Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home

What Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home does

Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit historic estate museum operated by The Friends of Hildene, LLC, situated on 412 acres in Manchester, Vermont between the Taconic and Green Mountains. The organization preserves and interprets the legacy of Robert Todd Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln, who built the 24-room Georgian Revival mansion in 1905. Core offerings center on the historic home, a formal garden designed in 1908, a 72-foot restored 1903 Pullman railcar (Sunbeam), 12 miles of walking trails with a 600-foot ADA-accessible floating boardwalk, and a regenerative working farm (Hildene Farm) producing honey, maple syrup, goat dairy, and textiles sold through an on-site and online museum store.

The business model is multi-streamed: general admission ($25 adult, $8 youth), tiered memberships ($65-$1,000) with reciprocal benefits across 1,300+ NARM museums and 345+ AHS gardens, facility rentals and weddings (Lincoln Hall, 225 capacity), youth summer camps ($325-$525), school field trip programs ($6-$7 per student serving 39 Vermont elementary schools), event-driven special programs (Lincoln Forum Symposium, Legacy Gala), and donations including a Legacy Society for planned giving. The organization serves tourists, families, K-12 schools, lifelong learners, and corporate event clients, with 40,000+ annual visitors and a 11-50 employee team.

A significant inflection occurred in June 2024 with the opening of Lincoln Hall, a 14,000-square-foot Programs and Celebrations Center representing the largest capital construction project since the original mansion. This expanded capacity has enabled year-round programming, an enterprise/corporate event business line, and high-profile national convenings such as the Lincoln Forum Symposium featuring Ken Burns. The organization operates primarily direct-to-consumer through its website, on-site ticketing, and digital channels, with active marketing via social media, email, earned media, and signature events.

Name

Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home

Legal name

The Friends of Hildene, LLC

Website

https://hildene.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hildene is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit historic estate museum in Manchester, Vermont, preserving the Lincoln family legacy across 412 acres through the 1905 Georgian Revival home, restored Pullman railcar, working farm, educational programs, and year-round events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historic House Museum and Cultural Heritage Tourism

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

akta.pro primary industry

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC)

Keywords

• Historic house museum
• Cultural heritage tourism
• Educational programs
• Museum events venue
• Working farm tours

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester Center

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, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. General Admission Tickets: Visitors purchase tickets for self-guided tours of the home, gardens, farm, Pullman railcar, and trails. Adults $25, Youth (6-16) $8, with free admission for children 5 and under and members.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership program with multiple tiers: Individual ($65), Household ($125), Contributing ($250), Supporting ($500), and Ambassador ($1,000). Includes reciprocal benefits with NARM and AHS institutions.
3. Guided Tours: Add-on guided house tours offered daily at 11am and 1pm for $12 per person. Includes introduction outside the house and walkthrough of Robert and Mary's home.
4. Museum Store Sales: E-commerce and on-site retail store selling Hildene-produced goods including estate honey, maple syrup, goat milk soaps, farm yarns, textiles, and locally sourced artisan items.
5. Donations and Fundraising: Annual fund, capital campaigns, planned giving programs, and the Hildene Legacy Society for estate planning supporters.
6. Facility Rental and Events: Lincoln Hall hosts weddings, celebrations, corporate events, community gatherings, and partner engagements. Weddings & celebrations contact: [email protected] or (802) 227-7443.
7. Summer Camps and Youth Programs: Day camps for children entering grades 2-6, Youth Corps program for 7th-8th graders. Fees range from $325-$525 depending on program and membership status.
8. School Programs: Field trip programs for K-12 students at $6-7 per student. Includes natural science and history programs aligned with NGSS and social studies standards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home operates a 412-acre historic estate museum in Manchester, Vermont, offering self-guided and guided tours of Robert Lincoln's 1905 Georgian Revival home, formal gardens, restored 1903 Pullman railcar, 12 miles of walking trails, and a working farm. The organization sells admission tickets, annual memberships, summer camps, K-12 school programs, weddings and corporate event rentals at Lincoln Hall (14,000 sq ft, opened June 2024), and a museum store featuring estate-produced goods including honey, goat milk soap, and farm-spun yarn.

Product overview

Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home is a 412-acre historic estate museum in Manchester, Vermont, dedicated to preserving and presenting the Lincoln family legacy. The organization operates as a unified visitor experience with multiple interconnected offerings: General Admission and Guided Tours provide access to the core historic sites (Robert and Mary's 1905 Georgian Revival home, the Formal Garden, and the restored 1903 Pullman railcar Sunbeam); Membership Programs offer tiered benefits including free admission, reciprocal access to NARM and AHS institutions, and exclusive events like the Annual Garden Party and Private Golf Cart Tours. The estate features Hildene Farm, a regenerative working farm producing goat dairy, honey, and fiber (yarn, scarves, blankets) sold through The Museum Store. Educational programming includes Summer Camps for children (nature exploration, farm, art, forest ecology themes), School Programs aligned with NGSS standards, and the Hildene Youth Corps for middle schoolers. Lincoln Hall, opened June 2024 as the 14,000 sq ft Programs and Celebrations Center, hosts the Lincoln Forum Symposium, Legacy Gala, and community events accommodating up to 225 guests. Additional offerings include seasonal events (Farm Chores, Bird Walks, Moth Bioblitz, Butterfly Walkabouts), the annual Lincoln Essay Competition for Vermont 8th graders, and venue rental for weddings and corporate gatherings. The Museum Store sells estate-produced goods (honey, maple syrup, goat milk soaps, farm-spun yarn and textiles) alongside books and local artisan crafts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Admission and Guided House Tours Self-guided access to the 1905 Georgian Revival Lincoln family home, Formal Garden, Hildene Farm, restored 1903 Pullman railcar Sunbeam, and 12 miles of walking trails for $25 adults / $8 youth (6-16), with members and children under 5 free. Add-on guided house tours are offered daily at 11am and 1pm for $12 per person.
• Annual Membership Program Tiered annual memberships: Individual ($65), Household ($125), Contributing ($250), Supporting ($500), and Ambassador ($1,000), offering unlimited year-round admission, guest passes, reduced rates for camps and programs, reciprocal admission to 1,300+ NARM museums and 345+ AHS gardens, and exclusive member events like the Annual Garden Party.
• Summer Day Camps Day camps for children entering grades 2-6 covering nature exploration, farming, art, and forest ecology themes including Nets Buckets and Boots, Farm Camp, Fabulous Forests, Eco-Explorer Camp, Bug Bonanza, Art in Bloom, and The Wild and Wonderful World of Plants. Fees range from $325 to $375 with member discounts and scholarships available.
• Hildene Youth Corps Two-week summer leadership program for 8 motivated youth entering 7th-8th grade focused on carpentry skills, farm chores, ecology exploration, and nonprofit research. Fees are $450 for members and $525 for non-members, with a $50 donation award upon completion.
• K-12 School Programs Experiential, inquiry-based learning programs for grades K-12 aligned with NGSS and Social Studies Standards, including natural science programs (Sheep Sense, Wetlands, Streams, Chickens, Goats, Vernal Pools, Greenhouse, Bees, Pond Critters) and history programs (Pullman Porters, Windows to the Past, Lincoln Telegraph, Historic Crafts, Hollow School). Programs are $6-$7 per student.
• Weddings and Celebrations Venue Wedding and celebration venue services at the 412-acre estate featuring the Georgian Revival mansion, Formal Garden, and Lincoln Hall (14,000 sq ft, accommodates up to 225 guests, opened June 2024). A dedicated events team handles inquiries via [email protected] and (802) 227-7443.
• Corporate and Nonprofit Partner Engagements Corporate event hosting services for leadership teams, staff retreats, and conferences with private tours, scholar speakers, and farm experiences across the 412-acre property. Director of Partner Engagements Carmine Cole ([email protected], 802-367-1144) manages bookings.
• Lincoln Forum Symposium Annual 3-day scholarly symposium at Hildene co-presented with The Lincoln Forum, featuring prominent Lincoln scholars and documentary screenings. The 2026 symposium included Ken Burns receiving the inaugural Lincoln Forum Film Award in conversation with Harold Holzer, with attendees from 35 states. Bank of Bennington serves as presenting sponsor.
• Lincoln Essay Competition Annual essay competition for Vermont 8th graders, now in its 20th year in 2026, inviting students to connect founding principles of the Declaration of Independence to current issues. The 2026 competition received 147 submissions with prizes totaling over $5,000.
• The Museum Store On-site store in the restored carriage barn plus online Shopify storefront selling estate-produced goods including Hildene honey ($6.95-$24.95), maple syrup ($6.25-$16.95), goat milk soaps ($7.95), farm-spun yarn ($28), basketweave scarves ($235), farm-to-yarn throws ($250), lap blankets ($380), wool dryer balls, and Herbes de Hildene seasoning, alongside books and locally sourced artisan crafts.
• Group Tours Self-guided and docent-led group tours including the Lincoln home, carriage barn, gardens, Pullman railcar, goat dairy, and exhibits, with optional catered lunch at the post and beam lunch Pavilion or Beckwith Room through preferred caterer Erik Peckel Catering ($50 facility fee). Bookings via [email protected] or 800-578-1788.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 40,000 annual visitors across diverse programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Bank of BenningtonflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2026Bank of Bennington serves as the presenting sponsor for the 2nd Annual Lincoln Forum Symposium at Hildene in May 2026. The event features Ken Burns and Lincoln scholars with attendees from 35 states. Bank of Bennington is headquartered in Bennington, Vermont and has been dedicated to strengthening local communities for over a century.
• The Lincoln ForumflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026The Lincoln Forum is an assembly of people sharing deep interest in Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era, hosting annual gatherings in Gettysburg since 1996. The 2026 Spring Symposium at Hildene is co-presented with Hildene, featuring Ken Burns receiving the Lincoln Forum Film Award. The inaugural symposium sold out with attendees from 35 states.
• Erik Peckel CateringcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPreferred caterer for Hildene's group tour lunch program, offering pre-order buffet and boxed lunch options. Contact: [email protected] or 802.353.6172. Located in Manchester, Vermont area.
• Bennington County Habitat for HumanityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted the Model Home Competition event at Lincoln Hall in 2024-2025, demonstrating community use of the new facilities.
• Southwestern Vermont Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosted the 4th Annual Women and Leadership Luncheon at Lincoln Hall, supporting regional business community programming.
• Manchester Business AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts monthly meetings and events at Lincoln Hall, supporting local business community networking and professional development.
• Vermont African American Heritage TrailcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHildene's Pullman Car 'Sunbeam' is one of the southernmost sites on the Vermont African American Heritage Trail, which celebrates historic and cultural sites significant to African American history and civil rights.
• Ken BurnsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned documentary filmmaker and nation's most honored documentarian received the inaugural Lincoln Forum Film Award at the 2026 Spring Symposium. Engaged in conversation with Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer, with screening of 'The Civil War' documentary highlights.
• Harold HolzercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLincoln Forum Chairman and prominent Lincoln scholar who presented the Lincoln Forum Film Award to Ken Burns. Leading authority on Lincoln-era political communications.
• Jay Unger and Molly MichaelsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusicians who composed and performed 'Ashokan Farewell' theme song for Ken Burns' 'Civil War' documentary. Appeared at Saturday night symposium event to serenade honoree and attendees.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Shelburne Farms: Vermont-based nonprofit working farm and historic estate offering educational programs, tours, walking trails, and events on a similarly large rural property. Most relevant regional peer given shared geography, working-farm component, and educational nonprofit model.

Direct peers

• Spring Hill (U.S. Grant Presidential Library & Historic House): U.S. Grant's historic home sites are part of the same presidential-family-home nonprofit museum category as Hildene, with comparable small-team operations, school programs, and donor-supported preservation needs.
• Mount Vernon (George Washington's Mount Vernon): Mount Vernon is the most directly comparable presidential-family home estate: a privately operated nonprofit historic site with mansion tours, educational programs, events, retail, and reciprocal memberships. Like Hildene, it monetizes family legacy through admissions, memberships, and donor-funded preservation — but at substantially larger scale and in a single historic-site category.
• Kykuit (Rockefeller Estate / National Trust for Historic Preservation): Preserved early-20th-century family estate in New York's Hudson Valley with similar Gilded Age era, working-property scale, and nonprofit preservation model. Comparable for landscape programming and tour formats.
• Monticello (Thomas Jefferson Foundation): Monticello operates a presidential-family estate museum with comparable revenue mix — general admission, membership tiers, signature ticketed events, school programs, and a working estate. Serves as the closest comparable for Lincoln-era to early-20th-century presidential home museums.
• The Mark Twain House & Museum: Hartford-based Gilded Age literary family home operated as a nonprofit museum with mansion tours, school programs, theater and event rentals, and a museum store. Directly comparable to Hildene in scale, era, and operational model.
• Sagamore Hill (Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Foundation / NPS): Sagamore Hill is the preserved home of Theodore Roosevelt on Long Island — a presidential family home museum with similar offerings (mansion tours, walking trails, education programs, events). Operated as a partnership with the National Park Service, providing a federal-partnership template relevant to Hildene.
• The Breakers (Preservation Society of Newport County): Gilded Age Vanderbilt summer mansion operated as a nonprofit house museum, comparable to Hildene in mission, era, and event-revenue model. Strong adjacency for benchmarking high-end wedding and corporate event pricing strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Historic New England: Regional nonprofit operating a portfolio of historic house museums across New England, including Philip Johnson Glass House and the Spencer-Pierce-Little Farm. Broader incumbent that aggregates regional preservation and reciprocal-museum network activity relevant to Hildene's NARM/AHS integration.
• Biltmore Estate: Larger, commercially operated historic estate with extensive programming including admissions, wine, lodging, events, and a working farm. While much larger in scale, its multi-revenue-stream model (lodging, dining, retail, events) is the upper-bound benchmark for monetizing a 400+ acre estate experience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HildeneTheLincolnFamilyHome
• Instagraminstagram.com/hildenethelincolnfamilyhome
• Xx.com/hildene
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friends-of-hildene

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 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 Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home