Brickyard Interpreter (Summer)
March 5 - May 20
Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.
Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 88 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.
About the Position
This position is 40 hours/per week.
Term Dates: May 25, 2026 – September 7, 2026.
Those hired will work primarily in the Brickyard site and be employed in the production of hand- made bricks used throughout Colonial Williamsburg in our ongoing reconstruction and conservation efforts. Working as a member of a team you will be expected to do the work necessary in brickmaking including digging clay, treading clay with water using your bare feet to achieve a workable consistency, molding and stacking dry bricks. You will be working in costume and will be in front of the public, interpreting and engaging guests into the work where appropriate. In turn you will learn about the masonry trades, develop hand skills, interpretive techniques, and public contact experience.
Main Duties:
Works to make bricks using traditional tools and techniques.
Provides in-depth interpretations on the trades, their history, and their products and services in the community, region, and the world; the technology, processes, skills organization and working environment of the trades; the lives and times of those who pursued the trades; the evolution of the trades; relationships between trades, etc., with emphasis on the 1607-1781 time period to a variety of audiences in a variety of settings.
Creates a welcoming environment for guests and encourages learning.
Wears appropriate period clothing (provided) while performing the work in order to maintain an 18th century atmosphere.
Maintains costuming as set forth in standards established by the Historic Clothing and Dress Department.
Follows safety and security procedures established for the site, tools, materials, and equipment.
Apply online through Colonial Williamsburg’s career portal using this link:
https://recruiting.ultipro.com/COL1030CWF/JobBoard/d1d83d8e-bd7f-41c5-ac90-f1b4796fa63f/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=b98bff4f-8c77-43f9-8d73-c31568e95fe3
