Putnam County Historical Society

What Putnam County Historical Society does

The Putnam County Historical Society is a Florida non-profit historical society incorporated in June 1966 and based in Palatka, Florida. It operates two historic sites, the Bronson-Mulholland House at Sunny Point (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) and the Putnam Historic Museum, and acts as custodian of Putnam Countys primary archival collection covering census records from 1849 to 1920, city directories from 1886 to 1928, school yearbooks, and historic maps. Programming centers on annual events such as the Civil War-era Union Occupation of Palatka reenactment (held for the fifteenth time in 2025) and the Genealogy and History Expo, with audiences spanning the general public, genealogists, students and educators, and business members.

The societys product surface combines physical site operations with a free, publicly accessible digital archive, delivered through a website, Facebook presence, and an email newsletter. Distribution is concentrated in Putnam County and adjacent North Florida markets, supported through partnerships with the Putnam County Genealogical Society, the City of Palatka Cultural Resources division, and the Putnam County Library System (where the societys president, Mischa Johns, serves as archivist).

The revenue model is that of a small membership-supported non-profit: individual and business membership dues structured in tiers from $20 to $250, supplemented by volunteer contributions and event-related activity. There is no disclosed grant funding, paid programming, or commercial monetization. Headcount sits in the 1-10 employee range, with operational reliance on volunteer labor.

Name

Putnam County Historical Society

Legal name

Putnam County Historical Society

Website

https://putnam-fl-historical-society.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Putnam County Historical Society is a Palatka, Florida non-profit that operates the Bronson-Mulholland House and Putnam Historic Museum, maintains a digital archive of Putnam County records from 1849-1920, and serves genealogists, students, and the general public through membership dues and volunteer contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historical Preservation and Local Heritage Museum Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (71211), Historical Sites (71212), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

History Museums (THAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC), Cultural Heritage & Historic District Tours (THAJAAAB)

Keywords

• Historical preservation
• Local history museum
• Genealogical archives
• Civil war reenactment
• Heritage education

Headquarters

HQ city

Unionville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees at multiple tiers ranging from $20 for individuals to $250 for God Parents Club donors, providing access to newsletter, eligibility for board service, and participation in society activities.
2. Volunteer Contributions: Volunteers earn membership by contributing 25 hours of service annually, performing duties ranging from docent work to housekeeping and event assistance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Putnam County Historical Society operates two museum sites—the National Register-listed Bronson-Mulholland House (built 1854) and the Putnam Historic Museum—providing tours, educational programming, and living history events such as the annual Union Occupation of Palatka reenactment. It also curates and distributes a set of digitized local-history archives, including Putnam County census records (1849–1920), Palatka city directories (1886–1928), school yearbooks (1927–1983), and historic block/Sanborn maps, accessible via its website as PDF downloads.

Product overview

The Putnam County Historical Society operates as a nonprofit historical preservation organization offering a portfolio of museum properties and archival services. Its core offerings include the Bronson-Mulholland House (Sunny Point) and Putnam Historic Museum, which serve as physical venues for historical education and tours. The society also maintains extensive digital archives of census records, city directories, historic block maps, and yearbooks spanning from the 1840s to the 1980s. Annual programming includes the Union Occupation of Palatka Civil War living history event and the Putnam County Genealogy and History Expo. The organization supports engagement through membership programs and volunteer opportunities. The portfolio operates as a collection of distinct museum and archival offerings unified by the society's mission to preserve and interpret local history.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bronson-Mulholland House (Sunny Point) Museum A National Register of Historic Places house museum in Palatka built in 1854 by Judge Isaac H. Bronson, offering guided and self-guided tours that interpret antebellum, Civil War, and Reconstruction-era history of Putnam County for the general public, students, and heritage tourists.
• Putnam Historic Museum A museum operated by the Putnam County Historical Society at 110 Madison Street, Palatka, providing historical exhibits and event space for tours and community programming.
• Putnam County Census Records Archive A digitized archive of Putnam County census records, marriage records, and Civil War service records spanning 1849 to 1920, intended for genealogists, family historians, and local history researchers.
• City Directories Archive A digital archive of Palatka city directories from 1886 to 1928, providing names, addresses, and employment information for genealogical and historical research.
• Historic Districts and Block Maps Archive A digital archive of Sanborn fire insurance maps, 1885 Palatka block maps, and National Register of Historic Places site forms for Palatka.
• Yearbooks Archive

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Putnam County Genealogical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2022Joint hosting of annual Putnam County Genealogy and History Expo at the Bronson-Mulholland House and Putnam Historical Museum. Societies collaborate to provide combined expertise in historical preservation and genealogical research for county residents.
• City of Palatka Cultural Resources DivisionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer application information shared with the City of Palatka's Cultural Resources division. Collaboration for preservation efforts and cultural programming in the community.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Regional players

• St. Augustine Historical Society: Regional Florida historical society operating museums, archives, and preservation programs in St. Johns County. Comparable as a Florida-based county-level historical society offering museum tours, archival research, and membership-based heritage programming, though larger and more tourism-oriented.
• St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum: Heritage attraction in St. Augustine operating on a National Register-listed historic site with daily public tours, educational programming, and living history events. Comparable to PCHS as a heritage tourism venue with school programming and a fleet of volunteer docents.
• Alachua County Historical Society: North-central Florida county historical society preserving local heritage through museum operations and archival collections. Comparable to PCHS as a peer county-level historical society with similar volunteer-driven structure and museum/archive offerings.
• Volusia County Historical Society: County-level Florida historical society offering museum operations, archives, and preservation programming. Comparable to PCHS in scale, mission, and structure as a regional heritage society in northeast Florida, though operating in a more populous county.

Direct peers

• Lightner Museum: Historic museum housed in the former Alcazar Hotel in St. Augustine, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Directly comparable to PCHS as a heritage property museum operating in a repurposed historic building with public tours and artifact collections.
• Henry B. Plant Museum: History museum located in the former Tampa Bay Hotel, a National Historic Landmark. Directly comparable to PCHS as a university-affiliated/independent museum operating in a historic building with educational programming and public tours.
• Putnam County Genealogical Society: Partner organization of PCHS that co-hosts the annual Genealogy and History Expo. Directly comparable as a Putnam County-based nonprofit offering genealogy research resources and historical programming, with an overlapping volunteer and member base.

Broad incumbents

• Florida Historical Society: Statewide Florida history organization publishing the Florida Historical Quarterly and operating heritage programs. Comparable to PCHS as a Florida-focused historical preservation and education organization, but operating at a much larger statewide scale.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: National nonprofit focused on historic preservation, advocacy, and heritage site support. Comparable to PCHS in nonprofit mission and preservation focus, but operating at national scale with grant funding and policy influence rather than a single-site heritage operator.
• Florida State Archives: State-operated archival institution providing access to Florida historical records, including government documents, census materials, and genealogical holdings. Comparable to PCHS as a Florida-based archive provider for genealogical and historical research, though operating at state scale with government funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PutnamCountyHistoricalSociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/putnam-county-historical-soc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Putnam County Historical Society