Wilson Museum

What Wilson Museum does

Wilson Museum is a heritage museum located in Castine, Maine, legally organized as the Castine Scientific Society and founded in 1921 by geologist Dr. J. Howard Wilson. The institution operates a single physical campus at 107 Perkins Street comprising the main museum building, the Perkins Gallery, the Hutchins Education Center, a working blacksmith shop, wood shop, boat shop, and the relocated 18th-century John & Phebe Perkins House (circa 1763). Its collection spans 460-million-year-old trilobites, Neanderthal-era stone tools, Indigenous cultural artifacts, and local Castine historical materials. Core programming includes year-round Hands-On History Days every Wednesday and Sunday in July and August, Perkins House guided tours, school field trips, youth camps (e.g., February Vacation Camp for grades K-4), and adult workshops in blacksmithing, woodworking, pottery, fiber arts, rope making, and historic foodways. The museum runs free admission with seasonal hours May 27 to September 30 and serves families, school groups, children, local community members, and seasonal tourists on the Blue Hill Peninsula.

The museum is supported by a small full-time staff (1-10 employees) including an Executive Director, Curator & Collections Manager, Manager of Community Engagement, Manager of Museum Learning, and Facilities Manager, supplemented by seasonal part-time Curiosity Guides and contracted blacksmiths during the summer. Revenue is generated through a diversified mix: donations and a tiered membership program (Friends, Wilson Wayfinders leadership giving circle, Nautilus Circle planned giving), corporate sponsorships from regional banks (Bangor Savings Bank, Camden National Bank, First National Bank), retail merchandise sales, wedding and facility rentals at the campus, and nominal program fees for select camps and workshops. The legal entity is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 23-7059689), governed by a Board of Trustees that includes community members from land preservation, education, library science, theater production, and finance backgrounds.

The museum's technology footprint is modest: a Squarespace-hosted website, Zoom-based virtual programming, a digital archive of Wilson Museum Bulletins (1977-present), and searchable online cemetery records for seven local burial grounds. Distribution is primarily in-person visitation to the Castine campus with regional off-site outreach to partners such as the Blue Hill Public Library. Strategic partnerships extend to the Castine Historical Society, Wabanaki Tribal Nations, Atlantic Black Box, Maine Maritime Academy, George Stevens Academy, Maine Seacoast Mission, Shaw Institute, and Good Table Foundation, supporting programming in local history, Indigenous cultural education, environmental science, music, and food resilience. Julia Gray has served as Executive Director since September 2021, succeeding Patricia L. Hutchins who led the institution for five decades.

Name

Wilson Museum

Legal name

Castine Scientific Society

Website

https://wilsonmuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wilson Museum is a heritage museum in Castine, Maine, founded in 1921, offering natural history exhibits, cultural artifacts, historic house tours, and hands-on educational programs to families, school groups, and regional visitors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Museum Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

History Museums (THAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museum & Landmark Guided Tours (Skip-the-line/Docent-led) (THAJAAAC), Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA)

Keywords

• Heritage museum services
• Cultural education programs
• Living history demonstrations
• Natural history exhibits
• Historic house tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Castine

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. Donations and Memberships: The museum relies heavily on donations from visitors and members. Membership program offers benefits including 10% discount in museum shop. Donors can become Friends (any amount), Wilson Wayfinders (leadership giving circle), or Nautilus Circle (planned giving)
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors support specific programs and events. Current sponsors include Bangor Savings Bank (Artisan Market lead sponsor), Camden National Bank (Living History Days), First National Bank (Art Cart)
3. Retail Sales: Museum shop selling merchandise with 10% member discount
4. Facility Rentals: Wedding and event rentals at the museum campus including Perkins House and outdoor spaces
5. Program Fees: Some specialized programs charge nominal fees: February Vacation Camp $10/day or $50/week, canoe paddle workshops, and other specialized workshops

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Wilson Museum operates a heritage museum campus in Castine, Maine offering free general admission to galleries of natural history, archaeology, and Indigenous cultural artifacts; Hands-On History Days with working demonstrations in blacksmithing, woodworking, pottery, fiber arts, ropework, and historic foodways; guided tours of the historic 1763 John & Phebe Perkins House; youth and school educational programs including February Vacation Camp; an annual Artisan Market & Picnic; cemetery research databases; and facility rentals for weddings and private events.

Product overview

Wilson Museum is a single-site cultural museum in Castine, Maine offering a unified experience centered on hands-on history and cultural education. The core offering consists of museum galleries with exhibits spanning natural history, archaeology, and local history; Hands-On History Days with interactive demonstrations; and guided tours of the John & Phebe Perkins House. Supporting programs include youth vacation camps, educational workshops, an annual Artisan Market, cemetery research tools, and event rentals. The museum operates seasonally from late May through September.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Museum & Perkins Gallery Main museum galleries featuring exhibits on geology, archaeology, anthropology, natural history, and local Castine history, with collections spanning from 460-million-year-old trilobites to contemporary artifacts. Free admission with donations accepted. Open seasonally May 27 - September 30.
• Hands-On History Days Interactive, multi-sensory learning experiences featuring blacksmithing, woodworking, pottery, fiber arts, historic foodways, and ropework demonstrations, offered every Wednesday and Sunday in July and August (2-5 pm). Free admission.
• John & Phebe Perkins House Tours Guided tours of the historic 1763 Perkins House, a restored 18th-century home with original Perkins family heirlooms and period furnishings, offered on Hands-On History Days during July and August.
• Museum Learning & Education Programs Educational programming including youth programs, school field trips, workshops, and curriculum-aligned learning experiences for visitors of all ages.
• February Vacation Camp Multi-day youth camp programs for grades K-4 exploring themes such as animal friends, arts and adventure, with activities including creative projects, outdoor exploration, and object-based learning. Priced at $10 per day or $50 for the full week with need-based scholarships available.
• Cemetery Research Online database and survey of local burial grounds including Avery, Bowden-Devereux, Castine Town, Perkins, Webster, Wescott, and Wilson Cemeteries with searchable listings and photographs.
• Artisan Market & Picnic Annual event promoting traditional craftspeople and artisans with demonstrations, workshops, and community picnic featuring local food trucks and bake oven samples. Lead sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank.
• Wedding & Event Rentals Venue rental services for weddings and special events at the museum campus overlooking Penobscot Bay, including Perkins House and outdoor spaces.
• Wilson Museum Bulletin Archive Digital archive of museum publications featuring articles on history, exhibits, collections, and educational programs from 1977 to present.
• Collections The museum's holdings include fossils, archaeological artifacts, Indigenous cultural objects from around the world, natural history specimens, and local historical materials available for research and exhibit.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free admission to all museum venues ensures broad accessibility
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered lead, core and minor.

• Bangor Savings BankleadGTM or Marketing PartnerLead sponsor of the annual Artisan Market & Picnic event, supporting the museum's traditional crafts celebration and artisan showcase
• Camden National BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGenerous supporter of Living History Days, Living History Open House, and Artisan Market & Picnic programs
• First National BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting sponsor for the Art Cart utilized during youth and family programs
• Blue Hill Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for Hands-On History outreach programs, bringing museum programming to the broader Blue Hill community
• George Stevens AcademyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership featuring GSA Honors Jazz Combo Reptilicus performances as part of Music at the Museum series
• Maine Maritime AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCosponsor of community events including movie nights and collaborative programming featuring Schooner Bowdoin
• Maine Seacoast MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Hands-On History Open House featuring floating open house aboard the 74-foot vessel Sunbeam at Castine town dock
• Shaw InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership hosting Dr. Charlie Rolsky's presentation on plastic pollution and environmental health
• Good Table FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCastine-based nonprofit partnership for discussions on local farmers and community food resilience
• Castine Historical SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchival partnership with shared collections management; joint programming including cemetery research resources and archival workshops
• Atlantic Black BoxminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Castine History Partners initiative for the WHERE (Walks for Historical & Ecological Recovery) program exploring Indigenous, Black, and settler history
• Wabanaki Tribal NationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Indigenous cultural programming, repatriation discussions, and Wabanaki story-sharing events
• WERUminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAudio production partnership for community storytelling events, collaborating with audio producer Lizzie Peabody

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Strawbery Banke Museum: A living-history museum in Portsmouth, NH featuring restored historic houses, traditional craft demonstrations, and immersive programming - directly comparable to Wilson's Hands-On History model and Perkins House-style house museums, at a slightly larger scale.
• Castine Historical Society: The local Castine heritage organization with which Wilson shares archival collections and cemetery research resources - a direct same-town peer with overlapping mission in local history preservation and community programming.
• Penobscot Marine Museum: A regional heritage museum in Searsport, Maine with collections spanning maritime history, local genealogy, and traditional boatbuilding - sharing Wilson's combination of regional Castine/Maine history, boat shop programming, and small non-profit operating model.
• Abbe Museum: A Maine heritage museum in Bar Harbor focused on Wabanaki history and culture, also operating as a small non-profit with seasonal visitation - notably comparable because Executive Director Julia Gray previously worked at the Abbe Museum, and both institutions emphasize Indigenous cultural programming.

Broad incumbents

• Mystic Seaport Museum: A major maritime heritage museum in Connecticut featuring historic vessels, boat shops, and traditional craft demonstrations - sharing Wilson's coastal-Maine boat shop programming and Perkins House-style historic structures, but at much larger scale.
• Old Sturbridge Village: A larger New England living-history museum in Massachusetts with extensive historic buildings, traditional craft demonstrations, and immersive education - the closest scaled-up analog to Wilson's Hands-On History Days concept, though operating at significantly greater scale and budget.
• Historic Deerfield: A New England heritage museum with period house tours, craft demonstrations, and curriculum-aligned educational programming - comparable to Wilson's educational programming model and Perkins House tours, though with a broader decorative-arts collection.

Regional players

• Fort Knox State Historic Site: A mid-19th century coastal fortification in Prospect, Maine offering guided tours and interpretive programming - a regional Maine peer for historic-site operations, education programming, and seasonal visitation patterns.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WilsonMuseum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

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 Wilson Museum