National Lighthouse Museum

What National Lighthouse Museum does

The National Lighthouse Museum is a nonprofit educational institution located in St. George, Staten Island, on the former site of the United States Lighthouse Service's General Depot (1864-1939). It operates from the 2,400 square foot 1912 USLHS foundry building, one of six surviving structures from the original 18-building depot, and presents self-guided exhibits including "Beacons Through Time," "Supplying the Nation's Light Stations: The General Depot," "Optics: Projecting the Light," and "Life at the Light: Lighthouse Keepers." The museum is the only institution in the United States dedicated to the comprehensive history of the nation's lighthouses and the U.S. Lighthouse Service.

Its product surface combines on-site museum visitation with seasonal Lighthouse Boat Tours (May through October), monthly maritime lectures, group tours by appointment, annual signature events (Lighthouse Weekend in August, Lighthouse Point Fest in September, the Light Keepers' Gala harbor cruise), and youth programming such as the Brilliant Minds Work on Weekends STEAM series for children ages 8-12. A retail Museum Store operates via an online Square storefront selling lighthouse and maritime-themed merchandise, and the museum runs an active calendar of ticketed cabarets, lectures, and special events.

The revenue model is a diversified nonprofit mix: tax-deductible donations, an annual membership program, museum admissions (with free admission on select days), seasonal boat tour ticket sales, event ticket revenue, corporate and individual sponsorships, Wall of Lights lighthouse model sponsorships at $1,000 each, and a planned giving program covering bequests, charitable trusts, and gifts of stock or real estate. The 2022 capital campaign "For Illuminating Future Generations," chaired by HRH Princess Anne, targets $20 million to retrofit Building 10 and develop expanded gallery and high-tech exhibit space. Institutional supporters include New York State Assembly, New York City Council, the Staten Island Foundation, Con Edison, Richmond County Bank Foundation, and Northfield Bank Foundation. The institution is led by Executive Director Linda Dianto and Curator Tina Cuadrado.

Name

National Lighthouse Museum

Legal name

National Lighthouse Museum

Website

https://lighthousemuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The National Lighthouse Museum is a Staten Island-based nonprofit museum, located on the historic 1864-1939 U.S. Lighthouse Service General Depot site, that educates visitors on lighthouse history through exhibits, seasonal boat tours, lectures, and youth programs, funded by donations, memberships, admissions, sponsorships, and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Heritage Museum

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums (71211)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Maritime museum exhibits
• Lighthouse history education
• Harbor boat tours
• Museum membership programs
• Maritime heritage preservation

Headquarters

HQ city

Staten 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. Museum Admissions: Revenue from paid admission to the museum exhibits, with free admission offered on special occasions like Open House New York and Museum Store Sunday.
2. Memberships: Annual memberships providing free admission, 10% store discounts, newsletter subscriptions, and members' rates for events, programs, and lectures. Lifetime Founding Memberships were offered at $500 through December 2014.
3. Donations: Tax-deductible donations supporting museum build-out, infrastructure, and operations. Accepts checks, stock gifts, and matching gifts. Annual Fund campaigns to demonstrate donor support for operational sustainability.
4. Museum Store: Retail sales of lighthouse and maritime-themed merchandise including jewelry, books, apparel, ornaments, and collectibles through an online Square storefront.
5. Boat Tours: Seasonal lighthouse boat tours (May-October) with ticket sales for various cruise itineraries including harbor tours, circumnavigation of Staten Island, East River journeys, and Hudson River tours. Tours last 3-4 hours depending on tide.
6. Sponsorships and Naming Opportunities: Corporate and individual sponsorships for programs, events, and exhibits. Wall of Lights naming opportunities at $1,000 per lighthouse model. Additional recognition includes event signage, press releases, free admission passes, behind-the-scenes tours, and marketing exposure.
7. Planned Giving: Estate planning vehicles including bequests in wills, charitable trusts, and gifts of life insurance, stock, real estate, and retirement accounts.
8. Event Tickets: Ticketed events including cabarets ($75/person), lectures ($5-$10), film festivals ($10), and special events like Mardi Gras celebrations ($40/person).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The National Lighthouse Museum is a nonprofit museum operating self-guided exhibit tours on the history and technology of U.S. lighthouses from its 2,400 sq ft 1912 USLHS foundry building on Staten Island. Its core offerings include permanent exhibits, seasonal boat tours (May–October), monthly lectures, group tours by appointment, annual signature events, a themed gift shop, and membership/educational programs for children.

Product overview

The National Lighthouse Museum is a single-site museum offering visitor experiences centered on lighthouse history and technology. Its core offering is self-guided tours of exhibits within the 1912 USLHS foundry building, supplemented by seasonal Lighthouse Boat Tours, monthly lectures, group tour appointments, and annual special events (Lighthouse Weekend, Lighthouse Point Fest, Light Keepers' Gala). The museum also operates a retail Museum Store and offers Membership Programs and Planned Giving options. The museum is currently conducting a $20 million capital campaign for expansion into Building 10 and development of high-tech exhibits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• National Lighthouse Museum Exhibits Self-guided tours of permanent exhibits on lighthouse history and technology located in the 2,400 sq ft 1912 USLHS foundry building, including Beacons Through Time, Supplying the Nation's Light Stations, Optics: Projecting the Light, and Life at the Light: Lighthouse Keepers. Intended for general museum visitors, families, and tourists.
• Lighthouse Boat Tours Seasonal boat tours (May through October) offering visits to lighthouses not visible from land, including circumnavigation tours of Staten Island, East River journeys, and Hudson River tours. Tours last 3–4 hours depending on tide. For maritime enthusiasts and general visitors.
• Monthly Maritime Lectures Educational presentations covering maritime history, shipping industry topics, and lighthouse-related subjects. Priced at $10 for guests and $5 for Museum members with light refreshments served. Targeted at maritime history enthusiasts and the general public.
• Group Tours by Appointment Guided group tours scheduled by appointment for organized parties, school groups, and tour companies seeking structured educational experiences at the museum.
• Museum Store Online and on-site gift shop offering lighthouse and maritime-themed merchandise including jewelry, apparel, books, ornaments, and collectibles, sold through a Square e-commerce storefront. Members receive a 10% discount.
• Membership Program Annual memberships providing free museum admission, 10% store discount, subscription to The NLM Quarterly Newsletter and email newsletters, and members' rates for events, programs, lectures, and classes. Lifetime Founding Memberships were offered at $500 through December 2014.
• Brilliant Minds Work on Weekends Educational STEAM program for children ages 8–12 featuring four Saturday sessions covering Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics through lighthouse-themed activities. Targeted at families seeking weekend enrichment programming.
• Annual Signature Events Recurring annual events including the Light Keepers' Gala (harbor cruise with dinner and dancing), Lighthouse Weekend (August) commemorating the 1789 Lighthouse Act, and Lighthouse Point Fest (September) with arts, crafts, food vendors, and children's activities. Ticketed individually with event-specific pricing.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 150 lighthouse models sponsored on the Wall of Lights
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• New York Preservation Archive ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 April 2019Presented Staten Island premiere of the documentary 'Managed Retreat' (2018) examining neighborhoods purchased by NY State after Hurricane Sandy for managed retreat from sea level rise.
• Ship Model Society of New JerseyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2018Hosting model ship exhibit featuring members' work spanning all skill levels from neophyte to highly accomplished builders. Society members demonstrated ship model building and offered appraisals for visitors' models.
• Staten Island Creative CommunityminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 September 2018Co-hosting the 3rd Annual Lighthouse Point Fest along the waterfront featuring local arts and crafts vendors, live music, food vendors, and children's activities.
• Creative Photography GuildminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 September 2018Co-hosting the 3rd Annual Lighthouse Point Fest with the Staten Island Creative Community, bringing photography enthusiasts and arts vendors to the festival.
• Gotham WhaleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 September 2018Presented Ocean Frontiers III documentary film about ocean planning and marine conservation efforts along the Atlantic coast, combining maritime commerce, fishing, recreation, and environmental topics.
• SS United States ConservancycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 June 2018Partnership with the New York Chapter of the SS United States Conservancy to present 'Full Speed Ahead to the Fabulous! SS United States' exhibit from June 14 - August 3, 2018. The exhibit traced the life of the luxury liner 'America's Flagship' from its debut as a speed queen to its current preservation efforts.
• International Chimney CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Presented expert Joseph J. Jakubik on Gay Head Light relocation and lighthouse restoration techniques. Company has restored multiple US lighthouses including Southeast Lighthouse on Block Island and Cape Hatteras Light.
• Waterfront AllianceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 July 2017Participation in annual City of Water Day, a regional initiative promoting awareness of New York waterways and waterfront access.
• Staten Island Sail & Power SquadronminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on one-day boating courses and certifications, and sponsor of Navesink Twin Lights lighthouse model in the Wall of Lights exhibit.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• New Bedford Whaling Museum: Massachusetts-based maritime museum focused on whaling and seafaring history with extensive collections and educational programs. Comparable as a nonprofit maritime heritage institution with admissions, memberships, special events, and a similar donor-dependent revenue model.
• South Street Seaport Museum: NYC-based maritime museum offering exhibits, vessel tours, and educational programs on New York Harbor's seafaring history. Most directly comparable to the National Lighthouse Museum given overlapping NYC location, maritime heritage focus, boat tour offerings, and nonprofit operating model.
• The Mariners' Museum and Park: Virginia-based maritime heritage museum with extensive collections on seafaring history, lighthouse artifacts, and the USS Monitor Center. Highly comparable as a specialty maritime museum with similar exhibits, educational programming, and nonprofit donor-supported model.
• USS Constitution Museum: Boston-based maritime museum affiliated with the USS Constitution, offering exhibits on naval and maritime history. Comparable as a nonprofit maritime museum with admissions, memberships, educational programming for children, and donor-supported operations.
• Mystic Seaport Museum: New England's largest maritime museum, featuring historic vessels, exhibits on American maritime history, and educational programming. Comparable as a nonprofit maritime heritage museum with diversified revenue from admissions, memberships, and special events, though at significantly larger scale.
• San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park: A national park site featuring a fleet of historic ships, a visitor center, and maritime exhibits on the San Francisco waterfront. Comparable as a maritime heritage attraction combining indoor exhibits with historic vessels, similar to the National Lighthouse Museum's boat tour model.
• U.S. Lighthouse Society: National nonprofit organization dedicated to lighthouse preservation, history, and education, with publications, advocacy, and a research library. Most directly comparable by subject matter focus on lighthouse heritage, though operating as an advocacy and information organization rather than a physical museum site.

Emerging players

• Lighthouse Preservation Society: Nonprofit organization focused on lighthouse preservation and public education with a smaller footprint than the National Lighthouse Museum. Comparable by subject focus on lighthouses, though operating primarily as an advocacy and education organization rather than a physical museum site.

Regional players

• Staten Island Historical Society (Historic Richmond Town): Staten Island-based heritage institution preserving the island's colonial and 19th-century history through a village of restored buildings. Comparable as a nonprofit Staten Island heritage museum with similar community event programming, though broader in subject than lighthouse history specifically.
• Hudson River Maritime Museum: New York state-based maritime museum on the Hudson River featuring exhibits on Hudson River navigation, lighthouses, and boat-building traditions. Comparable as a regional maritime heritage museum with similar subject matter including lighthouses, boat tours, and educational programming, though focused on the Hudson specifically.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalLighthouseMuseum
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationallighthousemuseum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/u-s-national-lighthouse-museum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 National Lighthouse Museum