Washington State Historical Society

What Washington State Historical Society does

The Washington State Historical Society (WSHS), founded in 1891 and headquartered in Tacoma, WA, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and state-designated trustee agency under RCW 27.34 that collects, preserves, and shares Washington State history. WSHS operates the Washington State History Museum at 1911 Pacific Avenue, which opened in 1996 and serves more than 85,000 visitors annually, including approximately 15,000 children. The Society is staffed by 53 employees and operates through an extensive partnership network spanning cultural institutions, tribal nations, government entities, and corporate sponsors across Washington State.

The Society's core asset is its collection, anchored by the Asahel Curtis Collection of more than 42,000 historical photographs documenting the Pacific Northwest from the 1890s to 1940s, of which 40,166 images have been digitized and made freely accessible through an online searchable collections portal. Other core offerings include COLUMBIA Magazine (a tri-annual publication), the on-site Research Center, K-12 educational programs (History Day, History Lab field trips, History Boxes, curriculum modules), virtual gallery tours, an IN THE SPIRIT Arts Market festival, and event rental services. Technical infrastructure includes a specialized nitrate negative and glass plate archival storage chamber, digital collections management, and a museum mobile application.

WSHS revenue derives from a hybrid model combining membership dues across nine individual tiers ($35–$5,000 annually) and four corporate tiers ($1,000–$10,000), museum admissions, event rentals, image licensing (300dpi and 600dpi), and charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and the State of Washington. The Society also administers the Heritage Capital Projects grant program and coordinates the statewide America250WA commemoration, functioning as both a collecting institution and a statewide convener for Washington's heritage ecosystem.

Name

Washington State Historical Society

Legal name

Washington State Historical Society

Website

https://washingtonhistory.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Washington State Historical Society is a 1891-founded non-profit and state trustee agency that operates the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, preserving and sharing Washington State history through exhibitions, education, a 42,000-image photographic collection, and statewide heritage programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Museum Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Historical Sites (712120)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

History Museums (THAJADAB), Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI), Archives, Special Collections & Preservation Operations (Rare Materials, Conservation) (EDAEAGAJ)

Keywords

• Historical society services
• Museum education programs
• Cultural heritage preservation
• Historical collections management
• Public history exhibitions

Headquarters

HQ city

Tacoma

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Museum Admissions: Revenue from ticket sales for museum entry, with free admission for members and during sponsored events like Third Thursdays
2. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees at multiple tiers from Individual ($50) to Chairman's Club ($5,000), providing free admission, magazine subscription, discounts, and exclusive benefits
3. Event Rentals: Venue rental income from hosting private events at the museum, with corporate discounts available through Patron Business Society
4. Donations and Grants: Charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and government entities including state appropriations and legislative grants
5. Image Licensing: Digital image files available for licensing from the collections, with pricing for 300dpi and 600dpi formats

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Washington State Historical Society operates the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, WA, and preserves, studies, and shares Washington State history through exhibitions, educational programs, a research center, and the COLUMBIA Magazine. It is the state-designated trustee agency under RCW 27.34, manages the Asahel Curtis Collection of over 42,000 images, and serves 85,000+ visitors annually including school groups, members, and the general public.

Product overview

Washington State Historical Society operates as a multi-faceted historical organization centered around the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma, complemented by an online Collections Search database, COLUMBIA Magazine, and statewide educational and grant programs. The society offers physical museum experiences, virtual tours, educational programming for schools and families, research services, membership benefits, and event rentals. Major initiatives include the Asahel Curtis Collection digitization project and America's 250th commemoration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Asahel Curtis Collection: A collection of over 42,000 images captured by photographer Asahel Curtis from the 1890s to 1940s, documenting Pacific Northwest natural resources, industries, cities, historic events, and people.
• Evergreen League
• Patron Business Society
• Heritage Circle

Products and services

• Washington State History Museum Physical museum located at 1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA offering exhibitions, events, educational programs, gift shop, and venue rentals exploring Washington State history.
• Research Center Research facility providing access to collections, archives, and expert staff assistance for historical research inquiries from scholars, genealogists, and researchers.
• Collections Search
• COLUMBIA Magazine
• Education Programs
• History Lab Field Trips
• Membership Program
• Event Rentals
• Virtual Tours and Online Exhibits
• Heritage Capital Projects Program
• Black Washington
• America's 250th Commemoration (America250WA)
• Affiliate Organization Program
• Asahel Curtis Collection Digitization Project
• Image Licensing Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 85,000+ visitors served annually including 15,000 children
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core, flagship and minor.

• Cascade PBSmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Cascade PBS partnered with WSHS to create the documentary 'Asahel: The Curtis Collection,' offering a behind-the-scenes look at the preservation process and its community impact. The documentary won a 2025 Northwest Regional Emmy Award for Best Documentary in the Cultural/Historical category.
• HistoryLink.orgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHistoryLink.org, the free online encyclopedia of Washington State history, partners with WSHS for the 'People's Histories' lecture series and collaborative educational programming. HistoryLink provides content expertise and audience reach for historical education initiatives.
• Columbia BankflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerColumbia Bank sponsors the monthly Third Thursdays events providing free admission and extended museum hours from 3:00-8:00 PM every third Thursday. This ongoing sponsorship enables free public access to the museum.
• PCVA Attorneys at LawminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPCVA Attorneys at Law provided sponsorship enabling the Washington's Original 1889 State Constitution Viewing special event.
• ArtsFundcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerArtsFund provides funding support for museum exhibitions and educational programs, including the REMEMBRANCE exhibition.
• Humanities WashingtoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHumanities Washington supports WSHS public humanities programming and is the state affiliate for the National Endowment for the Humanities.
• Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerIMLS provides grant funding supporting exhibitions including 'This Is Native Land' (MA-253423-OMS-23) and other museum programs.
• M.J. Murdock Charitable TrustcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerM.J. Murdock Charitable Trust provides funding support for museum operations and exhibitions.
• Office of the Secretary of StatecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Office of the Secretary of State partnered with WSHS to present Washington's Original 1889 State Constitution viewing event, with the document provided by the Washington State Archives.
• Washington State ArchivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWashington State Archives provides access to the original 1889 Constitution and collaborates on constitutional history programming.
• Tacoma Art MuseumflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the 21st Annual IN THE SPIRIT Arts Market & Northwest Native Festival, providing complementary admission to both museums during the event.
• Museum of GlassflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the 21st Annual IN THE SPIRIT Arts Market & Northwest Native Festival, providing complementary admission and hosting glass art demonstrations during the event.
• America250WAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSHS serves as the coordinating agency for statewide America250 activities, collaborating on commemorations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
• Legacy WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Legacy Washington (Office of the Secretary of State) to develop the 'Our Voices' exhibition featuring stories from Washington's Southeast Asian refugees.
• Oregon Historical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of the Pacific Northwest History Conference, alternating hosting between Washington and Oregon to engage communities across the region.
• Washington State Council for the Social StudiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of the Pacific Northwest History Conference, bringing together educators and history professionals.
• Filipino American National Historical Society - Greater Puget Sound Chapter (FANHS-GPS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the 3rd Annual Filipino American History Month Commemoration program exploring land, culture, and community in Washington State.
• Maritime Washington National Heritage AreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for 'Shaped by Sea and Story' program exploring Washington's maritime identity and communities along the state's waterways.
• Humanities WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner presenting 'By The People: Traditions in Dialogue' programming including Indigenous Pacific Northwest Weaving conversation, part of nationwide Folklife Festival initiative.
• WACultures (ArtsWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWACultures' Heritage Arts Apprenticeship Program alumni participate in WSHS programming; WACultures serves as the NEA state folklife partner presented by Humanities Washington and ArtsWA.
• Buffalo Soldiers MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner hosting the 'Then and Now: The American History Trail, 1776 to 2026' program celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
• Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers (PSMRE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSMRE non-profit club operates and maintains the model railroad exhibit at the museum, hosting monthly operating sessions and building new scenery details.
• Port of TacomaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPort of Tacoma provides funding support for museum operations and exhibitions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Missouri History Museum: State-affiliated history museum with comparable exhibits, educational programming, and membership model. Operates similar revenue mix of admissions, memberships, and event rentals.
• Idaho State Historical Museum: Idaho's state history museum operated by the Idaho State Historical Society. Directly comparable as a state-designated history museum with similar exhibition, education, and collection stewardship mandates.
• Buffalo Soldiers Museum: Partner on the American History Trail program. A specialized history museum with similar small-staff operations, exhibit-driven revenue, and community partnership model.
• Oregon Historical Society: State-level historical society that co-presents the Pacific Northwest History Conference with WSHS. Operates a comparable mix of history museum, archival collections, educational programs, and membership-based revenue model.
• Minnesota Historical Society: One of the largest and most established state historical societies in the U.S., operating multiple museum sites, research centers, publications, and statewide grant programs analogous to WSHS's structure.
• Washington State Archives: State archival institution that partners with WSHS on constitutional history programming. Comparable archival and records stewardship function, including primary source preservation and public research access.

Regional players

• Tacoma Art Museum: Co-hosts the IN THE SPIRIT Arts Market with WSHS and shares the Tacoma Museum District. Comparable museum operating model and member base but focuses on visual art rather than state history.

Emerging players

• HistoryLink.org: Free online encyclopedia of Washington State history that co-produces People's Histories lectures with WSHS. Directly comparable in digital history content delivery and research audience overlap.

Others

• Cascade Public Media / Cascade PBS: Strategic co-development partner that produced the Emmy-winning Asahel: The Curtis Collection documentary with WSHS. Comparable as a regional content publisher and channel for historical storytelling to a shared audience.

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian National Museum of American History: Federal-scale history museum offering overlapping exhibitions, collections access, and educational programming. Represents the upper bound of scale and brand in the U.S. history museum category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZRXAl-JqixtE7toeX4BTrg
• Facebookfacebook.com/historymuseum
• Instagraminstagram.com/washingtonhistory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/washington-state-historical-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 Washington State Historical Society