NAICS 712120 Quarterly Industry Report
Historical sites
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 712120Sector: Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
Fair Market Value compiles this NAICS 712120 industry report using data from the U.S. Census Bureau[7], the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and the Small Business Administration[8]. Our research team analyzes visitation counts, earned revenue ratios, and preservation cost structures to build valuation benchmarks for historical site operations. This report on NAICS 712120 is updated quarterly to reflect heritage tourism trends and preservation funding availability.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the historical sites industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Historical Sites (NAICS 712120) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in the preservation and interpretation of sites, buildings, forts, and other structures of historical interest. These operations manage battlefields, historic houses, archaeological sites, historic districts, and heritage properties that attract visitors through guided tours, living history demonstrations, educational programming, and self-guided exploration of preserved landscapes and structures.
Most historical sites operate as nonprofit organizations or government agencies funded by admissions, membership fees, gift shop revenue, event rentals, grants, and charitable donations. The National Park Service manages the largest portfolio of federal historical sites, while state and local governments operate historic landmarks, battlefields, and preserved districts. Private nonprofit preservation organizations and historical societies maintain historic houses, plantations, and sites of regional significance. Revenue per visitor tends to be lower than at museums, reflecting the outdoor nature of many sites and smaller-scale retail operations.
The National Park Service[4] manages federal historic sites and maintains the National Register of Historic Places. Industry Census Bureau[5] tracks heritage tourism revenue. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] reports employment for park rangers, interpreters, and preservation specialists. Geographic distribution follows the concentration of historically significant events and structures, with major clusters along the Eastern Seaboard, Civil War battlefields in Virginia and Pennsylvania, and mission sites across the Southwest. Seasonal visitation peaks during summer months and holiday weekends.
What's Included in This Industry
- Historic house museum tours and interpretation
- Battlefield preservation and visitor center operations
- Archaeological site management and public access
- Living history demonstration and reenactment programs
- Historic district walking tour operations
- Heritage property preservation and maintenance
- Educational programming for schools and tour groups
- Gift shop and visitor concession management
- Special event and facility rental services
- Historic preservation advocacy and fundraising
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 71 |
| Subsector | Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | 712 |
| Industry Group | Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | 7121 |
| NAICS Industry | Historical Sites | 71212 |
| National Industry | Historical Sites | 712120 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 712110 | Museums | Museums share the cultural heritage mission and compete for the same government grants, foundation funding, and visitor audiences as historical sites |
| 712130 | Zoos and Botanical Gardens | Zoos and botanical gardens compete for family leisure spending and share nonprofit operational models with historical preservation organizations |
| 712190 | Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions | Nature parks provide outdoor visitor experiences that complement historical sites and often share public land management responsibilities |
| 519210 | Libraries and Archives | Libraries and archives maintain the primary source documents and photographs that historians and site interpreters use for research |
| 236220 | Commercial and Institutional Building Construction | Commercial building contractors perform the specialized restoration and rehabilitation work that historical properties require for structural preservation |
| 813910 | Business Associations | Business and professional associations including historical societies organize preservation campaigns and advocate for heritage site protection policies |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 8.3% | 93 |
| 2 | New York | 7.1% | 79 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 7.0% | 78 |
| 4 | Virginia | 5.6% | 63 |
| 5 | California | 4.4% | 49 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 3.9% | 44 |
| 7 | Ohio | 3.5% | 39 |
| 8 | Texas | 3.3% | 37 |
| 9 | North Carolina | 3.3% | 37 |
| 10 | Florida | 3.0% | 34 |
% Of Establishments
0%
8%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of establishments fall under NAICS 712120?
NAICS 712120 covers sites preserving historically notable locations. This includes battlefield parks, historic house museums, archaeological sites, heritage districts, presidential homes, plantation sites, mission complexes, and other preserved structures open to public visitation.
How is NAICS 712120 different from 712110?
NAICS 712110 covers museums exhibiting collections of objects, while 712120 covers sites preserving and interpreting historically significant places. Museums display artifacts; historical sites preserve the actual buildings and landscapes, per Census Bureau classifications[12].
What is the SBA size standard for historical sites?
The SBA sets the size standard for NAICS 712120 at $13 million in average annual receipts. Sites below this threshold qualify as small businesses, per the SBA size standards table[9].
What NAICS codes are related to historical sites?
Related codes include 712110 (museums), 712130 (zoos and gardens), 712190 (nature parks), 519210 (archives), 236220 (contractors), and 813910 (associations). Each connects through preservation, research, or visitor management.
What industries are closely related to historical sites?
Closely related industries include museums (712110), nature parks (712190), archives (519210), restoration contractors (236220), and historical societies (813910) as preservation partners.
What activities are included in historical site operations?
Activities include guided tours, living history programs, preservation maintenance, educational programming, gift shop management, event hosting, and fundraising. The National Park Service[4] manages federal historical sites.
Can historical sites get SBA loans?
Where are historical sites concentrated in the United States?
Major concentrations line the Eastern Seaboard, particularly New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. Civil War sites cluster in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Mission and frontier sites spread across the Southwest and West Coast, per Census Bureau County Business Patterns[13].
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]National Park Service nps.gov
- [5]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [8]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [9]SBA size standard sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]SBA 504 loans sba.gov
- [12]Census Bureau classifications census.gov
- [13]Census Bureau County Business Patterns census.gov
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