Job Description
Who We Are Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is "that the future may learn from the past" through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia's colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation. Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 88 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library. Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Giffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today's evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.
About the Position American Indian Initiative Interns will learn to interpret American Indian peoples of the 18th and 21st century for the visiting public and will create and complete an intern project in an area of interest.
This is a 10-12 week in-depth work experience where interns will assist the full-time staff in interpretation with guests. The internship may also include assisting with department administration and operations, specific research projects, or publications. Interns will have the opportunity to learn about multiple aspects of museum work, gain experience with public contact and historical interpretation, and create and complete an intern project in an area of interest. Internships usually require a commitment to a 40-hour work week for the duration of the experience.
Essential Functions: - Assist American Indian Interpreters by engaging guests and accurately interpreting how American Indian peoples participated in the Williamsburg community in the 18th century.
- Provide excellent guest service and follow established procedures.
- Create and complete an intern project - established based on the intern's professional interests and our ability to match that up with onsite resources and make a positive impact.
- Aid in administration, operation, and research duties as needed.
Required and Preferred Education and Experience: Required: Community affiliation with an American Indian tribe, band, pueblo, ranchero, or urban Indian Center.
Qualifications: - Good communication and guest service skills
- Ability to work well as part of a team
- Aptitude to learn content and interpretation skills
- Cultural competency with modern American Indian subject matter
- Ability to talk with guests for extended periods of time outside during times of high heat and humidity
- Able to work a Sunday - Thursday schedule during the internship.
Job Tags
Full time, Work experience placement, Internship, Sunday,