Mountain Lake Park Historical Association Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE ORGANIZATION'S PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE AND PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
- Income
- $83,924
- Spending
- $89,105
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 10.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 45%
- Employees
- 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 67 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
4 of 15Spending exceeded income by 6% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 68% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Weak: 41 out of 100. Higher than 16% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).
Independent board
18 of 253 of 3 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $7,634 spent. DEACONESS - FORMALLY KNOWN AS THE THOMPSON REST HOME FOR THE DEACONESSES. BUILT IN 1882 BY THE REVEREND JOHN THOMPSON, THE DEACONESS WAS INITIALLY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE LODGING FOR METHODIST DEACONESSES. EXPANDED TO INCLUDE A SCHOOL OF MISSIONS AND A GIRL'S CAMP, THE DEACONESS IS THE OLDEST COTTAGE IN MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK. THE BUILDING WAS A PROMINENT PART OF THE MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK VICTORIAN MOVEMENT, OFFERING A PLACE FOR RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGS. THE MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, INC. (MLPHA) NOW OWNS THE BUILDING AND IS ITS NEW HOME.
- $65,845 spent. VICTORIAN CHAUTAUQUA - CHAUTAUQUA REPRESENTS AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING OF LITERARY WORKS, MUSIC, HISTORICAL AND TOPICAL PEOPLE AND EVENTS, ARTS, AND CULTURE. ORIGINALLY RESURRECTED BY THE MARYLAND HUMANITIES IN 1995, A MODERN MARYLAND CHAUTAUQUA WAS ESTABLISHED. AFTER TWENTY-SIX (26) YEARS, THE VIRTUAL EVENT IN 2020, WAS THE FINAL SEASON. MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK RESIDENTS AND VOLUNTEERS WHO ASSISTED WITH THE 2019 CHAUTAUQUA PROGRAM DECIDED TO MAKE THE WEEKEND FESTIVAL AN ANNUAL EVENT AND RE-NAMED THE VICTORIAN CHAUTAUQUA. THE TWO-DAY FESTIVAL FEATURES LIVE MUSIC, HISTORICAL LECTURES, RE-ENACTORS, ARTISTS, HERITAGE DEMONSTRATIONS, AND HISTORIC TROLLEY TOURS. ALL PARKING AND FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES ARE FREE TO ATTEND.
- $4,753 spent. KID-TAUQUA - THE CHILDREN'S VERSION OF THE VICTORIAN CHAUTAUQUA. KID-TAUQUA OCCUPIES ITS OWN TENT, WHICH IS LOCATED CLOSE TO THE VICTORIAN CHAUTAUQUA EVENTS. THE KID-TAUQUA TENT HAS SPECIAL MUSIC PROGRAMS, DEMONSTRATIONS, TIE-DYING AND MAKE 'N TAKE CRAFTS. PROGRAMS INCLUDE STORYTELLING WITH PUPPETS, INTERACTIVE THEATRE GAMES AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRESS UP IN VICTORIAN-STYLE CLOTHING, LEARN THE GUITAR, INTERACTIVE SONGS, AND GACO ROBOTICS DEMONSTRATIONS.
- $6,646 spent. 1. BETHEL CENTER - AME CHURCH - ONE (1) AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL (A.M.E.) CHURCH EXISTED IN THE OAKLAND AREA FROM THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY THROUGH THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY. THE A.M.E. CHURCH WAS THE ONLY "COLORED" CHURCH FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS WHERE SUNDAY SERVICES, WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS, GUEST SPEAKERS, SCHOOLING AND END-OF-LIFE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED. AS THE CONGREGATION DIMINISHED, THE A.M.E. CHURCH BECAME A VACANT BUILDING. THE EMPTY BUILDING WAS RELOCATED, IN 1935, TO AN AMISH FARM IN PLEASANT VALLEY WHERE IT BECAME WHEELWRIGHT'S SHOP TO REPAIR BUGGIES AND HARNESSES. IN 2022, THE TOWN OF MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL PURCHASED THE BUILDING. THE BUILDING WAS DISMANTLED AND DECONSTRUCTED. THE A.M.E. CHURCH WAS RENAMED THE BETHEL CENTER AND SITS IN ITS PERMANENT LOCATION IN THE HISTORICAL DISTRICT WITHIN MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK. A RE-DEDICATION CEREMONY WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2024, WHICH WAS 124 YEARS FROM ITS ORIGINAL DEDICATION IN 1900. PS REVENUE = 0 PS EXPENSES = 2,434 2. TENNIS - THE WOMEN FROM MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK BEGAN AND MANAGED THE MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK TENNIS CLUB AS A FORM OF RECREATION. THE 100+ YEAR OLD CLAY COURTS ARE STILL MAINTAINED AND AVAILABLE FOR PLAY. THESE COURTS ARE THE HOME OF THE WESTERN MARYLAND TENNIS TOURNAMENT. THE MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK TENNIS CLUB DISSOLVED ITS CHARTER IN 2023, AND THE COURTS TRANSITIONED UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF MLPHA. TROPHIES, MEMORABILIA, AND OTHER HISTORICAL ITEMS ARE HOUSED IN THE MUSEUM AND MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK TOWN HALL. PS REVENUE = 1,998 PS EXPENSES = 4,212 3. MUSEUM - THE TICKET OFFICE MUSEUM IS ONE (1) OF SIXTY-ONE (61) ORIGINAL STRUCTURES REMAINING IN MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK. THE STRUCTURE SERVED AS THE TICKET OFFICE FOR THE BASHFORD AMPHITHEATER, WHICH HELD 5,000 PEOPLE AND HAD A STAGE LARGE ENOUGH FOR UP TO 450 PERFORMERS. AMAZINGLY, THERE WERE NO CENTER SUPPORT POLES, WHICH GUARANTEED A "GOOD" SEAT FOR ALL. UNFORTUNATELY, THE BASHFORD FELL INTO DISREPAIR AND FUNDS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS. ULTIMATELY, THE BASHFORD WAS DEMOLISHED. IN 2023, THE TICKET OFFICE MUSEUM WAS RENOVATED. AFTER SIX (6) MONTHS OF INTENSE LABOR, THE NEWLY RENOVATED MUSEUM OPENED IN TIME FOR THE VICTORIAN CHAUTAUQUA HELD ON JULY 8TH AND 9TH. THE EXHIBITION IS DESIGNED TO GUIDE VISITORS THROUGH THE RISE OF THE MARYLAND CHAUTAUQUA SUMMER RESORT AND TO ITS TRANSITION TO A YEAR-ROUND INCORPORATED MUNICIPALITY. PS REVENUE = 0 PS EXPENSES = 0
- 1. BETHEL CENTER - AME CHURCH - ONE (1) AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL (A.M.E.) CHURCH EXISTED IN THE OAKLAND AREA FROM THE LATE NINETEENTH CENTURY THROUGH THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY. THE A.M.E. CHURCH WAS THE ONLY "COLORED" CHURCH FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS WHERE SUNDAY SERVICES, WEDDINGS, BAPTISMS, GUEST SPEAKERS, SCHOOLING AND END-OF-LIFE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED. AS THE CONGREGATION DIMINISHED, THE A.M.E. CHURCH BECAME A VACANT BUILDING. THE EMPTY BUILDING WAS RELOCATED, IN 1935, TO AN AMISH FARM IN PLEASANT VALLEY WHERE IT BECAME WHEELWRIGHT'S SHOP TO REPAIR BUGGIES AND HARNESSES. IN 2022, THE TOWN OF MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL PURCHASED THE BUILDING. THE BUILDING WAS DISMANTLED AND DECONSTRUCTED. THE A.M.E. CHURCH WAS RENAMED THE BETHEL CENTER AND SITS IN ITS PERMANENT LOCATION IN THE HISTORICAL DISTRICT WITHIN MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK. A RE-DEDICATION CEREMONY WAS HELD ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2024, WHICH WAS 124 YEARS FROM ITS ORIGINAL DEDICATION IN 1900. PS REVENUE = 0 PS EXPENSES = 2,434 2. TENNIS - THE WOMEN FROM MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK BEGAN AND MANAGED THE MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK TENNIS CLUB AS A FORM OF RECREATION. THE 100+ YEAR OLD CLAY COURTS ARE STILL MAINTAINED AND AVAILABLE FOR PLAY. THESE COURTS ARE THE HOME OF THE WESTERN MARYLAND TENNIS TOURNAMENT. THE MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK TENNIS CLUB DISSOLVED ITS CHARTER IN 2023, AND THE COURTS TRANSITIONED UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF MLPHA. TROPHIES, MEMORABILIA, AND OTHER HISTORICAL ITEMS ARE HOUSED IN THE MUSEUM AND MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK TOWN HALL. PS REVENUE = 1,998 PS EXPENSES = 4,212 3. MUSEUM - THE TICKET OFFICE MUSEUM IS ONE (1) OF SIXTY-ONE (61) ORIGINAL STRUCTURES REMAINING IN MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK. THE STRUCTURE SERVED AS THE TICKET OFFICE FOR THE BASHFORD AMPHITHEATER, WHICH HELD 5,000 PEOPLE AND HAD A STAGE LARGE ENOUGH FOR UP TO 450 PERFORMERS. AMAZINGLY, THERE WERE NO CENTER SUPPORT POLES, WHICH GUARANTEED A "GOOD" SEAT FOR ALL. UNFORTUNATELY, THE BASHFORD FELL INTO DISREPAIR AND FUNDS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS. ULTIMATELY, THE BASHFORD WAS DEMOLISHED. IN 2023, THE TICKET OFFICE MUSEUM WAS RENOVATED. AFTER SIX (6) MONTHS OF INTENSE LABOR, THE NEWLY RENOVATED MUSEUM OPENED IN TIME FOR THE VICTORIAN CHAUTAUQUA HELD ON JULY 8TH AND 9TH. THE EXHIBITION IS DESIGNED TO GUIDE VISITORS THROUGH THE RISE OF THE MARYLAND CHAUTAUQUA SUMMER RESORT AND TO ITS TRANSITION TO A YEAR-ROUND INCORPORATED MUNICIPALITY. PS REVENUE = 0 PS EXPENSES = 0
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2023.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.