Privacy Policy

The Historical Society of Palm Beach County (“HSPBC,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, interact with our digital content, or make purchases through our online store.

By using our website, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Who We Are

The Historical Society of Palm Beach County is a nonprofit organization based in the State of Florida, dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history and cultural heritage of Palm Beach County. Our website serves as a public resource for education, engagement, and e-commerce.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect both personally identifiable information (PII) and non-personally identifiable information (non-PII) to improve your experience and support our services. This includes:

a. Information You Provide Directly

Name, email address, phone number
Billing and shipping address
Payment information (processed securely through third-party providers)
Information submitted through forms (e.g., contact, donations, subscriptions)
Preferences and interests, such as exhibit favorites or search behavior

b. Information Collected Automatically

IP address, browser type, and device information
Pages visited, links clicked, and time spent on the site
Referring website addresses
Cookies and similar technologies may be used to enhance site performance and personalize your experience. You may adjust your browser settings to disable cookies, though some features of the site may not function properly without them.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

Customize content, search results, and user experiences
Facilitate transactions and process orders in our online store
Respond to inquiries and provide customer support
Improve website performance and usability
Communicate with you about events, promotions, and updates (only with your consent)
Analyze user trends and site usage for internal reporting

We strive to disconnect identifying information from any data used for analytics or system improvement wherever possible.

4. Sharing of Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties.

We may share information only in the following limited situations:

With trusted service providers who assist with payment processing, order fulfillment, marketing, website management, or data analytics
As required by law or to comply with legal obligations
To protect the rights, property, or safety of HSPBC, our users, or others

Any third parties with whom we share information are obligated to protect your data and use it only to perform the services we’ve contracted them for.

5. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

6. Your Rights and Choices

You have the right to:

Access, update, or correct your personal information
Request the deletion of your information (subject to legal obligations)
Opt out of marketing communications at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information below.

7. Children’s Privacy

As an educational and historical resource, the website of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County is visited by students and children of all ages for research and learning purposes.

We are committed to protecting the privacy of young visitors. We do not require registration or collect personal information from children in order to access our educational materials or digital resources.

We do not knowingly collect, use, or disclose personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13. If a child contacts us directly via email or form submission, we may respond to that inquiry but will not retain the information or use it for any other purpose.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has submitted personal information to us without your consent, please contact us. We will promptly delete any such information from our records.

8. Links to External Sites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any information.

9. Florida Privacy Rights

As a Florida-based organization, we comply with applicable state and federal privacy laws. Florida residents may request information about the categories of personal information we collect and how it is used. Please contact us to submit such a request.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with the effective date noted above. Continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes your agreement to the revised policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to manage your data preferences, please contact us:

Historical Society of Palm Beach County
Phone: 561-832-4164
Email: info@pbchistory.org
Mailing Address: 300 N Dixie, West Palm Beach, FL 33401