Macomb County Historical Society & Crocker House Museum

What Macomb County Historical Society & Crocker House Museum does

The Macomb County Historical Society & Crocker House Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating a historic house museum at 15 Union Street in Mount Clemens, Michigan. The Society was originally founded in 1951, failed, and was successfully reformed in 1964 with the mission of collecting and preserving local Macomb County history. The museum's core asset is the Crocker House, an 1869 Italianate-style residence originally built by Joshua Dickinson and later associated with George Martin Crocker (Mount Clemens' second mayor), which was physically relocated to its current site in April 1976 through a community fundraising effort led by the Kiwanis Club of Mount Clemens.

The organization's core offerings are docent-led guided tours of period-furnished rooms showcasing the Crocker family, domestic servants' daily life, and Mount Clemens' history as a Victorian-era mineral bath destination ("Bath City USA"). The museum complements its permanent collection with a recurring calendar of special events: the Three Wives Garden Tea (limited to 35 guests), Pottery Luncheon (transferred from Questers in 2020), Cemetery Walk, Halloween event, Christmas Open House, and Membership Picnic. Educational programming for children includes living history reenactments featuring portrayals of George Crocker and his family. The Society publishes the Crocker Chronicle seasonal newsletter for members.

The business model is entirely donation-and-membership funded with no public funding received. Revenue streams include a seven-tier membership program ($35 Individual to $1,000 Conservator), tour fees ($6-$7 adult, $21 family, $6/group for 10+), ticketed special events ($35-$55), a basement gift shop selling tea, decor, locally-made products, and history books, and tax-deductible donations processed via Square. Operations are lean: 11 volunteer board directors (President Barb Dempsey, Vice President Gina New, Secretary Diane Dueweke, Treasurer Paula Loviner, and 7 additional directors) plus 3 paid staff (Executive Director Kym Janowicz, Bookkeeper Sue Thiry, Financial Advisor Neil Loviner). Distribution is direct-to-consumer through the museum office, website, and on-site visits, with supplemental cross-referrals through the Macomb County Heritage Alliance.

Name

Macomb County Historical Society & Crocker House Museum

Legal name

Macomb County Historical Society

Website

https://crockerhousemuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Macomb County Historical Society & Crocker House Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating an 1869 Italianate historic house museum in Mount Clemens, Michigan, serving local residents, families, school groups, and visitors through docent-led tours, living history events, educational programs, and membership tiers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mount Clemens

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $35 for Individual to $1,000 for Conservator tier, providing free admission, event discounts, newsletter access, and gift shop discounts.
2. Museum Tours: Guided docent tours of the 1869 Italianate historic house; individual pricing $6-7, family $21, groups $6/person for 10+.
3. Donations and Contributions: 501(c)3 nonprofit supported entirely by private contributions; no public funding received. Donations support preservation and educational mission.
4. Special Events: Ticketed events including Three Wives Garden Tea ($35-40), Pottery Luncheon ($55), Halloween event, Christmas Open House, and other fundraisers.
5. Gift Shop Sales: On-site gift shop selling tea, decor, locally-made products, history books, and crafts by volunteer craft group.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Macomb County Historical Society operates the Crocker House Museum & Gardens, an 1869 Italianate historic house museum in Mount Clemens, Michigan. Its core offering consists of docent-guided museum tours of period-furnished rooms and exhibits (including the Bath City USA mineral baths exhibit), a tiered annual membership program, a calendar of ticketed special events and fundraising activities (Three Wives Garden Tea, Pottery Luncheon, Cemetery Walk, Halloween, Christmas Open House, Membership Picnic), school and group educational tours, an on-site gift shop, and a tax-deductible donation program supporting preservation and educational programming.

Product overview

The Macomb County Historical Society operates the Crocker House Museum & Gardens as a unified museum experience centered on preserving and presenting Mount Clemens and Macomb County history. The core offering consists of docent-guided tours of an 1869 Italianate historic house featuring period-furnished rooms, exhibits on the Crocker family and local industries, and the Bath City USA exhibit on the city's mineral bath heritage. The Society complements its permanent collection with a robust calendar of special events including the annual Pottery Luncheon, Three Wives Garden Tea, Cemetery Walk, Halloween, and Christmas Open House. Members receive access to the Crocker Chronicle seasonal newsletter, free museum admission, event discounts, and exclusive 1818 Society benefits. The experience is supported by on-site gift shop and garden grounds. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Society depends entirely on memberships, donations, and fundraising events for operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crocker House Museum Tours Docent-guided tours of the 1869 Italianate-style Crocker House Museum, featuring period-furnished rooms, exhibits about the Crocker family and domestic servants' daily life, and Mount Clemens history including its famous mineral baths (Bath City USA exhibit). Available to the general public, families, and groups by appointment Tuesday-Thursday 10:00-4:00; adult $7, senior/military/youth $6, family $21, group $6/person (10+).
• Museum Membership Programs Tiered annual membership program offering free museum admission, event discounts, quarterly Crocker Chronicle newsletter, 10% gift shop discount, and priority/recognition benefits. Tiers include Individual ($35), Family ($50), Contributing ($60), Century ($100), 1818 Society ($250, exclusive event invitations), Corporate ($500), and Conservator ($1,000).
• Donation and Contribution Program Tax-deductible donation program supporting the Society's preservation and educational mission. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit receiving no public funding, the Society depends on private contributions to maintain the Crocker House and deliver historic programming.
• Three Wives Garden Tea Ticketed high tea garden party featuring historical reenactors portraying George Crocker and his three wives, offering tea service, scones, tea sandwiches, and desserts in the museum gardens. Limited to 35 guests; $35 for members, $40 for non-members.
• Pottery Luncheon Annual ticketed fundraising event featuring a tablescaping competition, luncheon buffet, cash bar, and raffles. Pricing $55/person with group seating for 8; raises funds for the Crocker House Museum.
• Cemetery Walk Living history event featuring reenactors portraying notable figures from Mount Clemens history, walking participants through cemetery narratives to educate attendees about local historical figures and their stories.
• Halloween Event Halloween-themed event at the Crocker House Museum featuring Victorian-era traditions and family-friendly activities tied to the museum's historic setting.
• Christmas Open House Annual Victorian-era Christmas celebration featuring festive period decorations, traditions, and family activities held at the Crocker House Museum.
• Membership Picnic Annual member meeting and picnic event held in the museum gardens, including dinner, volunteer recognition, officer elections, and updates on museum accomplishments.
• Crocker Chronicle Newsletter Seasonal publication for members featuring news about the museum, historical content, and Society updates. Available as downloadable PDFs from the website with archives dating back to Fall 2023.
• Gift Shop On-site gift shop located in the museum basement offering tea, decor, locally-made products, history books, and crafts by a volunteer craft group. Open during museum hours and events.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kiwanis Club of Mount ClemenscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal service club instrumental in raising funds to purchase the Crocker House, move it from original location (116 New Street) to current site, and restore it to original condition. Their early support enabled the museum's establishment in 1976. The partnership exemplifies community-driven historic preservation.
• Macomb County Heritage AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network of local heritage organizations and museums. Crocker House Museum is listed among alliance members, with cross-referrals for visitors interested in regional history. The alliance provides a unified platform for promoting Macomb County historical sites.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Detroit Historical Society: Larger regional history museum in Detroit operating the Detroit Historical Museum and a research library — comparable in mission (local/regional history preservation and education) but at significantly greater scale and scope.
• Michigan History Museum: State-operated history museum in Lansing offering exhibits and educational programming on Michigan heritage — comparable in subject matter but publicly funded and at a larger scale than Crocker House.
• Greenfield Village (The Henry Ford): Iconic open-air American history museum in Dearborn, Michigan with historic building preservation, living history programming, and educational offerings — overlapping in category but operating at a vastly larger institutional scale.

Direct peers

• Meadow Brook Hall: Historic mansion museum in Rochester Hills, Michigan operating as a self-sustaining nonprofit with tours, ticketed special events, memberships, and educational programming — a near-analog operating model in the same regional market.
• Edsel & Eleanor Ford House: Historic house museum in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan offering docent-led tours of a preserved estate, special events, and educational programs — directly comparable in format, scale, and community-supported nonprofit model to Crocker House.
• Troy Historic Village: Local-history museum complex in Troy, Michigan featuring period buildings, docent-led tours, school programs, and community events — directly comparable in mission, scale, and Southeast Michigan nonprofit structure.
• Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm: Historic house/farm museum in Oakland County, Michigan offering tours, seasonal events, and educational programs on local history — a structurally similar small-community heritage site.

Others

• Cranbrook Institute of Science: Michigan museum offering exhibits and educational programming; comparable in educational/community-museum positioning but focused on natural science rather than local historical preservation.

Regional players

• Kalamazoo Valley Museum: Community-focused history and science museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan offering exhibits, school programs, and special events — a comparable small-city museum in a different Michigan geography.
• Stahls Automotive Foundation: Specialty heritage attraction in Chesterfield, Michigan preserving automotive history through themed events and exhibits — comparable as a niche Southeast Michigan heritage site with events-based programming.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Macomb County Historical Society & Crocker House Museum