Historical Society & Preservation Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a historical society & preservation business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for historical societies, historic sites, and preservation organizations. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual buildings and collections.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property (Historic Replacement Cost) | Covers buildings at the cost to restore with historic materials — standard valuation can fall far short. | Core | |
| Fine Art / Collections Coverage | Covers artifacts, archives, and loaned items at appraised or agreed value. | Core | |
| Commercial General Liability | Covers visitor injuries on steep stairs, uneven floors, and grounds. | Core | |
| Directors & Officers | Covers board decisions, deaccession disputes, and donor claims. | Core | |
| Ordinance or Law | Pays for code and historic-district upgrades required after a loss. | Prevalent | |
| Business Income & Extra Expense | Replaces admissions and rental income while closed for repairs. | Prevalent | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required once you have employees; covers staff on ladders and restoration work. | Prevalent | |
| Valuable Papers & Records | Covers the cost to restore archives and documents. | Prevalent | |
| Builders Risk | Covers buildings under restoration — fires often strike during renovation. | Situational | |
| Liquor Liability | Needed for weddings, rentals, and fundraisers with alcohol. | Situational | |
| Abuse & Molestation | Needed for school and children's programs. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by historical societies is building value. A policy written at modern replacement cost may not pay to restore hand-made materials and historic craftsmanship, and local historic and building codes can add costly upgrades after a fire — Carpenters' Hall needed more than $1 million in repairs after a single basement fire. Collections are a second gap if they aren't inventoried and valued. Confirm historic replacement cost, ordinance or law coverage, and a current collections schedule.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your historical society & preservation coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Historical Society & Preservation Insurance · Historical Society & Preservation Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a historical society & preservation business need?
The core coverages for a historical society & preservation business are Property (Historic Replacement Cost), Fine Art / Collections Coverage, Commercial General Liability, Directors & Officers. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my historical society & preservation coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.