National First Ladies Library & Museum

What National First Ladies Library & Museum does

The National First Ladies Library & Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1995 by Mary Regula in Canton, Ohio, and incorporated in 1997. It operates the First Ladies National Historic Site in partnership with the National Park Service, anchored by the restored 1842 Saxton-McKinley House (the childhood home of First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley) and the adjacent Visitor Center and Museum housed in the former City National Bank building. The organization preserves, promotes, and educates about the role and contributions of America's First Ladies through a permanent collection of 5,000+ historical artifacts, a 40,000+ entry bibliographic archive, rotating and permanent exhibits (including the 2025-2027 "Eras Exhibit" tied to America's 250th birthday), and curriculum-aligned K-12 field trip programming. Technology is non-proprietary and operational: the museum runs a website (firstladies.org), Eventbrite for ticketing, Constant Contact for email, Square for online gift shop, and CatalogIt for an online collection portal.

The organization serves four primary customer segments: K-12 school groups (curriculum-aligned guided tours), individual tourists and history enthusiasts (ranger-led and VIP private curator-led tours of the Saxton-McKinley House), tiered members and donors ($50-$5,000+ across seven membership levels), and private event hosts (First Ladies Park weddings and corporate events). Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of admissions and tour fees, membership subscriptions, donations, foundation grants, gift shop merchandise sales (including the First Ladies Activity Book Series with Presidents for Kids), and venue rental. Engaged audiences in 2024 included 15,076 visitors to the Historic Site, 5,674 students and community members, and 1,249 volunteer hours served.

Strategic positioning rests on a federal regulatory moat: the First Ladies National Historic Site was established by President Clinton in 2000, placing the Saxton-McKinley House under National Park Service jurisdiction — a designation that is effectively exclusive. The museum's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging volunteer programs, community partnerships (Stark Library, Visit Canton, Stark Community Foundation Women's Fund), and a robust public calendar (Third Thursdays, Legacy Lectures, Zumba in the Park, Storytime & More). In July 2026 the organization appointed Jennifer George as Director of Development, signaling an offensive fundraising posture.

Name

National First Ladies Library & Museum

Legal name

National First Ladies Library & Museum

Website

https://firstladies.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National First Ladies Library & Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the First Ladies National Historic Site in Canton, Ohio, in partnership with the National Park Service. It preserves and educates on the contributions of America's First Ladies through exhibits, a 5,000+ artifact collection, K-12 programs, and public events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historical Museum & Cultural Heritage Site

NAICS

Museums (712110), Historical Sites (712120), Libraries and Archives (51921)

akta.pro primary industry

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Historical museum exhibits
• Educational programming
• Historic site tours
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Membership-based nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Canton

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, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admissions and Tours: Revenue generated from public ranger-led tours of the Saxton-McKinley House (offered daily at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. for up to 15 guests per time slot for a fee), VIP private curator-led tours for groups of 8+, and charter bus tours. Combo tours include both the exhibit and the house.
2. Membership and Donations: Tiered membership program with seven levels ($50 Member through $5,000+ President's Leadership Circle), plus general donations. Members receive benefits including complimentary tours, virtual programming access, gift shop discounts, and invitations to special events.
3. Venue Rental and Event Hosting: First Ladies Park and venue spaces are rented for private events such as weddings, showers, corporate events, and other celebrations. Venue rental inquiries are handled by phone at 330.293.3844.
4. Gift Shop Sales: In-person gift shop at the museum and an online gift shop (firstladiesgiftshop.square.site) offering books, fine art, keepsakes, exclusive First Ladies ornaments, and the First Ladies Activity Book Series (in partnership with Presidents for Kids).
5. Foundation Grants and Campaign Fundraising: Funding received from institutional grants such as the National Park Foundation's Collective Campaign Fundraising Infusion Grant and the Save America's Treasures Match Grant ($2.5 million in 2000), as well as general fundraising campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The National First Ladies Library & Museum operates a museum and historic site in Canton, Ohio, dedicated to preserving, promoting, and educating about the role and contributions of America's First Ladies. It offers rotating and permanent exhibits across multiple galleries, a research library, public and private guided tours of the Saxton-McKinley House (built 1842), K-12 educational programs, special events, an outdoor park venue for private events, and an in-person and online gift shop.

Product overview

The National First Ladies Library & Museum is a physical visitor destination and historic site in Canton, Ohio, offering a unified experience centered on preserving and educating about the significant role and contributions of America's First Ladies. The core experience comprises the Saxton-McKinley House (historic home of Ida Saxton McKinley), the Visitor Center and Museum (housed in the former City National Bank building with exhibit galleries, theater, and research facilities), and First Ladies Park. Key exhibits include The Eras Exhibit (250 Years of First Ladies' Progress and Power). Supporting offerings include school field trips, guided tours (public ranger-led and VIP private curator-led), educator resource programs (Legacy Lectures, Book Club, Cooking with the First Ladies), event space rental, a gift shop, and membership tiers. The museum also provides an online collection portal through CatalogIt for exploring 5,000+ artifacts and hosts regular events including Third Thursday programs, Storytime & More, and First Ladies for Kids activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Saxton-McKinley House Historic Tours Ranger-led tours of the Saxton-McKinley House (built 1842), the childhood home of First Lady Ida Saxton McKinley, offered daily at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. for up to 15 guests per time slot.
• The Eras Exhibit: 250 Years of First Ladies' Progress and Power

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,076 visitors to the Historic Site in 2024; 5,674 students and community members engaged in 2024; 1,249 volunteer hours served in 2024.
• +1 more outcomes

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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Park Service (NPS) / First Ladies National Historic SitecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000The National First Ladies Library & Museum operates in partnership with the National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior) at the First Ladies National Historic Site in Canton, Ohio. A bill signed by President Bill Clinton in 2000 established the site as a unit of the National Park Service. The Saxton-McKinley House is on the National Register of Historic Places under federal jurisdiction. The NPS provides daily ranger-led tours of the Saxton-McKinley House, and both organizations share administrative offices at the Visitor Center/Museum. In 2011, the Education & Research Center was officially donated to the National Park Service.
• Presidents for KidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National First Ladies Library & Museum partnered with Presidents for Kids to introduce the First Ladies Activity Book Series — a fun, educational collection celebrating the women who helped shape the nation. Designed for young learners, each activity book features engaging activities, fun facts, and beautifully illustrated content. Available through Presidents for Kids online.
• Stark Community Foundation — Women's FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Stark Community Foundation's Women's Fund generously funded the 'Brushes and Bubbly' adult paint-and-sip event at First Ladies Park, demonstrating community foundation support for the museum's programming.
• Visit CantonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe museum partners with Visit Canton to promote tourism to Canton, Ohio, encouraging visitors to explore downtown Canton dining, entertainment, and fine arts after visiting the museum. Referenced on the Plan Your Visit page.
• Stark LibraryminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe museum co-hosts the 'Storytime & More with Stark Library' program — a free, family-friendly gathering held in First Ladies Park designed to spark imagination and a love of reading in young minds.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Women's History Museum: A national museum dedicated to documenting and interpreting the contributions of American women. Shares subject focus (women's history), national-scale mission, and a similar nonprofit museum model with limited physical footprint.
• Mount Vernon: George Washington's historic estate operated as a private nonprofit museum with multi-site visitor experiences, educational programming, retail, and event rentals. Demonstrates the high-end nonprofit historic-site model the First Ladies Museum aspires to emulate.
• The White House Historical Association: A nonprofit educational organization focused on preserving and interpreting the history of the White House and its occupants, including First Families. Operates as a national-scope nonprofit with educational programming, publications, and a museum-adjacent retail operation.
• Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums: Ohio-based presidential library and museum dedicated to a U.S. President and First Lady (Lucy Webb Hayes). Closely comparable as a presidential-site museum with library, archives, and educational programming, sharing Ohio geography and First Lady interpretive scope.
• James A. Garfield National Historic Site: An NPS-managed historic site in Ohio (Mentor) preserving President James Garfield's home. Comparable as a federal–nonprofit partnership operating a presidential historic site in Ohio with public tours, ranger-led programming, and educational outreach.

Broad incumbents

• National Archives Museum: Federal institution preserving and exhibiting foundational American documents. Comparable as a national-scale archive and museum with primary-source exhibitions and educational programming aligned with civics and history curriculum.
• Smithsonian National Museum of American History: The Smithsonian's flagship museum covering American political, social, and cultural history including First Ladies artifacts. A larger established institution with overlapping subject matter (American history) but vastly broader scope and federal backing.
• Library of Congress: The U.S. national library and research institution, comparable in scope of bibliographic collection (the First Ladies Museum holds 40,000+ bibliographic entries) and as a steward of cultural heritage with public-facing exhibitions and research access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@NationalFirstLadiesLibrary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-first-ladies-library-museum
• Instagraminstagram.com/firstladies
• Facebookfacebook.com/FirstLadiesLibraryMuseum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National First Ladies Library & Museum