Beaufort Historic Site

What Beaufort Historic Site does

Beaufort Historic Site is a nonprofit historic preservation and cultural heritage venue operated by the Beaufort Historical Association (BHA) in Beaufort, North Carolina. Founded in 1960 and headquartered at 130 Turner Street, the organization preserves and interprets coastal North Carolina history through a portfolio of restored buildings, the Old Burying Ground, the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery, and a museum and gift shop. Its core programming centers on the annual Old Homes Tour & More, which has run continuously for 65 years and is the largest annual fundraiser, supplemented by the Summer Party, Kickoff Party, Literary Luncheon, A Sunday Toast, weddings, and a Living History Workshop Series teaching traditional crafts such as stained glass, felted soap, and basket weaving.

The organization operates with no proprietary technology platform; its digital footprint consists of a WordPress website, the Old Beaufort Virtual Shop e-commerce storefront, an ArcGIS StoryMaps interactive site guide, and standard social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, X). The technology stack is not a differentiator. Day-to-day operations are supported by a small paid staff of approximately eight (Executive Director Michael Tahaney, Office Manager, Public Relations Director, Gift Shop Manager, Education Coordinator, Housekeeping, and Grounds Manager) plus five staff docents and a broader volunteer base.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of event ticket sales (workshops $15-$85, Old Homes Tour $35, Summer Party $150), gift shop and virtual shop merchandise sales, membership tiers from $25 to $5,000, donations, and private venue rentals for weddings and events. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and event-driven, with distribution supplemented by partnerships with Civil War Trails, Crystal Coast NC, and the NC Green Travel Program. The customer base spans tourists and day visitors to the Crystal Coast, local community members, families, and the juried Carteret County Arts & Crafts Coalition artist membership.

Name

Beaufort Historic Site

Legal name

Beaufort Historic Site

Website

https://beauforthistoricsite.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Beaufort Historic Site is a nonprofit historic preservation venue in Beaufort, North Carolina, operated by the Beaufort Historical Association since 1960. It serves tourists, local residents, and families through restored historic buildings, the Old Homes Tour, workshops, weddings, and a gift shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Site and Heritage Tourism

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Specialty & Historic Venues (Landmarks, Estates) (THAHAAAK)

Keywords

• Historic site tours
• Living history workshops
• Heritage event venue
• Museum gift shop
• Cultural heritage tourism

Headquarters

HQ city

Beaufort

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Tickets and Tours: Sale of tickets to events, tours, and workshops including Old Homes Tour ($35), Summer Party ($150), living history workshops ($15-$85), and special events. The Old Homes Tour is the largest annual fundraiser.
2. Gift Shop Sales: The Old Beaufort Shop sells merchandise, books, local crafts, and historical items on-site and through the virtual shop.
3. Membership Program: Annual memberships with tiers starting at $25 for students/seniors up to $5,000 Somerset Circle level, providing essential funding for site operations.
4. Donations: Direct donations from visitors and supporters, with a prominent donate button on the website.
5. Venue Rental: Weddings and private event rentals at the historic grounds and buildings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Beaufort Historic Site operates a preserved multi-building historic campus in Beaufort, North Carolina, offering guided and self-guided tours, Living History Workshops, a Visitors Center / museum / gift shop (Old Beaufort Shop), the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery, and wedding and special-event venue rentals. The site is also the host venue for the annual Old Homes Tour & More flagship fundraising event, the Summer Party, the Old Homes Tour Kickoff Party & Bartenders Challenge, A Sunday Toast Cocktail Party, the Literary Luncheon, and the Carteret County Arts & Crafts Coalition's biannual Arts & Crafts Show.

Product overview

Beaufort Historic Site is a historic preservation and cultural heritage organization operated by the Beaufort Historical Association. The site offers a unified portfolio of visitor services, educational programming, and community events. Core offerings include the Visitors Center and Museum with gift shop, guided and self-guided tours of historic buildings and grounds, the Mattie King Davis Art Gallery, and venue rental for weddings. The organization hosts multiple annual signature events including the 65th Annual Old Homes Tour & More (the largest fundraiser since 1960), the Summer Party, and the Carteret County Arts & Crafts Coalition's Biannual Show. Educational programming features Living History Workshop Series teaching traditional crafts like felted soap, stained glass, and basket weaving. The site also operates membership and volunteer programs, and sells tickets and merchandise through an online shop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Old Homes Tour & More Annual multi-site self-guided tour of historic private homes, gardens, and the Beaufort Historic Site campus in Beaufort, NC; aimed at heritage tourists, community supporters, and design enthusiasts.
• Guided and Self-Guided Tours Docent-led and self-guided walking tours of the restored historic buildings, gardens, and grounds of Beaufort Historic Site, offered year-round to individual visitors and small groups.
• Living History Workshop Series Hands-on instructional workshops in traditional crafts and historical skills (e.g., felted soap making), taught by site educators and aimed at adult learners and visitors seeking immersive experiences.
• Visitors Center, Museum, and Old Beaufort Shop On-site Welcome Center, museum exhibits, and a retail gift shop selling heritage-themed souvenirs, books, and local goods to visiting tourists and community members.
• Mattie King Davis Art Gallery On-site art gallery exhibiting works by regional artists, accessible to ticketed visitors and the public during museum hours.
• Wedding and Private Event Venue Rental Contract-based rental of the historic site's restored buildings, gardens, and grounds as a venue for weddings, receptions, corporate events, and private celebrations.
• Beaufort Historical Association Membership Program Recurring annual membership in the Beaufort Historical Association, granting members benefits such as event discounts, recognition, and ongoing support of the historic site's preservation mission.
• Carteret County Arts & Crafts Coalition Biannual Arts & Crafts Show Biannual juried show held on the historic site grounds, where regional artists and craftspeople rent booths to sell handmade goods directly to the visiting public.
• Old Homes Tour Kickoff Party & Bartenders Challenge Ticketed annual kickoff party for the Old Homes Tour, featuring a Bartenders Challenge cocktail competition and fundraising activities in support of Beaufort Historic Site.
• A Sunday Toast Cocktail Party Ticketed cocktail party fundraiser hosted on the historic site grounds, supporting the preservation and programming mission of Beaufort Historic Site.
• Literary Luncheon

Named customers3 records

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

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Beaufort DentalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Literary Luncheon event featuring New York Times Bestselling Author Kristy Woodson Harvey in conversation with Mary Kay Andrews.
• Emerald Isle RealtyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTicket Sponsor for the 65th Annual Old Homes Tour & More, helping support the largest annual fundraiser.
• Carteret County Arts & Crafts CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 1978, this juried membership organization holds biannual Arts & Crafts Shows on the historic site grounds since 1981. Features 130+ local professional artists and craftspeople.
• Kristy Woodson HarveycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNY Times Bestselling author and BHA board member. Brochure sponsor for Old Homes Tour, featured author at literary events, and author of Peachtree Bluff series inspired by Beaufort.
• Inlet InnminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of the Purvis Chapel Choir Concert, supporting community arts programming.
• Watermark BooksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal book retailer hosting author events including Chatham Rabbits music and book discussion program at the historic site.
• Wild Rose GlassminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal family business teaching stained glass art for over 40 years. Hosts workshops at the historic site as part of Living History Series.
• Civil War TrailsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHeritage tourism partner program that promotes sites of Civil War historical significance, with the Beaufort Historic Site featured on their map.
• Crystal Coast NCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tourism partnership supporting the Crystal Coast area, listing Beaufort Historic Site as a BHA Supporting Partner.
• NC Green Travel ProgramminorOthersNC Department of Environmental Quality program recognizing sustainable tourism destinations. Beaufort Historic Site holds certification as a sustainable destination.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Biltmore Estate: Massive historic estate in Asheville, NC, offering ticketed tours, gardens, event venues, and seasonal programming. Comparable operating model (historic property + ticketed experiences + venue rental) but vastly larger scale and broader reach.
• Colonial Williamsburg: Large-scale living history museum in Virginia operating restored historic buildings, ticketed tours, workshops, and event venues. Comparable business model (preserve, interpret, monetize) but at much greater scale and broader reach.

Direct peers

• Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center: Small coastal North Carolina heritage museum on Harkers Island preserving local maritime culture through exhibits and educational events. Comparable scale and regional heritage nonprofit model.
• Historic Charleston Foundation: Nonprofit historic preservation organization in Charleston, SC, operating historic house museums, tours, and educational programming. Comparable as a heritage nonprofit earning revenue from tours, memberships, and venue rentals.
• Tryon Palace: North Carolina state historic site in New Bern operating restored colonial buildings, gardens, and ticketed tours. Directly comparable as a heritage tourism nonprofit in the same state with overlapping museum, tour, and event programming.
• Historic Bath State Historic Site: North Carolina's oldest town, presenting restored colonial-era homes and visitor tours. Comparable small-scale coastal historic site focused on preservation, interpretation, and educational visitation.
• Old Salem Museums & Gardens: Historic district in Winston-Salem, NC, featuring restored Moravian buildings, living history demonstrations, and artisan workshops. Directly comparable in combining historic preservation, craft workshops, and ticketed tours.

Regional players

• Fort Macon State Park: Restored Civil War-era fort adjacent to Beaufort, NC, offering guided tours and educational programming. Comparable as a coastal North Carolina heritage attraction drawing similar tourist audiences.
• North Carolina Maritime Museum: State-run maritime museum in nearby Beaufort, NC, focusing on coastal history, shipwrecks, and boat-building exhibits. Comparable in operating a physical museum and educational programming in the same town.
• USS North Carolina Battleship: Wilmington-based WWII battleship museum and memorial offering self-guided tours and educational programming. Comparable NC heritage tourism attraction with ticketed admission and gift shop revenue.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/beauforthistoricsite
• Instagraminstagram.com/beauforthistoricsite
• Facebookfacebook.com/BeaufortHistoricSite1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/beaufort-historical-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Beaufort Historic Site