CAHOKIA MOUNDS MUSEUM SOCIETY

What CAHOKIA MOUNDS MUSEUM SOCIETY does

The Cahokia Mounds Museum Society (CMMS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1976 and headquartered in Collinsville, Illinois. It supports the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site — the largest pre-Columbian site north of Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (designated 1982) and U.S. National Historic Landmark (designated 1965). The society operates the on-site Interpretive Center (museum) featuring Mississippian culture exhibits, an on-site and online gift shop, a tiered membership program, and educational programming including Kids Day, lecture series, nature/culture hikes, and Woodhenge-based equinox and solstice sunrise observances. The society serves a broad visitor base of approximately 350,000 people annually from all fifty U.S. states and over eighty foreign countries, plus school groups, Native American artists, and archaeological researchers.

CMMS operates a multi-stream nonprofit revenue model combining membership dues ($30-$1,000+ tiers, plus a $10,000+ Corporate tier), museum shop sales of souvenirs, books, Native American arts and crafts, and replicas, donations (including a PACT monthly giving program at $5-$50/month and a Planned Giving legacy program), market booth fees from Indian Market Days vendors ($250 single / $400 double), photography reproduction rights, and permit fees. Admission to the grounds and Interpretive Center is free; the site is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, with CMMS operating as an independent support organization governed by its own board. The Land Acquisition Program purchases parcels from willing sellers within the National Historic Landmark boundary and transfers them to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency for perpetual protection; 59 parcels have been acquired since 2000.

Technically, CMMS is a cultural heritage site management entity rather than a technology company. Its core platform is the 2,200-acre protected archaeological site itself, supported by interpretive exhibits, a reconstructed Woodhenge solar calendar, comprehensive mound documentation referencing the Patrick Map (1876) and Moorehead Map (1923/1929), and a digital presence across website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The society has launched an Augmented Reality Project as its primary technology initiative. With 5 employees, the organization runs a lean operation supplemented by volunteer programs and partnerships with regional tourism bureaus, the Archaeological Conservancy, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and the Society for American Archaeology.

Name

CAHOKIA MOUNDS MUSEUM SOCIETY

Legal name

Cahokia Mounds Museum Society

Website

https://cahokiamounds.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Cahokia Mounds Museum Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1976 that supports the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site — the largest pre-Columbian archaeological site north of Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage Site — operating an Interpretive Center, museum shop, educational programs, and a Land Acquisition Program serving 350,000 annual visitors from all 50 states and 80+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Preservation & Museum Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural History Museums (THAJADAC)

Keywords

• Cultural heritage preservation
• Archaeological education
• Museum society services
• Heritage site management
• Nonprofit membership programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Collinsville

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. Museum Shop Sales: On-site and online retail sales of souvenirs, books, Native American arts and crafts, replicas, and educational materials through the CMMS gift shop and website store
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership program with tiered levels from Student/Senior ($30) to Patron ($1000), providing newsletter access, discounts, and special event invitations
3. Donations and Pledges: One-time donations, monthly PACT giving program ($5-$50/month), and land acquisition fund contributions from individuals and organizations
4. Market Booth Fees: Vendor booth rental fees for Indian Market Days events - single booth $250, double booth $400, deposit $150
5. Photography Reproduction Rights: Fees charged for reproduction of site photography, digital images ($5 each), color transparencies ($30 loan fee), and prints ($12 each)
6. Photography Permit Fees: Commercial photography sessions at the site require permits arranged through site personnel

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CMMS operates the Interpretive Center museum, gift shop, and educational programs supporting the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. The organization runs a tiered membership program ($30-$1,000+), a Land Acquisition Program to protect archaeological land, and hosts annual events including Indian Market Days, lecture series, and Woodhenge sunrise observations. It provides free public access to the 2,200-acre site containing 72 of nearly 80 remaining pre-Columbian Mississippian earthen mounds.

Product overview

Cahokia Mounds Museum Society (CMMS) operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. The organization offers a unified portfolio centered on site preservation, public education, and visitor engagement. Core offerings include the Interpretive Center museum with rotating exhibits, the CMMS Gift Shop (both on-site and online) selling souvenirs, books, and Native American crafts, and a tiered membership program. Conservation efforts are supported through a Land Acquisition Program. Public education is delivered via programs like Kids Day, the Winter Lecture Series, Nature/Culture Hikes, and Equinox/Solstice Sunrise Observances. The society hosts Indian Market Days events and publishes the quarterly Cahokian newsletter. An Augmented Reality Project represents the site’s primary technology initiative. A Planned Giving Program enables legacy donations, and the Mound Builder Award recognizes preservation contributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Interpretive Center (Museum)

Quantifiable outcome

• 350,000 annual visitors from all 50 states and 80+ countries
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Illinois Historic Preservation AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnce CMMS purchases property through land acquisition, it is donated to the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, which has agreed to protect and maintain this property in perpetuity. The agency oversees preservation of all transferred parcels.
• Illinois Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState agency that oversees the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site through IDNR Historic Preservation Division, with site staff including Site Superintendent Lori Belknap
• Collinsville Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional business organization supporting tourism to the Cahokia Mounds site and promoting local commerce in Collinsville, Illinois
• Great Rivers and Routes of Southwest IllinoisminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tourism bureau partnership promoting visitor access to Cahokia Mounds as part of southwestern Illinois tourism initiatives
• The Archaeological ConservancymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational land trust that acquired the Powell Mound Tract and Fingerhut Tract as emergency acquisitions to protect significant portions of the greater Cahokia site
• Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership providing archaeology professor Julie Zimmermann to lead Nature/Culture Hikes and Contract Archaeology Program excavations
• Jefferson National Expansion MemorialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Park Service site partnership connecting regional archaeological and historical sites in the St. Louis metropolitan area
• Missouri Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional historical institution partnership supporting archaeological research and educational programming
• Society for American Archaeology (SAA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational professional organization providing research resources and professional standards for archaeological work at the site

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mount Vernon Ladies' Association: Private nonprofit that has operated George Washington's Mount Vernon estate since 1858 — directly comparable as a heritage site preservation nonprofit with membership programs, retail, educational programming, and land stewardship mission.
• Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park: National Park Service site in Georgia preserving Mississippian-culture earthworks — directly comparable to Cahokia's Mississippian heritage mission, mound preservation focus, and educational programming for Native American archaeology.
• Mesa Verde Foundation (Mesa Verde National Park): Supporting nonprofit for Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings — directly comparable UNESCO archaeological heritage mission, tribal-ancestry preservation focus, and nonprofit-driven fundraising model.
• Angel Mounds State Historic Site: Indiana state historic site operated as a partnership between the Indiana State Museum and a supporting nonprofit, preserving a Mississippian-era village and mounds — directly comparable in site management structure and Mississippian heritage mission.
• Colonial Williamsburg Foundation: Nonprofit operating the largest living history museum in the U.S. — directly comparable as a heritage site nonprofit combining museum, educational programming, retail, ticketed experiences, and membership revenue model.
• The Archaeological Conservancy: National nonprofit land trust that acquires and preserves significant archaeological sites across the U.S. — directly comparable mission to CMMS's Land Acquisition Program, including emergency acquisitions at greater Cahokia (Powell Mound Tract, Fingerhut Tract).
• Poverty Point World Heritage Site: UNESCO World Heritage Site in Louisiana preserving a 3,400-year-old prehistoric earthwork complex — directly comparable to Cahokia as a North American pre-Columbian mound heritage site with similar preservation, education, and tourism missions.
• Hopewell Culture National Historical Park: National Park Service site in Ohio preserving Hopewell culture earthworks and mounds — directly comparable as a federally protected prehistoric mound heritage site with similar archaeological interpretation and visitor programming.

Broad incumbents

• National Trust for Historic Preservation: Largest U.S. private preservation organization operating broadly across historic sites, buildings, and landscapes — broader incumbent in the same heritage preservation space, with overlapping land acquisition and public education programs but a national rather than site-specific scope.

Others

• Society for American Archaeology: National professional organization for archaeologists that supports research, ethics, and education at sites including Cahokia — adjacent ecosystem participant providing professional standards and research resources for CMMS's archaeological mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cahokiamounds
• Facebookfacebook.com/105832906511
• Instagraminstagram.com/cahokia_mounds/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cahokia-mounds-museum-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CAHOKIA MOUNDS MUSEUM SOCIETY