Internships

Living History Farms is an interactive outdoor history museum, which educates and connects all peoples to the many stories of Midwestern rural heritage. We are looking for interns who are energetic and enthusiastic about using their knowledge and talents to engage with our visitors. We offer a variety of paid and unpaid intern positions throughout the year.

If you would like to join our team, please fill out the appropriate internship application form linked below.  Living History Farms also has many volunteer opportunities available.

Paid Internships

Living History Farms offers a 90-day paid summer internship program for undergrad students in their sophomore year or higher. Interns earn a temporary worker hourly wage and receive six hours of tuition-free history credit and valuable work experience—plus Living History Farms pays all tuition costs. Credit is provided through Graceland University, and students can transfer credit hours to their own program. Find a list of current openings here.

General Information

• Students must pay to have a credit transcript sent to their individual college or university. The credit is provided through Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.
• Housing is not provided.
• All interns begin the program with an intensive orientation and training. Throughout the internship, interns are required to attend seminars that explore public history, museum operations, or related topics. Internship requirements also include reading and writing assignments, and completion of a special research project.

General Qualifications

• Like working with the public, including children of all ages
• Excellent communication skills
• Willingness to learn, and a “can-do” attitude
• Ability to work independently
• Creative, with analytical and problem-solving skills

To apply, provide the following:

• Paid Internship Questionnaire
• Employment Application—send to education@lhf.org and rhaus@lhf.org
• Resume and cover letter—send to education@lhf.org and rhaus@lhf.org

Volunteer Internships

General Information

• Schedule is flexible depending on student needs, but generally hours will occur when the Living History Farms offices are open, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Occasional nights or weekends may be necessary.
• Positions are open throughout the year.
• The student is responsible for ensuring that the internship fits into their individual program of study.
• Positions are unpaid.
• There is no deadline to apply, but applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis, and positions are open until filled.

General Qualifications

• Like working with the public, including children of all ages
• Excellent communication skills
• Willingness to learn, and a “can-do” attitude
• Ability to work independently
• Creative, with analytical and problem-solving skills

To apply:

Please complete the Volunteer Internship Application.

Collections

The collections department is charged with managing the museum’s collection. Interns will learn about museum collections practices as they provide support to the collections department staff.

Job description

Development

Open to sophomores and above

Delve into the world of fundraising, as you learn what it takes to build community support for a non-profit organization. Through a project-based approach, interns will learn what it takes to apply for grants, work with donors, and track projects from start to finish within the context of a strategic plan.
Majors: Business, Marketing, Journalism, Management, English, History, or anyone interested in working in a non-profit environment.

Education

Open to freshmen and above

• Anyone can learn.
• Learning is fun and active!
• You never stop learning.

These basic tenets form the foundation of the educational programming offered by Living History Farms. Taking a project-based approach, you will learn how museums develop, implement, conduct, and evaluate educational programming for students of all ages.
Majors: Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Early Childhood Education, or similar interest/major

Marketing & Communications

Open to sophomores and above

Marketing and Communications interns assist Living History Farms in attracting visitors, volunteers, and staff. Depending on student interest and museum needs, duties may include email marketing, social media, news releases, graphic design, website management, multimedia advertising, and event planning.
Majors: Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Multimedia, Journalism, Event Planning or related fields

Museum/Non-Profit Management

Open to juniors and seniors

Intrigued by what it takes to manage a non-profit organization? This intern will assist the President of Living History Farms and other department administrators with a variety of projects.
Majors: Management, Business Administration, Finance, History, or similar interest/major

Questions? Please call (515) 278-5286 ext. 157 or email education@lhf.org.