Internships
Archaeology Field Internship
Historic Germanna is accepting applications for Excavation Interns (4 positions). We are looking for individuals seeking to build experience working as archaeological technicians.
Germanna Archaeology is a program under the non-profit, Historic Germanna. The ongoing project serves to educate both the wider public and starting archaeologists (through Internships, hosting the Virginia Commonwealth University’s Field School, and engaging with volunteers). This summer season will concentrate on excavations of the Fort Germanna/Enchanted Castle and town of Germanna sites near Locust Grove, Virginia (Orange County). We have two 12-week and two 24-week positions. Please indicate if you wish to be considered for the 24-week position.
Successful candidates will help excavate and interpret the historic site of Fort Germanna (ca, 1714), Lt. Governor Alexander Spotswood’s Germanna home (ca. 1720s-40s), and the historic town of Germanna (1720s). Most of the time will be spent on field excavation, though Interns will also help with lab, survey, and monitoring tasks (common CRM skills). Completion of Field School or equivalent experience required.
These positions are designed for upper-level students or recent college graduates who want to develop and improve their skills and understanding of archaeological fieldwork. They offer the opportunity to gain excavation and recording experience on a complex, multi-component site and to work with the public, volunteers, field school students, and highly experienced professionals. Interns will use shovels and trowels to excavate natural layers, hand excavate features, screen soils, and record and draw features/layers, as well as many other tasks. Germanna offers generous opportunities for interns to pursue professional and educational interests and will provide training in any and all fieldwork-related skills within our abilities.
While the project goals focus on the first half of the 18th century, there are pre-colonial resources, and 19th-century farmstead components to the site as well. Larger goals of the project seek to study the peoples of Germanna – the Manahoac and other Indigenous peoples, the British colonizers, German immigrants who settled at Germanna in the 1710s, and enslaved Africans who lived and worked in the community.
Public outreach has been a key component to the Germanna Archaeology program. Although access to the site is limited, we treat the site as a public archaeology site where field staff is expected to interact with visitors. “Open House” events are regularly scheduled. The pandemic brought some operational changes, but we wish interns to participate in-person events (when appropriate) as well as through digital formats such as videos, blog postings, or webinar updates.
The upcoming 12-week summer season runs from May 28 to August 16, 2024 (the longer-term positions will carry into the fall). We excavate 40 hours a week, typically Monday – Friday. Fieldwork takes place outdoors and in full sun. The position pays $16 an hour. Per diem, housing, and meals are NOT included.
Applications will be accepted until positions are filled; however, decision process will begin March 15, 2024. Interested candidates should e-mail a resume and cover letter to Dr. Eric Larsen, Director of Archaeology, at [email protected].
Volunteer with Germanna!
Our several historic and natural properties, our genealogical research library, along with our interpretative and educational activities provide many opportunities for a variety of volunteer opportunities.
Archaeology: Historic Germanna staff archaeologist, Dr. Eric Larsen, accepts volunteers to help in archaeology work for the Foundation. Volunteers to assist in other archaeology work following the field season are also welcome. If you’re located near Locust Grove, VA, and want to help, please email Dr. Eric Larsen, Director of Archaeology and Cultural Resources, and let him know you’re willing to help.
Fort Germanna Visitor Center – Museum and Library Docent: Located in Locust Grove, VA, the Germanna Visitor Center, museum, and library are open to the public Tuesday through Friday, from 10am to 4 pm, and Saturday, 1pm to 4pm. Docents greet visitors, provide a short introduction to the exhibits in the museum, assist in the library, and handle light clerical, clean-up, and maintenance duties. Interest in area history, library science, or genealogy may be helpful but is not necessary, as Historic Germanna provides a short self-paced training guide and other materials to assist volunteer docents. A friendly and helpful demeanor is required, and docents need to be able to stand for periods of about a half-hour at a time, converse with visitors and answer questions, and be comfortable walking in and around the center and the grounds (in decent weather), including the Memorial Garden. Opportunities to serve at special events outside regularly scheduled open hours are occasionally available too.
Trails, Buildings, and Grounds Maintenance: Historic Germanna maintains the Russell and Joan Hitt hiking trail system through our Siegen Forest property, all beginning near the Visitor Center. The Wilderness Battlefield Ground Force leads volunteer efforts to maintain and improve these trails (as well as other trails on other properties in the Wilderness battlefield area) and are always looking for volunteers. Historic Germanna also accepts volunteers who wish to do light building maintenance duties, including janitorial cleaning, replacing light bulbs, minor repairs and upkeep (e.g., replacing or fixing locks, door knobs, windows, touch-up painting, replacing HVAC or water system filters, minor plumbing repairs, lubricating door hinges, moving cabinets or wall hangings, fixing or moving furniture, etc.). Got a green thumb? We also accept volunteers willing to perform grounds and garden maintenance and beautification work (e.g., planting, mulching, trimming, weeding, watering, etc.).
Salubria Docent: Salubria, located in Stevensburg, VA, in Culpeper County, just a few miles west of the Visitor Center on Route 3, does not currently have a regular schedule of public tours, but tours are made available by appointment April through October. While the Foundation does plan to establish public tour hours for Salubria in the future, we are seeking volunteers now to serve as docents to give tours (by appointment) at Salubria. Tours typically last about one hour if the visitors are able and desire to see the entire mansion and grounds. Docents must be able to learn to give the tour (materials and information is provided), walk (including some walking backward) for at least an hour without needing to stop and rest, and have a good, clear speaking voice.
Please note: All volunteers are required to review and sign the Historic Germanna Volunteer Form and Waiver Agreement. Additional docent guidelines and specific volunteer work instructions, including easy-to-follow dress code requirements and more detailed policies and procedures for certain volunteer activities, may be published and revised from time to time by the Foundation.
Interested volunteers should fill out this online application, and Germanna staff will be in touch shortly. A paper copy is available upon request. For more information, please contact Shannon Doherty, Education Manager, at [email protected] or 540-423-1700. Thank you for your interest in volunteering with us!
Germanna Volunteer Projects From Your Home
Would you like to help Historic Germanna from the comforts of home? We have several volunteer opportunities that you can participate in. We are open to suggestions if there is anything YOU want to do to assist Germanna from afar. Please contact us at 540-423-1700 or email [email protected] to discuss.
Transcription of Digitized Files
Over the last few decades, descendants of various Germanna families have submitted their personal research to the Germanna Foundation for future generations to utilize when researching their ancestry. Some have included copies of files from various repositories, such as historical societies, circuit courts, and courthouses. While the documents may be in good or fair condition, once digitized, they may not be easily readable, or the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) is unusable. For this, we need volunteers to help us transcribe these documents for online research.
Early Colonial American War Soldiers (French and Indian/Revolutionary War)
Compiling a list of soldiers who descend from Germanna families that fought in early wars such as the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. Creating a database of soldiers will help researchers who come looking for information for personal or scholarly reasons. This information would be sent to the Fort Germanna Visitor Center and kept on file in-house and on an online database.
Connecting Your Relatives to Germanna
Do you have friends or family who are or would be interested in learning more about Germanna’s story? Do you have a cousin who should become a member? We can send you a small package with a membership form, brochure, and a recent newsletter to get them started on their discovery to Germanna!
Job Opportunities
There are currently no open job opportunities at Historic Germanna.