History Center of Olmsted County

What History Center of Olmsted County does

The History Center of Olmsted County (HCOC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit museum and historical society founded in 1926 in Rochester, Minnesota, operating under the legal name Olmsted County Historical Society. It runs a 54-acre campus at 1195 West Circle Drive SW that includes the main museum gallery, gift shop, Willson Wicklund Research Center archives (containing approximately 20,000 artifacts and records dating to 1859), historic properties such as the George Stoppel Farmstead (1856, National Register listed), Ralph Stoppel Farmstead, Hadley Valley Schoolhouse (1885), and Dee Log Cabin (1862), plus event rental spaces and community gardens. It is also the exclusive operator of guided tours at the privately Mayo Clinic-owned Mayowood Mansion, a 38-room 1910 estate.

HCOC serves a diversified base of K-12 students and families, seniors aged 55+, local residents, tourists visiting Rochester, genealogy and academic researchers, clubs and community organizations, and event renters. Core offerings include museum exhibits (permanent and rotating such as The Stoppel Story, IBM in Rochester, War Stories of Olmsted County), Mayowood Mansion tours ($20-$30), K-12 field trips ($6/person), week-long summer camps ($50-$65), senior programs, lectures, a research/archival services function, event venue rentals accommodating 40-2000 guests ($50-$90/hr), gift shop sales, photography permits, community garden rentals, and a tiered annual membership program ($40-$65).

Revenue is generated from nine distinct streams: membership dues, tour admissions, event tickets/programs, venue rentals, donations and corporate/foundation grants (over 60% of operating income), gift shop sales, research/archival services, photography permits, and community garden rentals. The go-to-market motion is hybrid: direct-to-consumer via museum admissions, online ticketing and membership signup; community-led via clubs, volunteer programs, and partner-hosted events; and event-driven via community events, lectures, senior programs, and seasonal celebrations. Marketing leverages Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, the History in the Making podcast, email newsletters, and earned media (notably the viral Creepy Doll Contest covered by CNN, O Magazine, and Smithsonian Magazine). HCOC is currently celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2026 while executing a multi-million dollar centennial capital campaign to restore the George Stoppel Farmstead.

Name

History Center of Olmsted County

Legal name

Olmsted County Historical Society

Website

https://olmstedhistory.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The History Center of Olmsted County is a 501(c)(3) museum and historical society in Rochester, MN operating a 54-acre campus with exhibits, archives (20,000 artifacts), historic properties, exclusive Mayowood Mansion tours, K-12 field trips, senior programs, research services, and event rentals for residents, tourists, schools, and genealogy researchers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historical Museum and Cultural Heritage Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (712110), Museums (71211), Historical Sites (71212), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

History Museums (THAJADAB), Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE), Cultural Heritage & Historic District Tours (THAJAAAB)

Keywords

• Historical museum operations
• Genealogical research services
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Educational field trips
• Event venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

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. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $40-$65 providing free admission, discounts on events and Mayowood tours, newsletter subscription, gift shop discount, and early registration for programs
2. Tour Admissions: Revenue from guided tours of Mayowood Historic Home including regular tours ($20 adults, $10 children), specialty tours, and Christmas tours ($30 adults, $15 children)
3. Event Tickets and Programs: Revenue from event admissions including America's Birthday Bash, lecture series, summer camp registrations, and special programs with tiered pricing for members and non-members
4. Event Venue Rentals: Rental revenue from indoor spaces (Crawford Meeting Room, Sertoma Lecture Hall), outdoor spaces (Pavilion, 54-acre campus), accommodating events from 40-2000 people with varying hourly rates
5. Donations and Contributions: Individual donations, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants including Jeffris Family Foundation $833,000 challenge grant, and planned giving programs
6. Gift Shop Sales: Museum gift shop sales including books, souvenirs, postcards, puzzles, honey, wild rice, kids items, and seasonal merchandise
7. Research and Archive Services: Fees for research services, document reproduction, scanning services, and archival access for genealogy and historical research
8. Photography Permits: Photography session passes at $25 per session, annual business membership at $200 for photography access
9. Community Garden Plots: Annual garden plot rentals at $100 for non-members and $75 for members, including standard and raised bed options

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The History Center of Olmsted County operates a regional museum on a 54-acre campus in Rochester, MN, providing exhibit-based storytelling, guided tours of the historic Mayowood mansion and other historic structures, K-12 field trips and summer camps, genealogical and archival research services, community events, venue rentals, and a gift shop. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1926, the Center preserves Olmsted County history through its artifact collection, archives, and historic properties while generating revenue from admissions, memberships, donations, sponsorships, grants, and program fees.

Product overview

The History Center of Olmsted County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit museum and historical society offering a portfolio of interconnected visitor experiences and educational services. The core offerings include the History Center Museum with rotating and permanent exhibits (such as The Stoppel Story, IBM in Rochester, and War Stories of Olmsted County), historic property tours (Hadley Valley Schoolhouse, Dee Log Cabin, George Stoppel Farmstead), and exclusive guided tours of the Mayowood Mansion. Additional services include the Willson Wicklund Research Center for genealogical and historical research, field trips and summer camp educational programs for students, event venue rentals (Crawford Meeting Room, Sertoma Lecture Hall, The Pavilion) accommodating groups from 40 to 2,000 people, a museum gift shop, community garden plot rentals, and a membership program. The organization also hosts special events including the Days of Yesteryear celebration, Mayo Lecture Series, and the annual Creepy Doll Contest. As a mission-driven nonprofit, the institution relies on memberships, donations, sponsorships, and event revenue to sustain operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Historic Mayowood: Historic 38-room mansion built in 1910 by Dr. Charles H. Mayo and his wife Edith, offering guided tours of the Mayo family home.
• Days of Yesteryear
• Creepy Doll Contest
• History in the Making Podcast

Products and services

• History Center Museum

Quantifiable outcome

• Free admission for SNAP/EBT cardholders through Museums for All program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Think BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThink Bank is sponsoring FREE admission to HCOC grounds, exhibit hall, and archives throughout July 2026 as part of their community support.
• Time TravelerscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHCOC is a participating institution in Time Travelers network, allowing members reciprocal access to other participating historical sites and museums.
• Blue Star MuseumscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHCOC participates in Blue Star Museums program, providing free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families during summer months.
• Museums for AllcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHCOC participates in Museums for All program, allowing those receiving SNAP benefits free admission by presenting their EBT card.
• Caps Kitchen and BathsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of senior programming at HCOC including the Heritage, Heroes, and History series.
• TargetminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting America's Birthday Bash event celebrating America's 250th birthday.
• Daughters of the American Revolution - Rochester ChapterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting HCOC events including America's Birthday Bash and general operations.
• Majestic EventsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent partner supporting the Booker Mini Band 50th Anniversary concert.
• Mechanical History Round Table (MHRT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit volunteer organization dedicated to preservation of antique equipment; Organizes annual Days of Yesteryear event on Ralph Stoppel Farmstead; Maintains collection of farm equipment
• Olmsted County Genealogy SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization meeting at HCOC with annual dues of $20; Provides genealogy expertise and resources
• Rochester Public Library BookmobileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRochester Public Library Bookmobile visits HCOC on select dates bringing 4,500+ items including books, audiobooks, magazines, and DVDs
• Rochester Roosters Vintage Base BallminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVintage 1860s base ball team plays at Mary Jane Schmidt Field on HCOC grounds; Hosted by HCOC during events
• Rochester Art CentercoreGTM or Marketing PartnerJoint membership partnership providing HCOC members access to both the History Center and Rochester Art Center locations.
• Mayo CliniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMayo Clinic is the private owner of Mayowood Historic Home; HCOC operates seasonal guided tours of the property as part of their mission.
• Miller DunwiddieminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHistorical architects consulted for Historic Structures Report and preservation planning for Stoppel Farmstead.
• Civil War RoundtableminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliate organization meeting at HCOC on second Wednesday monthly to discuss Civil War history.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heritage Hjemkomst Interpretive Center: Regional heritage center in Moorhead, Minnesota combining a museum, historic replica Viking ship, archives, and educational programming. Closely analogous small-staff county/regional heritage organization with similar programmatic mix.
• Conner Prairie: Interactive outdoor history museum in Fishers, Indiana, featuring historic structures, costumed interpreters, and educational programming on a multi-building campus. Closely comparable to HCOC's Stoppel Farmstead + historic properties model with similar farmstead and one-room schoolhouse elements.
• Old World Wisconsin: Wisconsin Historical Society outdoor museum of historic structures spanning immigrant and pioneer life. Equivalent campus format, comparable historic-structure collection strategy, and similar education and special-event programming to HCOC.
• Living History Farms: Open-air agricultural history museum in Urbandale, Iowa featuring historic farms, period interpreters, and Days of Yesteryear-style programming. Near-direct match to HCOC's Ralph Stoppel Farmstead, Days of Yesteryear event, and heirloom gardens programming model.
• Freeborn County Historical Museum: County history museum in Albert Lea, Minnesota with comparable Southern Minnesota scale, exhibits, tours, and community programming serving a similarly-sized county population base.
• Mower County Historical Society: Austin, Minnesota-based county historical society with comparable Southeastern Minnesota operating footprint and similar exhibits + programming model. Adjacent operating geography and scale.
• Wabasha County Historical Society: County historical society in Wabasha, Minnesota operating museum and historic properties along the Mississippi River. Comparable Southeastern Minnesota county-scale operations, exhibits, and tours.
• Steele County Historical Society: County-level historical society in Owatonna, Minnesota operating historic properties, exhibits, and educational programming within similar operating scale to HCOC. Direct peer in mission, scope, and Southeastern Minnesota regional context.

Broad incumbents

• Minnesota Historical Society: Statewide historical society operating multiple sites (Fort Snelling, Mill City Museum) across Minnesota. Directly analogous mission of preserving and interpreting state and local history, with overlapping offerings in tours, exhibits, archives, and education, though at much larger scale than HCOC's single-county focus.

Others

• Rochester Art Center: Rochester-based contemporary art museum that operates a joint membership partnership with HCOC. Adjacent cultural institution serving overlapping Rochester audiences through partnership distribution rather than direct product competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses6 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCULRKV0hA_qn2sJymDY4rgQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/OlmstedHistoryCenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/olmstedhistorycenter
• Xx.com/HCOC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/history-center-of-olmsted-county

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 History Center of Olmsted County