The Old Baldy Foundation

What The Old Baldy Foundation does

The Old Baldy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1983 and headquartered on Bald Head Island, North Carolina, where it stewards Old Baldy Lighthouse — built in 1817 and recognized as the oldest surviving lighthouse in the state — together with the Smith Island Museum of History housed in the keeper's cottage. The Foundation operates a single-site heritage attraction that combines self-guided lighthouse climbs (108 stairs, 5 landings), rotating museum exhibits drawn from a multi-century archival collection of Bald Head Island artifacts, and the lighthouse grounds, accessible only via the Bald Head Island ferry from Southport, NC.

Its commercial offering is built around tiered admissions ($10 adult, $5 youth ages 3-12, free under 3) sold on-site at the keeper's cottage, layered with 2-hour guided history tours, special-event rentals of the lighthouse grounds, a Brick Walkway commemorative program, and the Passholders for Preservation membership program. A retail gift shop (physical and online at shop.oldbaldy.org) and donations to the 501(c)(3) provide supplementary revenue. The Foundation also runs structured educational programming — most notably the Lighthouse Learners Program, which serves over 1,000 North Carolina fourth graders annually, and the Junior Keepers youth program — targeting school groups across the state.

The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors (Mark J. Prak, President; Jane Mago, Vice President; Randy Jones, Treasurer; Kim Gottshall, Secretary) and operates with a six-person staff led by Executive Director Chris Webb (since 2016, previously Board President 2006-2016) and Director of Philanthropy Travis Gilbert. It is not affiliated with any parent company, has no venture or private equity backing, and serves a regional Southeast / North Carolina market with a particular focus on the Lower Cape Fear River heritage corridor.

Name

The Old Baldy Foundation

Legal name

The Old Baldy Foundation

Website

https://oldbaldy.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Old Baldy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves and operates North Carolina's oldest surviving lighthouse (built 1817) and the Smith Island Museum of History on Bald Head Island, serving tourists, school groups, and local community members through admissions, tours, educational programs, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic Site Preservation and Heritage Tourism

NAICS

Historical Sites (712120), Museums (712110)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Preservation & Landmarks Conservation (BPAGAHAE), Monuments, Statues & Memorials (THAJACAB)

Keywords

• Historic lighthouse preservation
• Maritime heritage education
• Museum visitor experiences
• Lighthouse tour admissions
• Nonprofit historic site

Headquarters

HQ city

Bald Head Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission and Tour Tickets: The foundation generates revenue through ticket sales for lighthouse climbs and museum access. Adults pay $10, youth ages 3-12 pay $5, and children under 3 enter free. Guided history tours are available at an additional cost with reservations required.
2. Gift Shop Sales: The keeper's cottage contains a gift shop selling merchandise related to the lighthouse and Bald Head Island history.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the foundation relies on public donations to support preservation efforts, educational programs, and operational costs.
4. Event Rentals: The foundation offers special events rentals for community gatherings and celebrations at the lighthouse grounds.
5. Passholder Programs: The 'Passholders for Preservation' program offers membership-style access and benefits to supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Old Baldy Foundation preserves and operates Old Baldy Lighthouse (built 1817, the oldest surviving lighthouse in North Carolina) and the Smith Island Museum of History on Bald Head Island, NC. It offers self-guided lighthouse climbs, museum visits, two-hour guided history tours, school and youth educational programs (Lighthouse Learners, Junior Keepers), special events venue rentals, a commemorative brick program, and a passholder membership program. Revenue is generated through admissions, gift shop sales, donations, event rentals, and passholder memberships.

Product overview

The Old Baldy Foundation operates a single-site historic attraction centered on the Old Baldy Lighthouse (built 1817), the oldest surviving lighthouse in North Carolina. The offering is a unified visitor experience combining self-guided lighthouse climbs, the Smith Island Museum of History (located in the keeper's cottage), and grounds access. Ancillary paid offerings include two-hour guided history tours, educational programs for school groups (Lighthouse Learners Program, Junior Keepers), event rentals, a commemorative brick walkway program, and a membership/passholder program. The foundation also publishes a monthly community newsletter, 'The Keeper's Times.' All attractions require ferry transport to Bald Head Island, which is only accessible by boat.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smith Island Museum of History: Historical museum located inside the keeper's cottage at Old Baldy Lighthouse, dedicated to preserving and sharing the cultural and historical narrative of Bald Head Island.

Products and services

• Old Baldy Lighthouse Tours Self-guided climbs of the 1817 Old Baldy Lighthouse, featuring 108 stairs and 5 landings leading to panoramic views of Bald Head Island and the Cape Fear River estuary. Available during seasonal business hours on a walk-up basis for adults ($10), youth ages 3-12 ($5), and free for children under 3.
• Smith Island Museum of History

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,000 fourth graders annually receive educational experiences through the Lighthouse Learners Program

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Old-Baldy-Lighthouse-and-Smith-Island-Museum-of-History-67154593687
• Instagraminstagram.com/oldbaldylighthouse
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-old-baldy-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Old Baldy Foundation