customs house museum & cultural center

What customs house museum & cultural center does

The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community museum operating in a 35,000+ square foot facility in historic downtown Clarksville, Tennessee. Chartered in 1983 by the Clarksville City Council and Montgomery County Commission, and opened to the public in June 1984, the museum occupies the 1898 Federal Post Office and Customs House building (placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972) and was expanded in 1996 to triple its footprint. The museum maintains a permanent collection of approximately 22,000 artifacts, documents, photographs, and works of art — including pieces by Luis Mora, Nora Witzel, Boehm porcelains, and Olen Bryant — managed through the PastPerfect Online collections database. Eleven gallery spaces present rotating exhibitions, alongside permanent hands-on exhibits such as Explorers Landing and the F&M Bank Huff & Puff Express Model Trains.

The organization generates revenue across six streams: daily admission ($12 adults, $9 military/seniors/students, $5 children), six-tier annual memberships ($35-$1,000), one-time and recurring donations, venue rentals across five event spaces, museum store retail (Seasons: The Museum Store plus Shopify e-commerce), and signature fundraising events including Flying High, Art in Bloom, and the Museum Marksman Challenge. The 19-person staff is led by Executive Director Frank Lott, supported by dedicated roles in curation, education, marketing, visitor services, and facilities. Technology infrastructure is non-proprietary and operational: Neon CRM for membership and event registration, PastPerfect Online for collections, and Google Analytics/AdWords for marketing.

Distribution is hybrid: on-site at the Clarksville headquarters plus library family pass partnerships with Clarksville-Montgomery County Public Library, APSU Felix G. Woodward Library, and White House Library. Membership grants reciprocal admission to 1,000+ museums nationwide via NARM, ROAM, SERR, and Time Travelers networks. Corporate sponsors — led by F&M Bank with Legends Bank, Planters Bank, Clarksville Dental Center, and Alro as secondary supporters — provide recurring underwriting. Educational programming spans Family Art Saturday, Storytime & Craft, homeschool field trips, Sundays at 3 lectures, Sunday Studio workshops with APSU, and the quarterly Second & Commerce magazine. The museum also participates in the Blue Star Museums and Museums for All access programs and contributes to the IMLS-funded Culture Over Carbon sustainability research consortium.

Name

customs house museum & cultural center

Legal name

Customs House Museum & Cultural Center

Website

https://customshousemuseum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community museum in Clarksville, Tennessee, operating exhibitions, educational programs, venue rentals, and a retail store from a 35,000-square-foot historic facility, serving families, schools, military, and local visitors through memberships, admissions, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Museum Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Art Museums (THAJADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC), Art Galleries & Exhibition Spaces (Commercial & Nonprofit) (THAJADAH)

Keywords

• Museum exhibitions
• Cultural education programs
• Heritage preservation services
• Community museum services
• Art collections access

Headquarters

HQ city

Clarksville

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, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Admission Fees: Daily admission fees charged to visitors with tiered pricing based on age and status. Free admission for members and children 2 and under. Reduced rates through Museums for All and Blue Star Museums programs.
2. Memberships: Annual membership subscriptions at multiple tiers: Solo ($35), Duo/Family ($50), Friend ($100), Supporter ($250), Benefactor ($500), Eagle ($1,000). Includes reciprocal benefits with other museums and free/discounted admission.
3. Donations: One-time and recurring donations supporting artifact conservation, collections, educational programming and exhibits. Accepts donor-advised funds, planned giving, and recurring contributions.
4. Venue Rentals: Rental of museum spaces including The Aerie (up to 24 capacity), Geraldine Brame Turner Auditorium (up to 200 capacity), Dining Room (up to 50 capacity), Executive Board Room (up to 20 capacity), and Courtyard (75-100 capacity).
5. Museum Store Retail: On-site retail store selling museum-branded merchandise, jewelry, pottery, stained glass, woodwork, home accents, art prints, books, toys, games, and seasonal merchandise. Members receive 10% discount.
6. Special Events: Major fundraising events including Flying High gala, Art in Bloom floral event, Museum Marksman Challenge, and Fifth Saturday Donation Days. Revenue from ticket sales, auction items, and sponsorships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center operates a 35,000+ square foot museum in Clarksville, Tennessee, presenting rotating art, history, and culture exhibitions across eleven gallery spaces, alongside permanent interactive areas such as Explorers Landing and the F&M Bank Huff & Puff Express Model Trains. It sells museum admission, annual memberships across six tiers, on-site and online retail merchandise through Seasons: The Museum Store, venue rentals across five event spaces, family and adult educational programming, and special fundraising events, while stewarding over 22,000 artifacts in its permanent collection.

Product overview

The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center operates as a nonprofit museum offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services centered on arts, history, and cultural education. Core offerings include general museum admission granting access to exhibitions and interactive spaces, alongside annual membership programs with six pricing tiers providing admission benefits and reciprocal museum access. The museum operates Seasons: The Museum Store for retail merchandise, offers venue rentals across five distinct spaces for events, and delivers educational programming through Family Programs (Family Art Saturday, Storytime & Craft, Homeschool days) and Adult Education (Sundays at 3 lectures, Sunday Studio workshops). The institution presents rotating exhibitions across eleven galleries plus permanent exhibits including Explorers Landing and the F&M Bank Huff & Puff Express Model Trains. Additional offerings include the quarterly Second & Commerce Magazine, special events (Flying High, Marksman Challenge), and public access to over 22,000 collection items through online research tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Seasons: The Museum Store: The museum's retail store offering merchandise, jewelry, pottery, stained glass, woodwork, home accents, art prints, books, exhibit-related items, seasonal merchandise, and a children's section.

Products and services

• Museum Admission Daily general admission ticket granting access to all exhibitions, Explorers Landing, Family Art Studio, Huff & Puff Express Model Trains, and other gallery spaces. Tiered pricing: $12 adults, $9 military/college students/seniors/CMCSS teachers, $5 children ages 3-17, free for children under 2 and members. Discounted access through Museums for All ($3) and Blue Star Museums programs.
• Membership Programs Annual subscription memberships offered at six tiers: Solo ($35), Duo/Family ($50), Friend ($100), Supporter ($250), Benefactor ($500), and Eagle ($1,000). Benefits include free admission, store discounts, and reciprocal access to over 1,000 museums nationwide through Southeastern Reciprocal, ROAM, and NARM programs.
• Seasons: The Museum Store On-site and online retail store selling museum-branded merchandise, jewelry, pottery, stained glass, woodwork, home accents, art prints, books, exhibit-related items, seasonal merchandise, and a children's section. Members receive 10% discount. Open without museum admission requirement.
• Venue Rentals Rental of five museum event spaces for private functions: The Aerie (capacity up to 25), Geraldine Brame Turner Auditorium (capacity up to 200), Dining Room (capacity up to 50), Executive Board Room (capacity up to 20), and Courtyard (capacity 75-100).
• Family Programs Educational programming designed for families with children, including Family Art Saturday (monthly art activities), Storytime & Craft (bi-weekly reading and crafts), Explorers Landing hands-on exhibits, Tiny Town play area for ages 2-5, and Homeschool Field Trip Days.
• Adult Education Programs Educational programming for adults including Sundays at 3 (monthly lectures with artists and historians) and Sunday Studio art workshops offered in partnership with Austin Peay State University's Community School of the Arts (APSU CSA).
• Exhibitions Rotating and permanent exhibitions spanning art, history, science, and culture across eleven gallery spaces, including current, coming, and past exhibitions.
• Special Events Annual fundraising events including Flying High (premier summer gala titled by Traditions First Bank), Art in Bloom (spring floral fundraiser), Museum Marksman Challenge (shooting competition), and Fifth Saturday Donation Days. Revenue generated through ticket sales, auction items, and sponsorships.
• Second & Commerce Magazine Quarterly arts, history, and culture magazine published by the museum covering local history, art community features, and stories about Clarksville and Montgomery County. Includes advertising opportunities and article submissions from community writers.

Named customers5 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

Partnerships

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

• F&M BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary sponsor for F&M Bank Huff & Puff Express Model Trains exhibit and Rails, Roads & Runways exhibit area. Major sponsor for Piecing the Past: Quilts from the Collection and Cave Johnson & James K. Polk exhibitions.
• Legends BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor displayed on museum website sponsor section. Supports museum's fundraising and community engagement efforts.
• Planters BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor displayed on museum website sponsor section. Supports museum's fundraising and community engagement efforts.
• Clarksville Dental CenterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor displayed on museum website sponsor section.
• AlrominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor displayed on museum website sponsor section.
• Community School of the Arts (CSA) at APSUcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Austin Peay State University's Community School of the Arts to offer Sunday Studio art workshops for adults. Made possible by Center of Excellence for the Creative Arts (CECA).
• Culture Over Carbon PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational two-year research project funded through IMLS National Leadership Grant. Partners include Missouri Historical Society, Phipps Conservatory, Detroit Zoological Society, Strawberry Banke Museum, The Field Museum, Frye Art Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Madison Children's Museum, and others. Research focuses on energy use reduction in cultural sector.
• Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Health FoundationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Explorers Landing exhibit area.
• Kiwanis Club of Clarksville, Inc.majorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Explorers Landing and Family Art Studio (made possible through generous donation by Kiwanis Club of Clarksville).
• Clarksville Gas & WaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Building Our Town area in Explorers Landing exhibit.
• CDE LightbandminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Building Our Town area in Explorers Landing exhibit.
• Providence BuildersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for Building Our Town area in Explorers Landing exhibit.
• Traditions First BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for Flying High 2026 annual fundraiser event.
• Clarksville-Montgomery County Public LibrarycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLibrary distributes museum family passes to card holders. Pass valid for seven days granting four adults and household children entrance to museum.
• APSU Felix G. Woodward LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUniversity library distributes museum family passes to card holders.
• White House LibraryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal library distributes museum family passes to card holders.
• Museums for AllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNationwide program offering reduced admission ($3) for SNAP benefit recipients. Museum participates as a participating institution offering income-based access.
• Blue Star MuseumscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational program offering free admission to active-duty military personnel and families (May-September). Museum participates as a Blue Star Museum participant.
• Time TravelerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal membership program providing free admission to members at participating institutions.
• Southeastern Reciprocal Membership ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal membership program available at Friend level and above. Provides free admission to museums in the southeastern United States.
• ROAM: Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal membership program available at Friend level and above. Provides access to museums participating in ROAM network.
• NARM: North American Reciprocal Museum Association ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal membership program available at Friend level and above. Provides free admission to over 1,000 museums nationwide.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Frist Art Museum: The Frist Art Museum is a regional art museum in Nashville, Tennessee operating out of a historic former post office building (like CHM) with rotating exhibitions, educational programming, venue rentals, and a museum store. It is a comparable Tennessee cultural institution but operates at a larger scale and budget than the Clarksville counterpart.
• Tennessee State Museum: The Tennessee State Museum in Nashville is the state's official history museum with permanent and rotating exhibitions, educational programs, and large artifact collections. It is directly comparable to CHM's history and cultural institution focus but is state-funded and operates at much larger scale.
• Cheekwood Estate & Gardens: Cheekwood is a Nashville-area art museum and botanical garden with rotating exhibitions, family programs, venue rentals, and membership tiers. It overlaps with CHM on art exhibitions, family programming, and rental operations but adds an expansive outdoor component and is substantially larger.

Direct peers

• Hunter Museum of American Art: The Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga is a mid-sized southeastern U.S. art museum with permanent and rotating exhibitions, educational programming, venue rentals, and a museum store. It is closely comparable to CHM in scale, scope of exhibitions, and operational model.
• Memphis Brooks Museum of Art: The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art is a regional art museum operating in a historic building, with rotating exhibitions, K-12 educational programming, venue rentals, and membership programs comparable to CHM. Tennessee-based peer serving a similar Mid-South regional audience.
• Lauren Rogers Museum of Art: The Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel, Mississippi is a mid-sized regional art museum with a 22,000+ piece permanent collection, K–12 educational programming, venue rentals, and a museum store. Its size, multi-disciplinary offerings, and community-focused operating model are highly comparable to the Customs House Museum.
• Telfair Museums: Telfair Museums in Savannah, Georgia operates museum sites including a historic house, an art museum, and a contemporary art space with rotating exhibitions, educational programs, venue rentals, and a museum store. Comparable as a multi-site nonprofit cultural institution of similar size to CHM.
• Birmingham Museum of Art: The Birmingham Museum of Art is a free-admission regional art museum with permanent and rotating exhibitions, K-12 educational programming, and venue rentals. While CHM charges admission, BMA's diversified revenue model and southeastern U.S. regional positioning make it a close operational peer.

Regional players

• The Parthenon (Nashville): The Parthenon in Nashville is a full-scale replica of the Athenian Parthenon operating as an art museum managed by Metro Nashville Parks. Its small staff, single-building focus, and historic architectural positioning are conceptually similar to CHM's National Register building, though it is operated by a municipal government rather than an independent nonprofit.

Emerging players

• Children's Museum of Memphis: The Children's Museum of Memphis operates a hands-on exhibit-focused museum with educational programming, memberships, and venue rentals targeting families. While CHM is multi-disciplinary rather than children-focused, the substantial Explorers Landing hands-on exhibit area means there is meaningful overlap on family/children programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/customshousemuseum

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 customs house museum & cultural center