation/history education model serving Michigan residents.
• Boston Preservation Alliance: Nonprofit preservation advocacy organization for the Boston area offering tours, lectures, and advocacy. Direct model peer in mission, member-supported structure, and walking tour product.
• Landmark Society of Western New York: Regional preservation nonprofit serving western New York with a comparable tour, lecture, and advocacy portfolio. Similar community-based nonprofit structure focused on architectural heritage education.
• Michigan Historic Preservation Network: Statewide preservation advocacy organization collaborating with Preservation Detroit on Brick & Beam Detroit. Operates a comparable nonprofit model focused on preservation education, advocacy, and member engagement across Michigan.
• Knox Heritage: Award-winning preservation organization in Knoxville, TN that mentored Preservation Detroit through the Brink Leadership Fund award. Operates a comparable preservation advocacy and educational tour model in a mid-sized US city.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: The largest US preservation nonprofit; Preservation Detroit partnered with them on advocacy and received a Brink Leadership Fund award. Comparable mission scope at national level, providing member benefits and operating historic sites.

Regional players

• MotorCities National Heritage Area: National Heritage Area partnership with the National Park Service that awarded Preservation Detroit a grant for the MotorCities Downtown Auto History Tour. Operates complementary automotive heritage preservation programs in Michigan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PresDetroit
• Facebookfacebook.com/PreservationDetroit
• Instagraminstagram.com/preservationdetroit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Preservation Detroit