Job Listing: Historic Interpreter - Bacon's Castle (Preservation Virginia)

Preservation Virginia’s Bacon’s Castle 

465 Bacon’s Castle Trail, Surry, VA 23883

Historic Interpreter

Located in Surry County, Bacon’s Castle is the oldest brick home in North America. Built in 1665, it is owned and operated by Preservation Virginia, the oldest statewide preservation organization in the nation.

Position Title: Historic Interpreter (Part-time, hourly, ineligible for benefits)

Hourly Rate: $14 ($15 after completing paid training)

Available Hours: As-scheduled; Bacon’s Castle is open to the public Friday-Monday. Potential to work 14 – 80 hours a month.

Reports To: Bacon’s Castle Site Coordinator

Position Description: Preservation Virginia’s Bacon’s Castle seeks an Historic Interpreter who will primarily be responsible for leading 45 minute guided tours of the historic Bacon’s Castle and serving as front-line staff in the museum. Historic Interpreters will engage diverse audiences in topics to include but is not limited to: the 17th-19th century Tidewater, Virginia history, culture, society, economics, politics, and the complexities of gender, race, and slavery; conflict, war, and revolution in colonial Virginia, as well as architectural and plantation history of the property. Historic Interpreters will provide guided tours and educational programs to diverse audiences including adults and students/youth organizations, and will assist with special events. Historic Interpreters will receive all necessary training in subject matter and related histories, best practices in public history, historic interpretation, and tour techniques, among other information necessary to carry out the duties of this position.

Desired Qualifications:

• Must be over 18 years old.
• Obtained or in-progress: Bachelor’s degree in history, education, public history, political science, or related field; or equivalent experience.
• Ability to lift 30 pounds.
• Ability to climb up and down stairs repeatedly and to stand on feet for several hours at a time.
• Must enjoy engaging and speaking with diverse public audiences, both youth and adults.
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills. 

• Dedication to providing excellent customer service.
• Prior knowledge of American history, including 17th-19th century society, politics and law, war, gender, and race and slavery preferred.
• Experience giving public tours and/or public speaking, and experience operating a cash register/point-of-sale system preferred.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Open and close Bacon’s Castle museum through performance of routine duties.
• Lead 45 minute guided tours to diverse audiences including student field trips and adult group tours.
• Down time between tours used for needed projects and museum related reading.
• Serve as front-line museum staff.
• Greet guests to Bacon’s Castle, sell admissions, facilitate museum shop purchases, promote Preservation Virginia memberships, and provide excellent customer service.
• Be an ambassador for Preservation Virginia’s mission, work, and other historic sites.
• Answer museum phone and manage online tour reservations.
• Perform regular cleaning of public and staff spaces including museum shop floors, counters, bathrooms, staff kitchen, house porches, and emptying trash cans. Some collections cleaning as needed.
• Assist with student field trips and group tours by (including but not limited to) greeting teachers, parents, and group representatives; providing group instruction; leading tours and programs.
• Reserve public tours of Bacon’s Castle via phone, email, and online reservation page.
• Help monitor physical maintenance of house, property, and historic collection and follow established protocols when issues arise.
• Engage with the public by answering questions and pursuing conversations.
• Assist with special events on-site and virtually as needed, usually on evenings and weekends, such as focus tours, lectures, etc.
• Do daily accounting worksheets.
• Input data into Excel spreadsheets.
• Assist with research as directed.

Other Opportunities:

• Assist in content development and research for educational programs and activities.
• Contribute written content to Preservation Virginia blog and Bacon’s Castle social media accounts.
• Expand Bacon’s Castle research and knowledge of associated histories.
• Participate in lectures and webinars.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume with two references to Bacon’s Castle Site Coordinator, cwiedel@preservationvirginia.org. Preservation Virginia is an EOE and this position is open until filled.