Historic Trades Internship - George Washington’s Mount Vernon

Paid • Closes February 6

This program is open to undergraduate students who have completed at least one year of college, but have not yet graduated.

Applicants should be comfortable with public speaking and available during the entire 10-week internship period. Candidates with a background or a keen interest in history are preferred.

This position requires the ability to:

• Work outdoors in hot and humid weather

• Dress in 18^th-century clothing (costume will be provided)

• Do rigorous physical activity, including demonstrating 18th-century farming methods, field work, and milling

• Work in a dusty environment

• Lift and carry 50 pounds

• Work with 18th-century tools and implements

• Conduct hands-on activities such as: caring for tobacco, weeding and harvesting crops, threshing and winnowing wheat, cooking 18^th-century recipes, spinning and weaving wool, and others (no previous experience required)

• Greet and talk with numerous guests of all ages

• Conduct and present an independent research project

Training Program

All interns will complete an intensive training program in interpretive methodology and historical content. Key topics include 18th-century economics and agricultural methods, distilling, milling, and slavery.

Upon completion of training, interns will work as full-time Historic Trades Interpreters, doing costumed living-history interpretation under the direction of the professional interpretive staff. Interns do not need to be in character. Interns will be expected to work a five-day, 40-hour week, including weekends and some evenings.

In addition, interns will participate in department-sponsored field trips to other historic sites and museums in the region.

Interns must complete and present a research project on George Washington, agriculture, 18th-century trades, or related topics. Historic Trades staff will work with colleges and universities to ensure that, if applicable, course credit requirements are met.

Salary

This is a paid internship. Interns will receive a stipend of $12/hour. Out-of-state interns also receive a reimbursement of up to $350 for travel expenses to and from Virginia.

Learn more and apply here.