Looking for a Fall semester internship? It's time to apply!

A friendly reminder from Historically Accurate: Are you hoping to do an internship during your fall semester? Most formal internships have applications for fall semester internships due in June and July! Don't worry though...H.A. has you covered! Check out our listings of museums offering fall internships and see which ones aren't due until July, August, or that have rolling admission. Also, check out our tips for making you internship search and application process as successful as possible!

Check back often for more exciting museum internship opportunities, all in one convenient, easily searchable place. And be sure to vote in the poll on the right-hand toolbar to let us know what locations in the U.S. and beyond you want to see internships from!

Best of luck! - H.A.

Amelia Island Museum of History Internships (Florida)

The Amelia Island Museum of History in Fernandina Beach, Florida is a spoken-history museum, focused on story-telling and the interpretation of local heritage and history. It is a well-respected museum that offers creative, engaging programming, including docent-led tours of the museum and surrounding historic district and changing exhibits. The museum also runs an archive and welcomes researchers. Internships are offered for students and graduates interested in museum work and provides experience with the management of the museum...an excellent opportunity!

Internship Opportunities:

• Unpaid
• Open to undergrad, grad students and recent (within 12 months) graduates
• College credit may be arranged
• Summer, fall, winter
• 30-40 hours/week, 8-12 week period
• All interns will also gain experience:
• Interacting with board members
• Researching grants
• Attending management-level meetings
• Departments available to work in:
• Archival
• Education/Exhibits
• Marketing/Creative (Social Media, Design)
• Volunteer Management/Tours (interpretation)
• More information here

The museum has plenty of exciting volunteer opportunities, including work in archiving, leading tours, maintaining the building and grounds, visitor services, gardening, historic interpretation, etc. Learn more here!

Salvador Dali Art Museum Internships (Florida)

The Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida (right on the riverfront!) is dedicated to the interpretation of, well, Salvador Dali sculptures and paintings as well as other surrealist art. The museum offers changing exhibits as well as educational and family programming (even yoga) in their incredible glass dome building. Internships are also available for undergrad and grad students.

Internships Opportunities:

• Unpaid
• Seasonal
• College credit can be arranged with your home institution
• Flexible schedule
• Minimum 2 days/week or 15 hours/week
• Departments available to work in:
• Development
• Digital Media (Marketing)
• Education
• Finance
• Graphic Design (Marketing)
• Hospitality - Events
• Human Resources Management
• Information Technology
• Innovation Programming
• Library/Museum/Archival
• Museum Management
• Video Production/Editing
• Deadlines to apply:
• Summer: March 1
• Fall: July 1
• Spring: November 1
• More information here

Find out about volunteer opportunities here, as well as docent opportunities, which are open to high schoolers as well..

Hawaii Museum Internship and Volunteer Jobs

The Bishop Museum is dedicated to interpreting history and science with interactive exhibits and breath-taking displays. The museum offers internships in science and museum work that vary according to need by season (this fall is entomology but the deadline has passed). More info here. (Honolulu, O'ahu).

The Honolulu Museum of Art has a collection of fine art, sculpture, textiles, and prints from across the world, but with a featured collection of Asian and Hawaiian artwork. They post internships and jobs here when available.

The Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor features vintage military planes, flight simulators, and exhibits detailing the history of World War II aviation and battles. They welcome volunteers in guest services, education, airplane restoration, administration, and other departments. More info here. (Fort Island, HI - near Honolulu)

Shangri La, Dorris Duke's Islamic-style home that now displays her Islamic art collection, welcomes scholars-in-residence interested in studying Islamic arts and culture as well as artists-in-residence. Learn more here. The museum also holds symposia periodically. Learn more here. (Honolulu)

Other opportunities:

• Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archive (Honolulu)
• Lyman Museum and Mission House (Hilo, HI)
• Maui Historical Society and Bailey House Museum (Wailuku, Maui, HI)
• Pacific Tsunami Museum (Hilo, HI)

Check out other Hawai'i Museums on the Hawai'i Museums Association website. Looking for a change of scenery? Check out their job listings!

The Mint Art Museum Internships (North Carolina)

The Mint Museum in Charlotte, NC has two locations in the city displaying their multi-faceted collection of all different mediums and manifestations of art and design from a variety of cultures and times. From shoes to paintings to photographs to quilts to ceramics, the collection features fine art, decorative arts, fashion, crafts, and sculpture. It also has a noteworthy collection of Native American artwork and crafts. The exciting museum also offers a vibrant internship program for college students interested in visual art and museum work.

Internship Opportunities:

• Summer (fall and spring also available)
• Positions available at both museum locations (both are in Charlotte)
• Must have a 3.0 minimum major GPA
• Undergrad and grad students
• Interns who will work directly with kids must get a background check
• Unpaid
• 10-25 hours/week
• Major in an arts-related field is preferred
• Departments available to intern with:
• Accounting and Finance
• Affiliate/Advancement
• Archives
• Collections and Exhibitions
• Digital Media and Web Management
• Facilities
• Graphic Design
• Information Technology
• Learning and Engagement
• Library
• Mass Communication
• Photo/Video (Communications)
• PR
• Registration
• More info here

Application information:

• Online application
• Resume, cover letter, letter of recommendation 
• Due dates:
• Summer: mid-March
• Fall: late June 
• Spring: early November

Learn more about volunteer and docent opportunities here.

Quirky Museum Internships

Interested in volunteering or interning with a museum that's a little out-of-the-ordinary? Here are some lists of novelty museums throughout the U.S. and beyond to peruse. Many are on the lower budget side so don't have formal or paid internship programs, but if you have a particular field of interest that you'd like to pursue, such places usually rely on volunteer work!

• "27 Coolest Museums in America" on U.S. City Traveler: a collection of quirky, subject-specific museums throughout the US, most of which are lower budget though not all; if you're into oddities or collections of specific things, this is a great source
• "The 50 Coolest Museums" on Complex: (U.S., Canada, Finland, England, and France) highlights classier art and history museums with particularly noteworthy collections...very cool and helpful if you're looking for a world-class place to work!
• "51 Weird Museums Across the U.S." on Yahoo!: chooses a museum for each US state (and DC) that is noteworthy for its odd subject matter or intriguing exhibit or artifact on display 
• "World's Best Museums" on Air Canada enRoute: an array of noteworthy international museums with intriguing exhibits and breath-taking architectural designs as well as praiseworthy presentation and interpretation of their subjects
• "Canada's 8 Coolest Museums" on EscapeHere: list of some particularly gorgeous Canadian museums with incredible displays and exhibits
• "The Coolest Museums in London (You Never Knew Existed) on GoBackpacking: hidden gems with unique subject matter and gorgeous architecture in a truly remarkable historic city!

So whether you're looking for an internship, job, or vacation destination, explore away! I definitely found some places to put on my must-visit list...

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum Internships (Ohio)

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum is located in Cleveland, Ohio and celebrates the history and continuing story of rock and roll music. The museum is a massive seven floors and houses countless priceless memorabilia related to the giants of the genre, as well as film theaters and changing exhibits. The museum offers internships to undergrad and grad students throughout the year.

Internship Opportunities:

• Open to undergrad and grad students
• Unpaid
• 12-40 hours/week; min. 8 weeks
• Professional development and training in summer season
• Departments available to intern with:
• Library and Archives 
• Development
• Education
• HR
• Legal
• Strategy and Planning
• Marketing and Communications
• Collections
• Digital Media
• More info here

Application Information:

• Cover letter, resume, letter of recommendation, personal statement
• Deadlines:
• Summer: due March 15
• Fall: due August 15
• Spring: due December 15

Learn more about volunteer, docent, and career opportunities here.

James Madison's Montpelier House Museum Archaeology Internships (Virginia)

Montpelier was the stately neoclassical home and gardens of James Madison. Located in Orange, Virginia, the home was restored not too long ago and has an active archaeology program, running on-site excavations and an object assessment lab where visitors can learn about the process of excavating and identifying artifacts. The house museum offers archaeology internships as well as field schools for non-students.

Internship Opportunities:

• College students and recent graduates
• Must attend one of their 4-5 week archaeological field schools (accredited through JMU and SUNY Plattsburg) 
• Summer and year-long opportunities available
• Field and lab internships
• Some paid positions, some unpaid
• Housing is provided
• Cover letter and CV required for field school application
• More info here

Learn about other archaeology programs (including a teacher program).

Learn about available jobs and volunteer work here.

Museum of Tolerance Internships (California)

The Museum of Tolerance is a multi-location (and multi-national!) institution dedicated to interpreting the history of the Holocaust and encouraging the development of tolerance and kindness in the general populace. This particular branch is in Los Angeles, CA, but there are also locations in New York City and Jerusalem. The museum offers unpaid internships to students seeking to earn college credit and also offers youth and adult volunteers.

Internship Opportunities: 

• Unpaid
• Must complete for college credit at your university (otherwise you can volunteer)
• Departments available to work in:
• Museum education (visitor services and conducting tours)
• Youth Action Lab (family programs, program planning; some Sundays required)
• Research and Evaluation (data collection and analysis)
• Library and Archives 
• 10-15 hours/week 
• certificate granted upon completion; 
• open to advanced undergrad and grad students
• fall, spring, summer
• More info here

Other opportunities:

• Youth volunteer program:
• high school students, grades 9-12
• one year, minimum 50 hours of service
• applications accepted throughout year
• Adult volunteer program:
• 10 hours/month
• training
• Greeter/Visitor Services, Docents, Library and Archives, Bookstore work all welcome
• Training this year starts on June 28, 2016
• More info about either program here

Historic Ship Sailing Program and Volunteer Opportunities at the Erie Maritime Museum (PA)

U.S. Brig Niagara Sail Training Program at the Erie Maritime Museum (PA): the tall ship sails Lake Erie and even ventures into Great Lakes on its award-winning sail training programs. Most last two weeks and are for either high school (age 14-18) or college students and give participants the experience of living and working on a historic American tall ship. The college program is typically the second two weeks of May though there is an environment-focused college program in August as well. The experience is physically strenuous but (apparently) also very rewarding and gives a unique insight into the past! A background check and medical records and insurance verification are all required for application/enrollment, just fyi. More info here.

Volunteer opportunities are also offered at the Erie Maritime Museum, with work as a docent, historic interpreter, ship model builder, and ship maintenance crew member available. More info here.