Historic Preservation Intern
February 11 @ 8:00 am - March 6 @ 5:00 pm
Position: Historic Preservation Intern
Location: Stratford Hall, 483 Great House Road, Stratford, VA 22558
Term: 10 Weeks, ~40 hrs/week
Compensation: $1800 stipend + housing
Overview
Stratford Hall’s Preservation Department seeks a motivated summer intern for a hands-on experience in historic preservation. This is not a passive learning opportunity—interns will actively engage in physical restoration work and contribute to the daily operations of the Preservation and Maintenance Departments. Supervision will be provided by the Preservation Manager and Director of Preservation.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform hands-on restoration work including:
- Exterior painting and wood repair
- Masonry and repointing
- Window glazing
- Plaster repair
- Carpentry and general building conservation
- Participate in daily departmental operations
- Additional preservation tasks may arise depending on project needs
Required Qualifications
- Solid understanding of 18th-century building materials and techniques
- Familiarity with architectural terminology
- Knowledge of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Historic Properties
- Ability to work independently, problem-solve, and follow safety protocols
- Physically capable of manual labor: lifting up to 80 lbs, climbing ladders/scaffolding (up to 20 ft), working outdoors in varied weather (heat, humidity, rain)
Preferred Experience
- Training in historic trades or museum-based preservation and restoration
- Experience with both hand and power tools
- Desire to pursue a career in museum or historic site preservation
Education
- Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a Historic Preservation program
- Minimum one year of preservation coursework completed
Application Instructions
Applicants must submit the following:
- Letter of Interest (max 500 words) detailing:
- Your interest in the preservation internship at Stratford Hall
- Your goals for the internship
- Dates available
- Relevant hands-on experience and transferable skills
- Resume
- Two references
- Be prepared to submit examples of work upon request
Deadline: March 6, 2026
Email materials to: lmanderson@stratfordhall.org (Subject: Historic Preservation Intern)
Questions? Contact Phil Mark, Director of Preservation: (804) 493-1975 or pmark@stratfordhall.org
About Stratford Hall: Stratford Hall is located in Westmoreland County on the beautiful Northern Neck of Virginia. Stratford Hall is a 45-minute drive from Fredericksburg, two hours from Washington DC and 90 minutes from Richmond, VA. This National Historic Landmark is set on over 1,800 acres with over 2 miles of Potomac River waterfront. The Great House circa 1738 and related buildings are among a handful of exceptionally intact structures from colonial Virginia. In addition to the Great House, Stratford Hall also features a reconstructed 18th century gristmill, a newly installed 18th century garden and a Colonial Revival garden that dates to the 1930s. Stratford Hall was the home to four generations of the Lee family, which includes two signers of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Henry Lee and Francis Lightfoot Lee. It was also the home of Revolutionary War hero “Light Horse” Harry Lee and birthplace of Robert E. Lee.
A publicly accessible museum and historic site for over ninety years and home to the only two brothers to have signed the Declaration of Independence, Stratford Hall will leverage the upcoming 250th Anniversary of the birth of our nation to reintroduce our broad and diverse stories to our communities and stakeholders. A model of historic preservation and land conservation, Stratford Hall contributes actively to the Northern Neck community.
What We Offer: We are an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an inclusive and collaborative culture among our staff, which we believe is critical to advancing our mission. Prospects interested in helping to ensure Stratford Hall remains relevant for future generations and in making a difference at our historic site, in our field, and to our community are encouraged to apply. For more information about our organization please visit www.stratfordhall.org
The organization does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.
