The National Capital Region’s National Historic Landmarks (NHL) Program office is seeking a student or recent graduate in public history, history, African American/Cultural studies, historic preservation, or related degree field to work closely with the regional NHL Coordinator and a consulting historian to assist with updating the outdated NHL documentation for George Mason’s Gunston Hall in Mason Neck, Virginia. The aim is it update the 1960-1978 documentation to reflect current scholarship to reflect a more expansive history that acknowledges the context and complexities of the period and the people involved. This includes adding information about the centrality of the institution of slavery in Mason’s life and accomplishments, about the people that Mason enslaved, and an acknowledgment of women’s roles at the site. The intern will help identify, collect, and analyze recent scholarship related to Mason, the institution of slavery, and the resonance of the slavery within the nation’s founding. In addition, the intern will assist with reviewing and drafting portions of the nomination and with organizing and managing public outreach to affiliated groups and the public. Other potential 250th commemoration tasks may include development of educational outreach in the form of social media and web content. In addition, the intern may have the opportunity to assist with fieldwork at the site aimed at documenting the historic building, sites, and landscapes.

The internship will provide the intern an introduction to the NHL Program and experience conducting research and writing sections for a National Historic Landmark nomination and managing public outreach as part of a major public history project. The internship offers exposure to multiple disciplines and practices within the public history and Cultural Resource Management fields.

The intern will be able to work remotely or at the Washington, DC office. Short periods of in-office or on-site work may be required as well as site visits to Gunston Hall and regional research repositories. A travel stipend is available if the selected intern lives outside the Washington, DC commuting area.

This position is part of the Internship Program administered by the National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE). The program is a partnership between the National Park Service and NCPE. Eligibility requirements apply; visit https://preservenet.org/ncpe-internships/ for details and instructions on how to apply.

Qualified NCPE interns who successfully complete their internships may count their position towards earning a Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Authority certificate.  Once earned, the PLC hiring authority certificate may be used to apply for eligible Federal temporary, term, or permanent positions. Visit the website listed above for details about this benefit. Successful completion of the internship does not guarantee Federal employment.