named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Haunted History in Downtown Ithaca
75-minute evening walking tour offered in October, featuring ghost stories, murders, and disasters tied to downtown landmarks, led by costumed performers and docents.
Innovation Junction: How Ithaca’s West End Pioneered American Transportation
90-minute guided walk exploring the history of transportation in Ithaca’s West End, including canals, railroads, aviation, and trolleys, developed as a companion to a 2025 exhibit.
Private Tours
Custom walking tours available for groups of 10–20 people on topics including Prohibition, true crime, transportation, and haunted history, offered for a flat fee of $150.
The Power of Water: Downtown Six Mile Creek
75-minute walking tour tracing the industrial history of Six Mile Creek, highlighting sawmills, tanneries, and mills that shaped early Ithaca, using historic photographs and newspaper accounts.
“King Alcohol Ends Reign”: Ithaca’s Prohibition Tour
60–70 minute walking tour exploring Ithaca's history with alcohol, Prohibition, and moral reform, visiting sites of speakeasies, saloons, and reform rallies.
“Shadows Over Cayuga”: Ithaca’s True Crime Tour
60–70 minute walking tour uncovering historical crimes in Tompkins County, including murders, jailbreaks, and scandals, using archival records and newspaper headlines.
activities · 7 groups
What they do
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Local History Preservation and Education 3 activities
- Host public lectures and demonstrations using HistoryForgeHosts public lectures and demonstrations on local history topics such as the historical significance of Six Mile Creek, utilizing the HistoryForge digital platform to engage the public with interactive historical content.
- Operate public history exhibitionsDesigns and hosts annual exhibitions on local history topics such as water infrastructure, transportation innovations, sports history, and the Erie Canal, including the exhibit "The Power of Water: A Dam Good Exhibit" and a permanently displayed Tommy Scout biplane. Exhibitions explore the historical, cultural, and economic development of Tompkins County.
- Provide archival education and trainingTeaches archival workshops to students and researchers of all ages to build skills in historical research and archival use.
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Historical and Genealogical Research 1 activity
- Conduct historical record transcription projectsTranscribes U.S. Census records from 1900 to 1940 to build a demographic and building database for historic Ithaca and hosts biweekly volunteer transcription sessions to digitize historical records.
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Historic Site Public Programming 1 activity
- Deliver educational programs and guided toursOffers a range of public engagement activities including docent-led walking tours on Prohibition-era history, true crime, transportation innovations, and haunted history; manages field experiences at the 8 Square Schoolhouse with living history curriculum for students; and provides private group tours.
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Oral History Collection and Preservation 1 activity
- Lead the HistoryForge digital history initiativeDevelops and maintains the HistoryForge project, a digital platform launched in 2018 and formally staffed beginning October 2019 with support from a two-year NHPRC/NARA grant, to enhance public access to and engagement with local historical data.
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Game Community Events & Expos 1 activity
- Organize the Tompkins Treasure Hunt public puzzle eventHosts an annual public puzzle event called the Tompkins Treasure Hunt, including a kickoff party, distribution of challenge coins to participating teams, and a celebration event to award $10,000 worth of prizes to finishers.
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Local History Archival Access 1 activity
- Provide public access to historical archives and collectionsMaintains and provides access to archival collections including over 2,000 family genealogy files, 200 oral histories, 1,200 maps, and 3,500 local history books. Offers a searchable online catalog and contributes digitized materials to the New York Heritage digital archive.
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Equitable Access Admission Programs 1 activity
- Support inclusive and accessible museum accessOffers donation-based admission with no required fee, participates in the Museums for All program to provide free and reduced admission for SNAP recipients, provides translation services upon request, and ensures accessibility through handicap parking and wheelchair availability.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$690K
Contributions & grants$579K84%
Program service revenue$50K7%
Investment income$5K1%
Other revenue$56K
expenses
Total expenses$768K
Program expenses88%
Admin / overhead7%
Fundraising4%
Salaries & benefits$299K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.49M
Cash$117K
Investments$145K
Liabilities$97K
Net assets$2.39M
Liquid reserves4.1 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -4.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Sandberg | Executive Director | 40 | $63K |
board members · 18
- Ben Ortiz — Trustee
- Charley Githler — Trustee
- Chris Irving — Trustee
- David Gersh — Trustee
- Deborah Mohlenhoff — Trustee
- Elaine Engst — Trustee
- Eric Fitzpatrick — Treasurer
- George Dillmann — Trustee
- Gladys Brangman — Trustee
- Kimerly Cornish — Vice President
- Laura Johnson Kelly — Trustee
- Laurel Southard — Trustee
- Lauren Ryder — Trustee
- Lis Chabot — Trustee
- Michael Smith — President
- Rebecca Brenner — Trustee
- Sarah Fiorello — Secretary
- Sherene Baugher — Trustee
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- Cornell University Partner — Collaborates through shared expertise and joint initiatives, including board member affiliations and academic partnerships.
- DeWitt Historical Society Network — Former name of The History Center in Tompkins County, indicating organizational continuity.
- Department of Public Works for the Village of Dryden Partner — Collaborated on the 2025 "Trains, Planes and Automobiles" exhibit.
- Downtown Ithaca Alliance Partner — Board member Corrie Root serves as COO of Downtown Ithaca Alliance, indicating organizational connection.
- Highway Department for the Town of Dryden Partner — Collaborated on the 2025 "Trains, Planes and Automobiles" exhibit.
- Historic Ithaca Partner — Collaborates on promoting the value and sustainability of built heritage, historic sites, and community through educational programs and preservation advocacy.
- HistoryForge Partner — Collaborates on the development and public demonstration of a historical records mapping platform.
- Ithaca Aviation Heritage Foundation Partner — Collaborates to display a restored Tommy Scout biplane as a permanent exhibit on local aviation history.
- Ithaca College Partner — Collaborates with students on projects exploring the environmental history of local transportation.
- Leonard’s Vacuum and Hobby Shop Partner — Collaborated on the 2025 "Trains, Planes and Automobiles" exhibit.
- MOnks on the Commons Partner — Proudly sponsored in 2025 by MOnks on the Commons for the "Shadows Over Cayuga" walking tour.
- Museums for All Network — Member organization offering free and reduced admission to individuals receiving food assistance or SNAP benefits
- National Archives Funder — Funder of the NHPRC grant supporting the HistoryForge project.
- National Archives (NARA) Government — Parent agency of NHPRC, which funded the HistoryForge project coordinator role.
- National Historical Publications and Records Commission Funder — Provided a two-year grant supporting the HistoryForge project.
- National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) Funder — Provided a 2-year grant supporting the HistoryForge project coordinator position.
- New York Heritage Partner — Hosts selections of The History Center's collections, including oral histories and census transcriptions, in its digital archive.
- Rochester Museum and Science Center Partner — Collaborated on the 2025 "Trains, Planes and Automobiles" exhibit.
- Strand Cafe Partner — Proudly sponsored by the Strand Cafe for multiple walking tours, including "The Power of Water" and "King Alcohol Ends Reign."
- TCAT Partner — Public transportation provider whose routes serve the museum location
- The Gayogohó:nǫˀ Learning Project Partner — Partners to promote awareness and practice of Gayogo̱hó:nǫˀ (Cayuga) language and lifeways through education and community outreach.
- The Jewelbox Partner — Co-hosted the kickoff party for The Tompkins Treasure Hunt.
- Tompkins Trust Company Government — Historic and ongoing institutional relationship, with early support and current board representation.
- Translator Interpreter Program Partner — Collaborates to provide translation services for museum programming
- Wharton Studio Museum Partner — Collaborated on the 2025 "Trains, Planes and Automobiles" exhibit.
- Wharton Studio Museum Partner — Partners to preserve and celebrate Ithaca's role in early American filmmaking through exhibits, events, and public programming.
- Youth Educator & Eight Square Schoolhouse Coordinator Partner — Coordinates and supervises the 8 Square School Teacher/Interpreter program and provides training and oversight for living history field experiences.
- tompkinstreasure.com Partner — Collaborates on the Tompkins Treasure Hunt, a public history engagement initiative.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Engaged Stewardship of Local Historymethodology: community-engaged_historyBy combining active preservation of collections with participatory events and dialogue, we connect historical understanding to present perspectives and future civic participation because shared stewardship fosters ownership and relevance of history in contemporary life.
- Digital Humanities for Public Engagement with Local Historymethodology: digital_humanitiesBy using open-source digital platforms and georeferenced historical data, we increase public engagement with community history because interactive, spatial exploration makes historical patterns more accessible and personally relevant.
- Equitable Access to Historical Resourcesmethodology: equitable_accessBy offering reduced admission through Museums for All and partnering with language access programs, we broaden participation in historical education because removing economic and linguistic barriers enables more inclusive engagement with community history.
- Living History Interpretation for Immersive Educationmethodology: living_history_interpretationBy maintaining historically accurate settings, clothing, and environments, we create immersive educational experiences because authenticity enhances emotional and cognitive engagement with the past.
- Thematic Historical Exhibitions to Explore Regional Identitymethodology: thematic_historical_exhibitionBy organizing exhibitions around themes like natural resources, we deepen public understanding of regional development and cultural identity, because thematic framing helps visitors connect historical patterns to their own communities and lived experiences.