How to Make Money With Local History Knowledge
Give Walking Tours in Your Town
Wanna get paid to walk around and talk about your town? Walking tours let you turn your brain full of fun facts into cold, hard cash.
People love stories about spooky basements, wild old mayors, or the bakery that used to be a jail. Got a weird legend or a haunted mansion? That’s gold!
Create themed tours like “Secrets and Side Streets” or “Haunted Hot Spots.” The funkier the name, the more folks will remember it.
Put flyers in coffee shops, libraries, and even laundromats. Grandma doing laundry might be your next ticket buyer.
Share your tour on social media, especially in local Facebook groups. You never know who’s looking for a fun weekend plan.
Charge $10 to $20 per person. Offer discounts for kids, seniors, and people with awesome socks. (Okay, maybe not that last one.)
Schools might invite you for field trips. Teachers LOVE when someone else keeps their students busy and learning.
Dress up like a historical figure or carry old-timey photos. People go bananas for that stuff.
If you’re near busy roads, use a small speaker or megaphone. Yelling over traffic is not as charming as you think.
Stick to short, comfy routes. Nobody wants to learn about history while gasping for air.
Walking tours let you chat, stroll, and share your love for local lore—all while getting paid. Not bad, right?
Write a Local History Book or eBook
Got a bunch of cool town stories stuck in your head? Time to write ’em down and earn some bucks.
You can write about how your town was founded, a big flood, or that one guy who invented a weird peanut butter machine. (Every small town has one.)
Keep your writing simple so everyone—from kids to your Aunt Mabel—can enjoy it. Big words? No thanks.
Add photos, drawings, and maybe even doodles. People love flipping through a book with pictures.
Use Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing to sell online. Print versions are great for gift shops and grandparents.
Ask local stores, museums, or even ice cream shops to carry your book. Who says people can’t enjoy a scoop and a story?
Set up a table at the farmers market or town fair. Bonus points if you offer signed copies with a big smile.
Read your book at schools or libraries. Kids love tales that happened right where they live.
Create special versions for classrooms with fun quizzes or coloring pages. Teachers will adore you.
If you like to draw, illustrate it yourself. If not, team up with a local artist over coffee—and maybe shared glory.
Your book could become the go-to gift for holidays or reunions. That’s history that sells!
Start a Local History Blog or YouTube Channel
Got stories that are too spicy for print? Start a blog or YouTube channel and spill the tea—vintage style.
Talk about hidden tunnels, the weird statue by the gas station, or that time the circus rolled into town. People eat that stuff up.
Make your posts or videos short and snappy. Think snack-sized history bites.
Post new content every week or two to keep folks hooked. It’s like a soap opera, but with more cobblestones.
Show off old photos, maps, or interviews with longtime locals. Their voices add magic (and great accents).
Add ads to your blog or videos to bring in money. Every click helps!
Partner with local shops and give them a shoutout. “This episode is brought to you by Tony’s Donuts”—yes please.
Join Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee and offer bonus stories. Maybe some bloopers too. I mean, who doesn’t love a good blooper?
Interview your neighbor who’s lived there forever. They probably know stuff that’s not in any book.
Walk through town and do before-and-after snapshots. It’s like time-travel without leaving your sneakers.
Mention your tours, books, or crafts in your videos. Extra eyeballs = extra income.
Start with just your phone—no need to be Spielberg. It’s the story that matters.
Your blog or channel can reach folks from next door or across the world. Small-town legends go far!
Sell Local History Items or Crafts
Love making stuff with your hands? Turn your craftiness and town stories into cash!
Make postcards using old photos, or draw your own vintage-style art. Add a short tale on the back to spice it up.
Design shirts, mugs, or bags with local landmarks or old sayings. “I Survived the Haunted Hayride” belongs on a hoodie, right?
Create bookmarks with historical quotes or wooden signs that look like they came from the 1800s. Rustic sells, baby.
Sell at markets, fairs, or town events. Tourists and locals love a nostalgic gift.
Online shops like Etsy or Facebook Marketplace are perfect too. Open your shop and start cha-chinging.
Ask small stores or museums to carry your stuff. Bonus: they usually display it near the register.
Attach a story card to each item. Like, “This mug design comes from an 1892 firehouse.” Boom—instantly cooler.
Offer custom gifts for birthdays, weddings, or town anniversaries. Trust me, people love custom everything.
Make fun kits with puzzles, coloring sheets, or trivia games for kids. Great for field trips… or rainy days at grandma’s.
Selling crafts connects people to history and adds charm to everyday things. Plus, glitter. Don’t forget the glitter.
Teach Local History Classes or Workshops
Know your town inside and out? Time to teach what you know and earn some dough.
Offer classes at the library, school, or even at the park. Just don’t forget the bug spray.
Turn it into a fun adventure—use games, old maps, or dress-up days. Who wouldn’t love a lesson with pirate hats?
Adults enjoy talks with photos, hands-on stuff, and juicy tales. Think of it like local Netflix—but live.
Charge a small fee or offer a package deal. Discounts for families make it feel like a field trip.
Work with homeschoolers or after-school groups. They’re always looking for cool learning stuff.
Can’t teach in person? Zoom it! Now your “Wagon Wheel Wednesday” class can go global.
Offer summer camps with crafts, storytelling, and snacks (can’t forget the snacks). History + snack = win.
Bring in real stuff—letters, tools, or artifacts. It helps history feel real and a little magical.
Classes let you pass the torch and share town tales in fun ways. You’re teaching AND earning. High five!
Help Others With Research or Family History
Lots of folks are curious about their roots. You can be the detective they need!
Track down birth records, news clippings, or grave sites. It’s like CSI… but with less crime and more card catalogs.
Help build family trees or uncover who lived in Grandma’s house before her. You’ll feel like a mystery-solver with a library card.
Charge a fair price for your time and skills. People are happy to pay for help finding their past.
Make a website or Facebook page to show what you offer. Toss in a few happy customer quotes (with permission).
Museums or genealogy groups may need extra hands. Join their projects and make cool discoveries together.
Offer your services around Memorial Day or family reunions. It’s heritage season, folks!
Create little reports with photos, maps, and stories. People hang them up like diplomas—they’re that proud.
Helping others find their roots is sweet, powerful, and yes—profitable. Plus, you get to play history hero.
Work With Local Museums or Historical Societies
Museums aren’t just for dusty stuff—they’re full of chances to share your skills and get paid.
Give talks about famous folks or local legends. You’ll feel like a rockstar with a slideshow.
Plan events like old-time fairs, reenactments, or ghost tours. You bring the know-how, they bring the crowd.
Write labels or signs for exhibits. Good museum writing is short, sweet, and fun—kind of like me.
Lead school groups through the museum halls. Kids love hearing about how wild the past used to be.
Sell your books or crafts in the gift shop. You win, they win, and the visitors get cool stuff.
Join a local historical society and network your socks off. These folks know everyone.
Working with museums turns your passion into purpose. Plus, you get insider access to the town’s best stories!
Create a Local History Podcast
Love to talk? Don’t waste it—turn it into a podcast and let your voice travel through time!
Pick fun topics like “The Great Pickle Flood of 1899” or “Who REALLY Built That Stone Wall?” Keep it short and exciting.
Invite guests like your history teacher or the mayor’s grandma. The older, the juicier the story.
Use music or sound effects to spice things up. Add some spooky music for your haunted episode—oooh!
Get sponsors from coffee shops or bookstores. A little shoutout goes a long way.
Post episodes on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Share them on social media with fun clips or quotes.
Link to your books, tours, or crafts in your show notes. It’s cross-promotion magic!
A podcast lets you share your town’s tales with the world. Who knew your voice could make history echo?
