Internship Opportunity: Historic Indian Agency House, Portage, WI

Historic Site Nature Trail Self-Guided Tour Internship

$1,800 for 400 work hours (or approximately 10 fulltime work weeks)—with half ($900) paid at the inception of the internship, and the remaining half paid upon satisfactory completion of the project.
Application Deadline: April 15, 2012

The Historic Indian Agency House (HIAH) is owned and operated by The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Wisconsin, one of 42 historical properties owned outright by the Colonial Dames of America, with an additional 28 affiliated with this genealogical association. The Historic Indian Agency House was built in 1832 by the United States government as a residence for John Kinzie, Indian Agent to the Ho-Chunk people, and still sits on its original foundation on a 226-acre expanse of land nearly untouched by modern encroachment. The site holds the story of the fur trade, the opening of the West, and the accompanying demise of the Native way of life. Our mission is to "preserve, interpret, and promote this historic site in order to educate the public about the cultural, political and natural history of Wisconsin, including the Ho-Chunk/Winnebago Nation, during the Commission of the United States Indian Agent John Harris Kinzie." The site was opened to the public in 1932, and since then has maintained a regular May 15 to October 15 open season. During this season, guided tours of the Agency House are offered for a nominal fee, with the permanent introductory exhibit and annual rotating exhibit available free of charge in the Visitors’ Center.

A generous grant from the Great Circle Foundation of East Northport, New York allows HIAH to seek a qualified intern for the 2012 summer season to carry out the Historic Site Nature Trail Self-Guided Tour Internship. The Historic Site Nature Trail Self-Guided Tour Internship will result in a cohesive and thought-provoking interpretive guide to accompany a 1.2 mile walking trail debuting in May 2012. The candidate will also manage a small-scale budget specifically intended for research materials and printing costs. This internship will begin the interpretive process related to what will eventually become a multi-faceted trail system. The selected intern will research and create an interpretive tour and accompanying guidebook/pamphlet for the first trail segment slated to debut this spring.

The position will require approximately 400 hours of work between June 01 and September 01, 2012. The selected candidate will preferably work a regular 40-hour work week for 10 consecutive weeks, but flexibility to accommodate specific needs is possible.

Graduate student (or advanced undergraduate, based on the recommendation of professors or other acceptable references) enrolled at an accredited college or university, preferably in History, Public History, Museum Studies, Anthropology, Environmental History or Education. Must be creative, have good communication skills, possess an attention to detail, and be both self-directed and able to work within a team. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (including Publisher) preferred but not required. Background in Wisconsin history preferred but not required.

Applicants should submit a resume that details their relevant work and educational experience, including the contact information for THREE references (two professional/academic and one personal). Applicants should mail all materials, along with a cover page outlining your interest in the position, to:

Destinee K. Udelhoven, Executive Director
Historic Indian Agency House
P.O. Box 84
Portage, Wisconsin 53901
destineekae@hotmail.com