⭐ 1. Donate (click the donate button below)
Financial contributions allow the Museum to:
develop exhibitions, educational programs, and digital experiences
advance archival, historical, and genealogical research
preserve, conserve, document, and care for the Museum’s growing collection
expand digitization and digital archives to preserve and share descendant history
acquire artworks, artifacts, manuscripts, and documents that help preserve and tell these histories
support public programming, community outreach, and opportunities for descendants to contribute their histories
support education and professional development for the Museum’s growing team
help build our family of educators, conservators, digital specialists, exhibition designers, and others
sustain the Museum’s ongoing operations and continued growth
Every contribution — large or small — helps advance the research, preservation, interpretation, and sharing the histories of Mayflower descendants and those connected to them. Donations are non-refundable.
⭐ 2. Become a Member
Memberships provide essential, ongoing support for the Museum’s work. Members receive:
early access to discoveries
behind‑the‑scenes research updates
quarterly newsletters
opportunities to offer input into how the Museum evolves and what we offer
Memberships directly support the Museum’s ability to grow, research, and share descendant and descentant-related histories with the public.
Memberships are non-refundable.
⭐ 3. Support the Museum Through Our Shops
Purchases from our shops help support the Mayflower Descendants Museum’s ongoing research, collection development, preservation, interpretation, and public programming. Each shop has its own purpose and design identity while contributing to the Museum’s broader work.
Our Shops:
Shop MDM Official — The Museum’s official shop, featuring merchandise inspired by the Museum, its collections, Mayflower-descendant history, and the stories explored through our research.
The House of Cipher Official — A luxury design house inspired by objects and histories preserved in the Museum. Cipher reimagines historic art, artifacts, and symbolism—often drawn from objects more than a century old—into contemporary design while bringing greater visibility to histories that have been erased, forgotten, lost to time, or hidden.
American Tapestry Official — A heritage-driven design house inspired by historic American art and artifacts. American Tapestry transforms details from the Museum’s collections into designs that connect American material culture, art, history, and storytelling across generations.
⭐ 4. Follow and Share Our Stories
Visibility fuels discovery, and discovery fuels education and preservation.
Instagram: @mayflowerdescendantsmuseum and @shopmdmofficial
Facebook: Mayflower Descendants Museum and Mayflower Descendants Museum Shop
YouTube: Mayflower Descendants Museum Channel
TikTok: mayflowermuseum
X: x.com/MayflowerMuseum
Every follow, share, and comment helps bring visibility to descendant histories that might otherwise remain hidden.
⭐ 5. Donate Art & Artifacts
The Museum welcomes descendant‑related materials that help expand the historical record and preserve family legacies. We accept:
artworks connected to descendant families
historical artifacts and heirlooms
manuscripts, letters, diaries, and family documents
photographs, albums, and visual materials
genealogical materials and lineage documentation
objects that illuminate descendant stories, craftsmanship, or cultural heritage
These contributions help build a collection that reflects the richness, diversity, and lived experiences of Mayflower descendants across generations. If you are interested an object, or objects, to the museum, please contact us at info@mayflowerdescendantsmuseum.org and put “Object donation” in the title. Please include images and descriptions of your item(s). Thanks!
⭐ 6. Share Your Stories
Descendant and descendant-connected stories are at the heart of the Museum. Family histories, oral traditions, genealogical discoveries, migration stories, heirlooms, artworks, and memories passed through generations can preserve histories that might otherwise be overlooked, forgotten, or lost to time.
We are currently developing a dedicated place within the Museum where descendant stories can be shared and explored. For now, we ask that you hold your general story submissions while that platform is being developed. We will share more information as this part of the Museum takes shape.
If you believe you have a story involving an erased, forgotten, lost-to-time, or hidden history that may warrant more immediate Museum attention — or an artifact, heirloom, artwork, or document that you believe the Museum should consider for more immediate research or interpretation — we are currently accepting a limited number of priority submissions.
Please email a brief summary to stories@mayflowerdescendantsmuseum.orgwitha clear, descriptive subject line that briefly identifies the story, artifact, or discovery you would like us to consider.
While we cannot guarantee that every submission will be researched or featured by the Museum, we are collecting these stories and materials for review. We expect to begin looking through submissions over the coming months and will contact you if we would like to learn more.
⭐ 7. Contribute Your Talents
The Museum welcomes support from individuals with skills in:
historical research
genealogy
museum studies
digital archiving
design
video production
community outreach
This museum began with one descendant pulling on an invisible thread — and it grows stronger with every person who joins the work. Visit the Let’s Connect tab to learn more.
⭐ 8. Become a Connector
Connectors help the Museum expand its reach and build partnerships. You can support by:
introducing the Museum to other museums, historical societies, and cultural institutions
helping organize events, talks, or collaborative exhibitions
connecting us with genealogists, historians, educators, and researchers
sharing our mission with lineage societies, Mayflower groups, and community organizations
opening doors to opportunities we may not yet know exist
Your connections help bring descendant history into public view. If you are interested in being a connector please visit the Let’s Connect tab to learn more.