Hingham Historical Society

What Hingham Historical Society does

Hingham Historical Society is a member-supported non-profit historical organization founded in 1914 and headquartered at 34 Main Street, Hingham, Massachusetts. It operates three historic properties — the Hingham Heritage Museum at Old Derby, the 1686 Old Ordinary Campus, and the Major General Benjamin Lincoln House (a National Historic Landmark acquired in 2020) — and stewards over 15,000 archival database records plus nearly 7,000 catalogued photographs documenting Hingham's history from the 1850s onward.

The Society's revenue model is multi-stream: recurring annual memberships at six tiers ($50–$500), per-visit tour and event admissions ($0–$65), donations, an annual lecture series ($175–$675), facility rentals ($1,000–$5,000 per booking), and book sales ($42.50). Distribution is hybrid: on-site visits to the three properties plus a direct e-commerce website for ticket, membership, and rental bookings.

The Society primarily serves families, students, and history enthusiasts in Hingham and the broader New England region, with educational extensions into middle-school reading programs and Revolutionary War–themed events delivered through Rev 250 and Massachusetts 250 consortia partnerships. Its go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and event-driven, relying on its website, email newsletter, Facebook/X/Instagram, YouTube, and an annual calendar of signature events such as the Historic House Tour, Candlelight Tours, and Lincoln Day.

Name

Hingham Historical Society

Legal name

Hingham Historical Society

Website

https://hinghamhistorical.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hingham Historical Society is a member-supported, 1914-founded non-profit operating three historic properties — the Hingham Heritage Museum, Old Ordinary Campus, and Benjamin Lincoln House — serving families, students, and history enthusiasts in New England through tours, lectures, rentals, and Rev 250 programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historical Society & Museum Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC)

Keywords

• Historical society operations
• Museum education programs
• Historic house tours
• Genealogy research services
• Heritage event rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Hingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees at multiple tiers ($50-$500+) providing benefits including admission to properties, event discounts, and early ticketing access. Membership is the primary recurring revenue stream supporting operations.
2. Tour and Event Tickets: Revenue from admissions to the Hingham Heritage Museum, Old Ordinary, Benjamin Lincoln House, walking tours, and specialty tours. Prices range from $0-$40 for various tour types.
3. Donations: Voluntary contributions from members and the public to support the society's mission of collecting, preserving, and interpreting Hingham's history.
4. Facility Rentals: Rental income from hosting events at the Hingham Heritage Museum ballroom and Old Ordinary Garden/Annex. Weekend rental rates up to $5,000 for the museum space.
5. Lecture Series Subscriptions: Annual lecture series subscription sales at $175-$675 depending on membership tier, covering seven lectures per season.
6. Book Sales: Revenue from published books including 'Hingham in the American of Revolution: Not the Gift of Kings' priced at $42.50.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Hingham Historical Society operates three historic house museum properties (Hingham Heritage Museum, Old Ordinary Campus from 1686, and Benjamin Lincoln House National Historic Landmark) offering docent-led tours, educational programs, lecture series, and research/archive services. It runs a tiered membership program, hosts annual signature events (Historic House Tour, Candlelight Tours), and rents museum spaces for private functions.

Product overview

The Hingham Historical Society operates a non-profit museum and educational organization offering a portfolio of historical attractions, educational programs, membership tiers, and event experiences. The core offerings include three historic house museum sites (Hingham Heritage Museum at Old Derby, Old Ordinary Campus from 1686, and Benjamin Lincoln House National Historic Landmark), guided tour programs (walking tours, golf cart tours, Revolutionary-era themed tours), and educational lecture series. The Society provides membership programs at six levels ($50-$500 annually), operates a retail museum shop, offers facility rentals for events, and conducts annual signature events including the Historic House Tour and Candlelight Tours. The organization also maintains extensive collections and archives for research purposes and publishes historical publications. A 2025-2026 Rev 250 initiative commemorates America's 250th anniversary with special programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hingham Heritage Museum Museum and visitors center at 34 Main Street, Hingham, featuring the Museum Shop, the Witness: Hingham in the Age of Revolution exhibition in the Kelly Gallery, Society Archives, and the Gillis Reading Room. Open to the public Tuesday through Saturday for tours and exhibitions.
• Old Ordinary Campus 1686 house museum, Olmsted Garden, Old Fort, and Arts and Crafts Annex at 21 Lincoln Street, Hingham. Operated as a historic house museum offering tours and special events year-round.
• Benjamin Lincoln House Museum National Historic Landmark at 181 North Street, Hingham, home of Revolutionary War hero Major General Benjamin Lincoln. Operated as a museum with original furnishings, art, and artifacts donated by Lincoln descendants; docent-led tours offered on varied schedules.
• Walking Tours Guided 55-minute walking tours of historic downtown Hingham, beginning and ending at the Hingham Heritage Museum, with stops at historic sites and markers in Hingham Square. Audio-enhanced; prices from $0-$40 depending on visitor type.
• Huzzah Hingham! A Revolutionary Walking Tour Specialized 55-minute guided Revolutionary War-era walking tour celebrating the 250th anniversary, featuring surviving homes from the 1700s and stories of Hinghamites during the American Revolution.
• Hingham History Tour Cart 45-minute electric golf cart tours for groups of up to 4 individuals, led by trained Historical Society staff. Priced at $20 for members and $25 for non-members.
• Collections and Archives Over 15,000 database records including artifacts, documents, fine and decorative arts, costumes, textiles, manuscripts, ephemera, books, printed materials, and photographs documenting Hingham's history. Archives open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays 1:30pm-4pm.
• Annual Lecture Series Annual lecture series featuring historians and scholars on topics related to the American Revolution, local history, and Hingham's heritage. Seven lectures per season, in-person or virtual, with subscription pricing from $175-$675 depending on membership tier.
• Annual Historic House Tour Annual event featuring access to private homes and public buildings, typically held in September. The 99th iteration features seven private homes and six public buildings with Revolutionary-era structures. Ticketed at $65.
• Candlelight Tours of Old Ordinary Annual candlelight tours of the 1686 Old Ordinary building, focusing on hardships of life during New England winters. Typically held in November.
• Hingham in the American Revolution: Not the Gift of Kings (Book) Book by James B. Conroy published by the Hingham Historical Society to commemorate America's 250th anniversary. Available for $42.50.
• Event Venue Rentals Venue rentals including the Hingham Heritage Museum ballroom (up to 200 guests, $2,500 weekdays/$5,000 weekends) and Old Ordinary Olmsted Garden and Annex (from $1,000) for weddings, galas, and private events.
• Membership Program Annual membership tiers including Individual ($100/year), Family ($150/year), Senior ($50/year), Dual Senior ($75/year), Supporter ($250/year), and Steward ($500/year). Benefits include daily admission, member discounts for events, advance notification for programs, and 10% Museum Shop discount.
• Hingham Middle School Summer Reading Groups Free reading groups for Hingham students entering grades 6-8, exploring Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson at historic house museums. Limited to 24 participants per session.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Revolution 250 (Rev 250)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Hingham Historical Society is a sponsor of Revolution 250, a consortium of organizations planning Revolutionary commemorations in Massachusetts. The partnership includes co-marketing of America's 250th anniversary events including Tall Ships Charter Cruise, Knox Trail Field Trip, and other Rev 250 programming.
• Massachusetts 250coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Massachusetts 250, a state initiative commemorating America's 250th anniversary. The society participates in joint programming and marketing for Revolutionary-era commemorative events.
• Town of HinghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with the Town of Hingham to acquire archival materials (John P. Richardson Collection) and coordinate historical preservation efforts. The society participates in community events including the 4th of July Parade and Taste of Hingham.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HinghamHist
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClxIG4FKyi-WwPQAh3P6HAQ?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/359870037772
• Instagraminstagram.com/hinghamhistorical
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hingham-historical-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Hingham Historical Society