Living History Education Intern

The Washburn Norlands Living History Center in Livermore, Maine seeks an intern to revise and develop Living History Curriculum for school groups, homeschool co-ops and adult groups.  The intern will work with experienced educator-mentors to review 50 years ground breaking curriculum and an extensive archive of 19th century documents and ephemera to create experiences that will captivate a 21st century audience.  

They also will work with a team of AP History teachers to develop a high school level archive centered field trip focused on the Civil War, Reconstruction and the Gilded Age. During the internship, they will build several strong work products for their portfolio.

The Norlands is a small museum so the ideal candidate is flexible enough to assist in all aspects of operations during opening hours and work on other projects as needed.  The intern will be called on to work as a living history interpreter during events and on Saturday Living History Days when the Norlands is transformed into a 19th century town. They also may be called on to give tours and assist with educational programs.

This is an ideal job for a team oriented self-starter with an entrepreneurial mindset and strong organizational skills.  Experience with social media is a plus. An understanding of 19th Century United States History, especially the Civil War, Reconstruction and the Gilded Age and/or the Franco-Prussian War is a plus, as well as knowledge of French, Spanish, art history, theater, or education. Baking, cooking, sewing, needlework or farming experience can also be put to good use - we are a living history center! If you don't know, we'll teach you.

The Norlands is a rural estate in Livermore, Maine where one can immerse themselves in an earlier, simpler time and spend hours lost in a 400 acre 19th century wonderland.  While it can feel remote, it is conveniently located 30 minutes from Lewiston/Auburn, an hour from Portland, LL Bean, the coast, Sunday River and Sugarloaf.  It is 2.5 hours from Boston and 4 hours from Montreal. 

Interns are provided housing in the Farmer's Cottage of the Mansion with single or shared rooms.  Because of the location, interns sometimes choose to work 10 hour days (if on a 40 hour schedule) and take a 3 day weekend to travel or go home. Interns are provided with period dress for living history days. 

The Washburn Norlands is a 501-C3 and welcomes working with schools to meet the requirements for students to receive stipends for unpaid/underpaid public service internships.  We also can offer academic credit for internships; interns will have ample time to pursue their own research while on site.  Outside of their internship responsibilities, interns are given the first opportunity to fill any “after hours” paid role which include serving at weddings and farm to table dinners, doing landscape work and “deep cleaning” in our historical areas. 

Start and ending dates are flexible from May - August but candidates should be able to stay for at least six weeks. Our high season runs from June 28 - August 31.  

About the Washburn Norlands 

Washburn-Norlands Living History Center is a non-profit museum dedicated to preserving the heritage and traditions of rural life in Maine’s past, celebrating the achievements of Livermore’s Washburn family, and using living history methods to make values, issues and activities of the past relevant to present and future generations. The 445 acre property includes working farmland and buildings relating to the site’s role as the 19th-century homestead of the Washburn family. It includes a preserved 1828 Universalist meeting house, the Washburn 1867 mansion with attached farmer’s cottage and barn, an 1883 granite library, a sap-house, and a restored 1853 one-room school house. It contains an extensive trail system.

The Washburn Norlands archive is one of the few private family archives in the country and has been used by prominent historians including David McCullough and Heather Cox Richardson. The 7 Washburn brothers included 4 congressmen, 2 governors, 2 Ambassadors, a U.S. Senator, a Civil War General, a Civil War Naval Captain and the founders of Gold Medal and Pillsbury Flour.  There is also a significant Franco-Prussian War and 1870s in Paris collection, a 600 piece Gilded Age couture textiles collection and a growing natural history collection.