Historic Preservation Internships:

Internships are another way to gain practical, hands-on-experience in the preservation field. These often require applicants to be current students in Historic Preservation or recent graduates. 

Stratford Hall offers a 10 week, paid internship with housing each summer. Projects vary from year to year, but no matter the project, our interns leave Stratford Hall with experience that will help them advance in Historic Preservation. And they have fun, too.

Past Intern Projects 

Great House and Outbuilding Windows

Window Restoration is a skill that any preservationist hoping to work at a house museum should learn. It is one of the most common projects in the field. Preservation Interns at Stratford Hall have the opportunity to work on windows on the Great House and any of our historic buildings. 

In the past, Stratford Hall Interns have completed partial restoration on the Great House windows, restorations on Outbuilding windows, minor carpentry repairs, and have learned how to pull windows from their sash.

West Steps Repointing

Some years interns have the opportunity to work on masonry projects. In the summer of 2015, the Preservation Interns had the opportunity to repoint the west steps of the Great House. They were taught how to remove failing mortar, mix mortar, how to repoint, and techniques to weather the new mortar.

Stable Door Restoration

Painting is another skill that all preservationists seeking employment at a historic house museum should know. 

In the summer of 2015, the Preservation interns completed a total paint restoration of the stable bay doors. They learned how to properly identify failing paint, how to remove failing and delaminated paint, and techniques to properly sand for spot painting. As part of the paint removal process, the interns were also taught how to safely use heat guns and silent paint removers.

Plaster Removal in Laundry

Some years, interns are able to work on larger scale restoration projects. In the Summer of 2022, the Preservation Department began the first stage of the restoration of our Historic Kitchen Building. With this project, the interns were involved in the removal of plaster from the south room and archival research. They were also involved in documenting any architectural evidence found on the walls. This is an ongoing project that will likely take several years to complete.

Past Intern Testimonials 

“Within days of starting my internship, I was already being taught how to remove failed glazing and paint from windows on the Great House, and how to apply new glazing….. The skills I learned throughout my summer at Stratford Hall will be beneficial for helping me meet my career goals in the preservation field because I have been able to intertwine my coursework with practical hands-on preservation experience. I have had the opportunity to use a variety of tools, observe and work through the decision process for projects, and visit a variety of sites that have helped reiterate the importance of the skills I have learned. Whether it is completing hands-on tasks, creating plans with a team, or passing along my knowledge, with the guidance from the team at Stratford Hall, I feel well equipped with knowledge to enter one of the many different areas of the preservation field.”

Katie Mino, University of Georgia | Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation | 2022 Preservation Intern

“My experiences as an intern within the preservation department prepared me for a career as an architectural historian and historic preservation specialist, particularly when working with eighteenth-century buildings. As a building restoration intern, I gained invaluable skills in hands-on preservation and conservation practices including carpentry, plasterwork, masonry, and interior finishes. This increased familiarity with eighteenth-century building materials and methods has allowed me to make informed decisions or recommendations in my professional work. Also, how often do you get the opportunity to truly immerse yourself in history by working AND living on-site at an historic estate?”

Haley Schriber, Clemson University & College of Charleston | Master’s Degree in Historic Preservation | 2015 Preservation Intern

“The last two summers, I worked as a historic preservation intern at Stratford Hall. While there I had the opportunity to learn a lot about the buildings on site, both about their physicality and their history. Regarding the physicality, I got to work on the physical buildings on site, where I learned about the construction of the buildings, as well as the care and attention to detail that goes into preserving them. I particularly enjoyed reglazing windows. while challenging at first, once I got the hang of it, it was relaxing and rewarding when I finally got the details perfect. I also enjoyed my time spent in the laundry, where I helped remove plaster from historic bricks to preserve the original structure and investigate the purpose of the space. Lastly, the time I spent in the archives was just as interesting, as it gave me a different perspective on the site, and the personalities of the people who worked to preserve it in the first place.”

Paige Baker, University of Virginia | Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning and Historic Preservation | 2022 Preservation Volunteer and 2023 Preservation Intern