Henry Ford Museum Internship and Fellowship (Michigan)

The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan (near Detroit) offer a graduate internship and fellowship program. Greenfield Village is an 80-acre living history museum featuring a variety of buildings significant to American history, working farms, historic crafts, a historic "downtown", a working historic locomotive, and more. The Henry Ford Museum spotlights objects showcasing American inventions and innovations. Also on-site is the Ford Rouge Factory, featuring the Manufacturing Innovation Theater.


Simmons Graduate Internship Program

• For current grad students pursuing careers in museums, historical agencies, conservation, or a related area
• Experience working in an American history museum
• Minimum 12-week internship
• Negotiable start and end dates
• For more information, including contact information, click here

Clark Travel-to-Collections Research Fellowship

• For those interested in using the Henry Ford automotive collection for research
• Researchers from all disciplines, career fields welcome
• A wide variety of candidates is welcome: curators, doctoral candidates, students, teachers, archivists, etc.
• Two-week to two-month period, full-time research
• Can cover any area of automotive history
• Research should be for a particular project
• up to $2,400 will be provided to defray expenses
• At least one fellowship awarded a year
• Applications typically accepted between March to the end of December for a fellowship the following year (always check the website for current dates)
• More information here

Learn more about volunteer opportunities and current employment opportunities.

All information taken from the Henry Ford Museum webpage.


Browse other graduate internship opportunities.
Check out other fellowships.
Browse other living history museum internships.
Look at other opportunities in the Midwest.

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.

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio Internships (Chicago)

The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust runs a few properties in the Chicago area, their central offices being at The Rookery in downtown Chicago with the additional properties of Wright's Oak Park Home and Studio, the Robie House, and the ShopWright Merchandise Center. Interns can be placed at any of these locations. Internships are offered year-round and detailed postings are placed on the Trust's website when a position is open.

Internship Information: 

• Students, graduates, and career-changers welcome
• Open to arranging academic credit with student's home institution
• Internships offered within certain departments
• An effort is made to match intern's interest with assigned duties
• For more information and current listings, check here: http://www.flwright.org/aboutus/employmentandinternships

Information about volunteering, including docent opportunities, can be found here.