White Bear Lake Area Historical Society

What White Bear Lake Area Historical Society does

The White Bear Lake Area Historical Society (WBLAHS) is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1970 to preserve and interpret the history of the White Bear Lake Area in Minnesota. The organization operates three historic properties as its core assets: the White Bear Lake Armory (purchased from the City of White Bear Lake in 2022, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019), the Fillebrown House (donated in 1978, NRHP-listed 1976), and the White Bear Town Hall (a Cass Gilbert-designed 1885 building at Polar Lakes Park managed in partnership with White Bear Township). These sites function simultaneously as exhibit venues, headquarters, research facilities, and tour destinations. The organization employs three paid staff (Executive Director Sara Markoe Hanson, Creative Director Dan Jones, Community Engagement Director Allison Lincoln) supported by a Board of Directors of approximately twelve community members and an active volunteer base.

WBLAHS's offerings center on site-based tours (walking, bus, and boat tours priced $20-45 per person), a research library and staff-assisted research services, a digital collections database hosted on MNCollections.org containing 8,000+ photographs and 150+ years of records (census 1860-1930, cemetery indexes, church records, microfilmed newspapers 1887-2005), group presentations covering 40+ topics, rotating pop-up exhibits, and community events including the annual Pops on the Porch concert and the upcoming 2026 Wall That Heals Vietnam Memorial hosting. Revenue is generated through tiered annual memberships ($30-$1000+), business memberships ($50-$500+), donations (including an endowment fund), tour and program fees, research and photo-scan services ($7-55 per order), event sponsorships, and grants from entities such as the Minnesota Historical Society.

The go-to-market is community-led: WBLAHS depends on grassroots membership, donations, and volunteer support, supplemented by strategic partnerships with the League of Women Voters, VFW, American Legion, Rotary Club, Many Faces Collaboration, and The Gilder Lehrman Collection. The technology stack is conventional nonprofit infrastructure: Square for payments, Eventbrite for ticketing, Google Calendar/iCalendar for event distribution, and the MNCollections.org platform for collections management. The Armory is undergoing a multi-year transformation into a museum with consulting support from Bluestem Heritage Group and SALA Architects, indicating a strategic pivot from custodial preservation toward expanded public programming and visitation.

Name

White Bear Lake Area Historical Society

Legal name

White Bear Lake Area Historical Society

Website

https://whitebearhistory.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The White Bear Lake Area Historical Society is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1970 that preserves and interprets White Bear Lake Area history through three National Register historic sites, a 150-year research collection, tours, educational programs, and community events for local residents, genealogists, schools, and partner organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Historical Society and Museum Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF)

Keywords

• Local history preservation
• Historical society services
• Genealogical research
• Museum education programs
• Community heritage tours

Headquarters

HQ city

White Bear Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: One-time and recurring donations supporting general operations and endowment fund. 501c3 charitable organization with Tax ID 23-7303749.
2. Business Memberships: Hometown Business memberships at $50-500+ with listings in newsletter and website.
3. Tours and Programs: Walking tours ($20-45/person), bus tours ($25-40/person), and group presentations with pricing varying by tour type and group size.
4. Research and Image Services: Staff-assisted research services and digital photo scans at $7-30 per image, with custom photo editing at $55.
5. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities for events including Historic House Tour and The Wall That Heals.
6. Memberships: Annual memberships at multiple tiers from $30-$1000+, providing newsletter, free/discounted event access, and member-only events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The White Bear Lake Area Historical Society preserves and shares the history of the White Bear Lake Area through three historic properties (Armory, Fillebrown House, White Bear Town Hall), a research library of 150+ years of local records, and a public collections database. It sells guided tours (walking, bus, boat), group presentations, research and photo-scan services, and membership subscriptions, and hosts pop-up exhibits and community events such as Pops on the Porch and The Wall That Heals.

Product overview

The White Bear Lake Area Historical Society operates a multi-site historical organization centered on three historic properties (The Armory, Fillebrown House, and White Bear Town Hall) and provides research, educational, and community programming services. The core offerings include historic site tours and presentations, genealogical and local history research services through a resource library and online collections database (via MNCollections.org), and educational group programs with over 40 topic presentations. The society runs rotating and pop-up exhibits at the Armory exhibit hall, hosts annual events like Pops on the Porch and The Wall That Heals, publishes the Lake Area Preserver newsletter, and maintains membership programs with tiered benefits. A major transformation initiative is underway to convert the Armory into a modern museum with new exhibits, gift shop, and improved visitor facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Many Faces Many Stories: A collaboration of organizations from the greater White Bear Lake Area that builds community by providing opportunities to listen, learn, reflect, and engage in conversations on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Products and services

• Membership Program Annual membership subscriptions to support the historical society, with tiered benefits including newsletter, free/discounted event admission, members holiday party, gift shop discounts, and access to museums. Individual ($40), Household ($60), Senior/Veteran/Student ($30), Supporting ($100), Sustaining ($300), Advocate ($500), and Legacy ($1000+) tiers available. Business Hometown Business Memberships from $50-500+ with newsletter and website listings.
• Resource Library & Research Services Staff-assisted historical research services by appointment at the White Bear Lake Armory resource library. Collection spans 150+ years of local history including books, newspapers on microfilm (1887-2005), cemetery records, organizational records, 8,000+ photographs, census data, and genealogical indexes. Members receive first hour free then $15/30 min; non-members first 15 min free then $30/30 min.
• Group Tours Guided walking tours (Union Cemetery, St. Mary's Cemetery, Lake Avenue Stroll, Downtown, Cottage Park, Historic Wildwood, Historic Pub Crawl, Fillebrown House), bus tours (Gangster Bus Tour, Around the Lake, Mahtomedi), and historic boat tours of White Bear Lake. Walking and pub tours priced $20-$45/person; bus tours $25-$40/person; boat tours $25/person.
• Group Presentations Over 40 educational programs on local history topics delivered at WBLAHS locations or on-site at residential communities, businesses, and organizations. Topics include '1918: A Year in Stories', 'Cass Gilbert's White Bear Cottages', 'White Bear's Notorious Gangsters', and other community history themes. Approximately one hour per presentation.
• Photo Scan & Digital Image Services Digital scanning services for collection images in three resolutions: 150 dpi low res ($7/scan), 300 dpi medium res ($20/scan), and 600 dpi high res ($30/scan). Custom photo editing available for $55 per photo. Members receive a 50% discount on all orders. Online ordering and usage permission processing available.
• Many Faces Many Stories Program Community collaboration program exploring equity, diversity, and inclusion through conversations, historical exploration, and community engagement. Includes the 'Many Faces of the White Bear Lake Area' e-book and original programs on Dakota/Ojibwe history, European settlers, and demographic shifts.
• Lake Area Preserver Newsletter Twice-yearly print newsletter mailed to members covering historical society news, events, and local history stories. Digital copies available online and eNewsletter subscription available for digital updates.
• Pop-Up Exhibits Traveling exhibitions hosted at the White Bear Lake Armory, often in partnership with national organizations like The Gilder Lehrman Collection, DAR, and American Battlefield Trust. Includes exhibits on American history and voting rights for the USA's 250th birthday celebration.
• White Bear Lake Armory Museum Site Historic building at 2228 Fourth Street serving as the WBLAHS headquarters, office, resource library, gift shop, and exhibit hall. Open Tuesdays through Fridays 10am-3pm, plus special events. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in April 2019. Undergoing transformation into a world-class museum with multi-use spaces.
• Fillebrown House Museum 1879 lakeside cottage at 4735 Lake Avenue preserved as a historic house museum, featuring tours showcasing the Fillebrown, Noyes, and Young families who occupied it. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976. Tours and special events throughout the year included with membership benefits.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving greater White Bear Lake Area community including cities of White Bear Lake, Gem Lake, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, Mahtomedi, Birchwood Village, Dellwood, and White Bear Township

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• White Bear TownshipcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Government partner for hosting The Wall That Heals Vietnam Memorial at Polar Lakes Park August 6-9, 2026. Township owns the park site where event is held.
• White Bear Lake VFW Post 1782coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Veterans organization partnering to host The Wall That Heals Vietnam Memorial exhibit. Co-organizer with American Legion for the community event.
• White Bear Lake American Legion Post 168coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Veterans organization partnering to host The Wall That Heals Vietnam Memorial exhibit. Co-organizer with VFW for the community event.
• Langer ConstructionmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2025Construction company that completed masonry restoration on the Armory Headhouse in spring/summer 2025, including parapet reconstruction and century-old brick cleaning.
• Many Faces CollaborationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration of organizations from the greater White Bear Lake Area building community through equity, diversity, and inclusion conversations. Includes WBLAHS, League of Women Voters, and other community organizations. Produced the 'Many Faces of the White Bear Lake Area' e-book and ongoing programming.
• League of Women Voters White Bear Lake AreacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for voting rights exhibits and community education events. Collaborated on the 'Who Can Vote? A Brief History of Voting Rights' pop-up exhibit exploring the complex history of voting rights in the United States.
• The Gilder Lehrman CollectionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides traveling pop-up exhibits for the White Bear Lake Area celebrating the USA's 250th birthday. Exhibits include 'Freedom: The History of Us' and 'Who Can Vote? A Brief History of Voting Rights'. Exhibits sourced from the national historical document collection.
• Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums (MNCollections)coreTechnology or IntegrationProvides MNCollections.org collective database platform for managing and sharing collection records. WBLAHS transitioning collections from previous software system to this Minnesota-wide consortium database.
• Bluestem Heritage GroupmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsulting firm engaged for market analysis, audience analysis, collections review, and historic context review for Armory transformation project. Analyzed 14 local museums and 13 national museums as comparisons.
• SALA ArchitectsmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitectural firm engaged for Armory building and site study to develop recommendations for re-use of the site as a museum.
• Minnesota Historical SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegacy grant funder for the Many Faces Many Stories publication documenting the history of the White Bear Lake Area dating back to Ojibwe migration.
• Explore White BearminorMarketing PartnerLocal tourism organization; WBLAHS partner site promoting White Bear Lake area attractions and history.
• Minnesota Clean Water Land LegacyminorMarketing PartnerState environmental program supported by Minnesota's Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment. Listed as community partner on WBLAHS site.
• White Bear Lake Rotary ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerService organization co-sponsoring the 'Who Can Vote?' exhibit opening with Dr. Yohuru Williams keynote speaker.
• White Bear Township VFW and American Legion AuxiliariescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAuxiliary organizations supporting The Wall That Heals Vietnam Memorial event at Polar Lakes Park.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Minnesota Historical Society: State-level historical organization operating multiple historic sites, museums (e.g., Mill City Museum, Historic Fort Snelling), and statewide collections. WBLAHS partners with MNHS as a legacy grant funder and shares the same preservation and education mission at a much smaller scale.
• National Trust for Historic Preservation: National nonprofit focused on historic preservation advocacy, education, and member-supported site stewardship. Provides the broader preservation framework that supports local societies including WBLAHS.

Direct peers

• Ramsey County Historical Society: County-level historical society serving Ramsey County, which includes White Bear Lake. Operates historic sites (e.g., the Gibbs Farm), archives, and education programs at a comparable scale and structure, making it the closest geographic and operational peer.
• Hennepin History Museum: County-level historical museum in Hennepin County operating from a historic mansion, offering exhibits, archives, and educational programming. Highly comparable operating model to WBLAHS's Armory/Fillebrown House combination.
• Washington County Historical Society: Historical society serving Washington County (Stillwater area) with historic sites, collections, and education programs. Comparable Twin Cities metro-area nonprofit historical society with similar membership and tour revenue model.
• Dakota County Historical Society: County-level historical society in the south Twin Cities metro operating historic sites (e.g., the Lawshe Memorial Museum), genealogical archives, and educational programming. Directly comparable structure and mission to WBLAHS.
• Anoka County Historical Society: County-level historical society operating the Anoka County History Center with archives, exhibits, and education programs. Similar suburban Twin Cities scale and operational structure to WBLAHS.

Regional players

• History Theater: Twin Cities-based theater producing plays on Minnesota history. Shares the local-history mission and has a direct board connection to WBLAHS (Rob Thomas serves as Development Director at History Theater and is a Past President of WBLAHS).

Others

• Explore White Bear: Local tourism organization promoting White Bear Lake area attractions; WBLAHS is a listed partner site. Comparable in mission only loosely — adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct operational peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7RT1BpkzCWWimnhYpA3P9g
• Facebookfacebook.com/whitebearhistory
• Instagraminstagram.com/whitebearhistory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/white-bear-lake-area-historical-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 White Bear Lake Area Historical Society