Compass Inn Museum, Laughlintown, PA
The Compass Inn Museum is set in the period of time between 1799 and the Civil War. Interns or volunteers will learn a script about the Inn and its owners, Robert and Rachael Armor. They and their descendants operated the Inn from 1814 until 1966. We tell the story of ordinary people living ordinary lives in this time period. The interns will learn about period costuming and how to give guided tours thru the Inn and outbuildings. We will teach them some common practices of the day like, candle dipping, tin punching, and open hearth cooking. They will learn the care and handling of priceless artifacts. They will learn museum operations and gift shop management. They will learn customer service practices and docent scheduling.
Site tours available, should you be interested.
Contact: Jim Koontz, Inn Keeper/Curator, jkoontz@compassinn.com, 724-238-4983
Derry Historical Society, Derry, PA
Would welcome interns, especially history lovers but “likers” are good too. They have two main areas: (1) A historic log Fulton House Inn, located in New Derry, where they hold our special events (including an operating blacksmith shop), provide house tours (with costumed docents), and hold business meetings; (2) A family history genealogy research center, located within the New Alexandria Public Library – housing historic documents, books, maps etc for research. Bridging the gap between the historic Fulton House and the research library is our Archives – a repository for historic memorabilia donated or otherwise acquired by the society for preservation. Themed exhibits are built to showcase some of these. They maintain computer base databases and have a website – all of which needs updated, so they even have work for computer and data processors; “typists”; and writers.
Derry Historical Society does not have an organized intern program with job descriptions, however, they would be willing to work with us.
Contact: John Matviya, Archivist/Genealogist, Derry Area Historical Society
www.derryhistory.org
research@derryhistory.hypermart.net
West Overton Museum
West Overton Village is located about 45 minutes east of Pittsburgh in the quite little town of Scottdale. The Village features eighteen significant buildings spanning several acres. These building were built in the years between 1801 and 1867. http://www.westovertonvillage.org/
Volunteers and potentially interns needed for restructuring exhibits, rebuilding collections catalogue, and revitalizing space. Hours of operation include: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., some Saturdays.
Contact: Kelly Linn, Executive Director at 724-887-7910.
Westmoreland Historical Society, Greensburg, PA
The Westmoreland County Historical Society is an educational organization dedicated to acquiring and managing resources related to the history of Westmoreland County and using these resources to encourage a diverse audience to make connections to the past, develop an understanding of the present, and provide direction for the future. http://www.starofthewest.org/
Historic Hanna’s Town opened recently. Volunteers are needed to help in the gift shop to provide tours at the site. Interns have assisted in the past to help with the guiding.
Contact: Joanna Moyar, joanna@starofthewest.org
Resources
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission: http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/internships/2521
Westmoreland Heritage: http://www.westmorelandheritage.org/ (includes a list of Historical Societies in the area)
Bushy Run Battlefield: http://bushyrunbattlefield.com/
Baltzer Meyer Historical Society: http://baltzermeyer.pa-roots.com/Pages/home.html
Direct link to internship application:
