Effective date: October 5, 2026 · Last updated: October 5, 2026

Historic Towns of America (“HTOA,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and share it, and the choices you have when you visit historictownsofamerica.com, travel.historictownsofamerica.com, and any related pages, newsletters, or social media accounts we operate (together, the “Site”).

By using the Site, you agree to the practices described here. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

1. Information We Collect

We collect only the information needed to run the Site, answer you, and improve our content. You can browse the Site without telling us who you are.

Information you give us

Contact and advertising inquiries: your name, email address, phone number (optional), and anything you include in your message when you use our Contact Us form.
Newsletter sign-ups via Godaddy: your email address when you subscribe to HTOA updates.
Donations and purchases: if you donate or buy something, payment is handled by a third-party processor or store platform. We may receive your name, email, and transaction details, but we do not receive or store your full card number.
Other communications: information you send us by email or through our social media accounts.

Information collected automatically

Device and usage data: IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, referring page, pages viewed, time spent on pages, and approximate location (city or region, derived from IP address).
Cookies and similar technologies: small files and scripts that help the Site work, measure traffic, and attribute affiliate referrals. See Section 3.

We do not knowingly collect sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers, health information, or financial account numbers.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to run the Site and serve you. Specifically, we use it to:

Respond to questions, advertising and partnership inquiries, and trip-idea requests.
Send the HTOA newsletter and updates you signed up for. Every email includes an unsubscribe link.
Process donations and deliver digital products, travel guides, or courses you purchase.
Understand which pages and destinations readers find useful, so we can improve our content.
Track affiliate referrals so we are credited when you book or buy through our partner links.
Protect the Site from spam, fraud, and abuse (for example, through Google reCAPTCHA on our forms).
Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms.

We do not sell your personal information for money. We do not use your information to make automated decisions that have legal or similarly significant effects on you.

3. Cookies, Analytics, and Affiliate Links

We and our partners use cookies, pixels, and similar tools to operate the Site, measure traffic, and credit affiliate referrals. When you first visit, a cookie banner lets you accept or decline non-essential cookies.

Service	What it does	Learn more
Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics	Measures visits, pages viewed, and traffic sources	Google Privacy Policy
Google reCAPTCHA	Blocks spam and bots on our contact and sign-up forms	Google Privacy Policy
GoDaddy Website Builder and WordPress	Hosts and runs the Site, forms, and newsletter	GoDaddy Privacy Policy
Affiliate networks and travel partners (for example, Awin, Expedia, Trip.com, and other booking agencies)	Track when you click a partner link and complete a booking or purchase	Each partner’s own privacy policy
PayPal	Processes donations	PayPal Privacy Statement
Embedded YouTube videos	Plays our video footage; YouTube may set cookies when you play a video	Google Privacy Policy
Social media links (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, X, YouTube)	Lets you follow us; those platforms collect data under their own policies	Each platform’s privacy policy

Google AdSense

Shows ads on the Site and measures ad performance; may use cookies to personalize ads

How Google uses data from partner sites: https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites

Advertising. We use Google AdSense to show ads on the Site. Google and its partners, as third-party vendors, use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this Site and other websites. Google’s advertising cookies let Google and its partners serve ads to you based on those visits. You can opt out of personalized advertising at Google Ads Settings (https://adssettings.google.com), and opt out of some third-party vendors’ use of cookies for personalized ads at aboutads.info (https://www.aboutads.info/choices) or youronlinechoices.eu (https://www.youronlinechoices.eu). Where required by law, we ask for your consent before showing personalized ads.

Affiliate disclosure. Some links on the Site are affiliate links. If you click one and make a booking or purchase, the partner may place a cookie on your device to credit HTOA with a small commission, at no extra cost to you. The partner, not HTOA, collects your booking and payment details.

Managing cookies. You can decline non-essential cookies in our banner, block or delete cookies in your browser settings, or opt out of Google Analytics with the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on. Blocking cookies may affect how some features work. We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals where required by law.

We share personal information only in these limited cases:

Service providers that host the Site, send email, process payments, prevent spam, or provide analytics. They may use your information only to perform services for us.
Affiliate and travel partners, through cookies and tracking links, when you click a partner link. We do not hand them your contact details.
Advertisers and sponsors, only in aggregated or de-identified form (for example, total monthly visitors). We do not share your name or email with advertisers without your consent.
Show ads that help keep the Site free.
Legal and safety reasons, when required by law, subpoena, or court order, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of HTOA, our readers, or others.
Business transfers, if HTOA is merged, sold, or transfers its assets, your information may transfer as part of that transaction under the terms of this policy.

Under some state laws, the use of analytics and affiliate cookies may be considered “sharing” or “targeted advertising.” You can opt out as described in Section 5.

5. Your Choices and Privacy Rights

You control how we contact you and what we keep.

Email: unsubscribe at any time using the link in any HTOA email, or by contacting us.
Cookies: use our cookie banner or your browser settings (see Section 3).
Access, correction, and deletion: you may ask us what personal information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it.

State privacy rights. Depending on where you live (including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, and other states with consumer privacy laws), you may have the right to:

Know what personal information we collect, use, and disclose.
Access and receive a copy of your personal information.
Correct inaccurate personal information.
Delete your personal information.
Opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information, or its use for targeted advertising.
Not be discriminated against for exercising these rights.

To make a request, contact us using the details in Section 8. We will verify your request using the information you provide and respond within the time required by law (generally 45 days). You may use an authorized agent, and you may appeal our decision by replying to our response.

Visitors outside the United States. The Site is operated in the United States and intended for U.S. audiences. If you visit from elsewhere, your information will be processed in the United States.

6. Retention, Security, Children, and Other Websites

Data retention. We keep personal information only as long as needed for the purposes in this policy. Newsletter addresses are kept until you unsubscribe. Contact messages are kept as long as needed to respond and follow up. Donation and purchase records are kept as long as required for tax and accounting purposes.

Security. We use reasonable safeguards, including encrypted (HTTPS) connections and reputable hosting and payment providers. No website or transmission is 100% secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Children’s privacy. The Site is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has given us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

Links to other websites. The Site links to booking agencies, affiliate partners, museums, historical societies, and other third-party sites. We are not responsible for their content or privacy practices. Please review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

7. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as the Site, our partners, or the law changes. When we do, we will change the “Last updated” date at the top. Significant changes will be highlighted on the Site or sent by email to subscribers.

8. Contact Us

For questions, requests, or concerns about this policy or your information, contact:

Historic Towns of America groupnexcommmunity@gmail.com Online: Contact Us form