15 Summer Internships for History Undergraduates
Doing an internship is a great way to bridge the gap between classroom learning and practice in a field you’re interested in. The practical experience you gain makes your resume stronger, proving to future employers that you already know how to handle day-to-day responsibilities. Adding this kind of work to your profile boosts your chances of getting hired after graduation. Internships also help you figure out if a career path is the right fit for you.
Why should I do a history internship in college?
Participating in a history internship can improve your employability by giving you experience with primary source research, collections databases, digital content creation, or public programming. Depending on the internship, you might conduct archival research, assist with exhibition development, manage historical data, support virtual education programs, or contribute to interdisciplinary research projects. These experiences demonstrate that you can translate historical training into practical outputs, whether that means writing interpretive materials, organizing records, analyzing qualitative data, or supporting public-facing initiatives. Just as importantly, internships allow you to explore different fields, such as public history, museum work, sociolegal research, or nonprofit management, before committing to a specific career or graduate pathway.
If you are an undergraduate student majoring in history and are interested in doing an internship, finding the right one can be challenging. To help you out, we have listed 15 summer internships for history undergraduates that offer structured mentorship, clearly defined responsibilities, and substantive project experience across museums, federal archives, and educational organizations.
1. Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture Internship Program
Location: Online, hybrid, or in-person at The National Museum of African American History and Culture or other Smithsonian facilities in Washington, DC
Stipend: Part-time: Up to $450/week; Full-time: up to $850/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely competitive; approximately 10 to 15 interns
Dates: Summer: June – August
Application Deadline: Summer: February 15
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who have completed at least one year of undergraduate study | Individuals who have already completed internships or fellowships with The National Museum of African American History and Culture are ineligible | Requirements and prerequisites may vary based on the internship; check here for more information
This internship offers paid summer positions for undergraduates interested in African American history, public history, museum studies, and related fields. As a history major, you can work in areas such as Collections Management, Curatorial Affairs, Global Slavery studies, Innovation and Entrepreneurship history, Community Archives, or Interpretive Research. You will contribute to tasks such as archival processing, exhibition development, historical research, and digital content creation. You may gain hands-on experience conducting primary and secondary source research, writing annotated bibliographies, assisting with acquisitions, developing finding aids, and supporting public programs or traveling exhibitions. You will also participate in mentorship meetings, department tours, and cross-team collaboration, and some roles may even include site visits.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 10%; 70–100 students per session
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort; the summer application deadline is in May
Eligibility: Undergraduates and gap year students who can work for 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
Ladder University Internship Program is a selective, virtual internship program where you work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that addresses a genuine need of the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. Interns work closely with their manager at the startup and a dedicated Ladder Coach for the program’s duration. Apply now!
3. Library of Congress Internship (LOCI) Program
Location: Virtual or in-person at the LOC Capitol Hill campus, Washington, D.C
Stipend: $17.47 – $19.43, depending on location, federal cost of living adjustments, and differences in locality pay area rates
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies by session
Dates: Summer: June 1 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 23 (Summer Internship)
Eligibility: Currently enrolled undergraduate students (must have completed at least one year) or graduate students; recent graduates (within 1 year) are also eligible; U.S. citizenship is required
The LOCI Program offers hands-on experience in archival research, public history, and digital scholarship at the world’s biggest library. Over the course of this paid, full-time summer experience, you will contribute to active projects across divisions such as the American Folklife Center, the Law Library, and the Prints and Photographs Division. You may process archival collections, create metadata for historic records, conduct primary source research, develop digital content, or assist with web archiving initiatives. You will be assigned to a specific project and work closely with professional librarians, archivists, and subject specialists, gaining direct mentorship and insight into federal cultural heritage work. The program combines structured project responsibilities with professional development programming.
4. The Met Summer Internships
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Stipend: Full-time: $24/hour + $1,500 toward housing/travel to New York City; Part-time: $24/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 40–45 interns
Dates: June 2 – August 7
Application Deadline: January 14
Eligibility: Current undergraduate sophomores, juniors, and seniors who have valid U.S. work authorization
The Met Summer Internship program offers 10-week-long opportunities to gain experience in museum work across curatorial, education, conservation, archives, and related departments. As a history undergraduate, you may be placed in areas such as The American Wing, Egyptian Art, Greek and Roman Art, Medieval Art, and The Cloisters, Islamic Art, or the Museum Archives. You will assist with object and exhibition research, collections management, bibliographic projects, and database work using The Museum System (TMS). You will work directly with curators, educators, conservators, and design staff, gaining insight into how historical research informs exhibitions, publications, and gallery installations. Full-time interns also complete a two-week Museum Seminar (MuSe) training, which focuses on museum operations and public speaking.
5. Internships at the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Location: Virtual, hybrid, or in-person at Washington, DC
Stipend: Full-time: At least $700/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; over 100 interns each year
Dates: Year-round, including summer (8–16 weeks between June and August)
Application Deadline: Summer: March 1
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who have completed at least one year of study
At the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, you will get to explore a range of history-related fields such as folklore, cultural anthropology, ethnomusicology, linguistics, museum studies, and library science, depending on your placement. You may contribute to research and production for the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, assist with archival processing and digitization in the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives, or support educational outreach and cultural sustainability initiatives. Your responsibilities may include conducting background research, creating finding aids, documenting audio and visual materials, assisting with visitor surveys, or supporting public-facing programming during the Festival. This experience provides a practical introduction to the intersection of cultural research, archive management, and community engagement within a national museum setting.
6. Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH) Internships
Location: MDAH, Jackson, MS
Stipend: $2,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies by year
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Currently enrolled undergraduate students (minimum 18 years old) in an accredited bachelor's program
You will work in an MDAH division on processing government records, arranging and describing manuscript collections, cataloging and photographing historic objects, assisting with exhibition planning, or supporting NAGPRA research and repatriation efforts. Under the mentorship of archivists, curators, archaeologists, and educators, you will gain direct exposure to federal curation standards, collections management practices, technical writing, and primary source-based education resource development. Some interns will even receive behind-the-scenes access to state museums, archives, and historic sites, along with professional development workshops during the internship. Along the way, you’ll gain practical experience in state-level cultural resource management and public history work.
7. National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) Internship Program
Location: Cultural Resources Center, Suitland, MD, NAMI in Washington, DC, or George Gustav Heye Center in New York, NY
Stipend: $500 – $8,000, depending on the type of internship and the financial needs of the intern
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25% acceptance; approximately 10–15 interns per seasonal session
Dates: Summer: 9 weeks starting the second week of June
Application Deadline: Summer: March 15
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or its equivalent
At NMAI, you’ll spend 10 weeks in a specific department at the museum’s Washington, D.C., New York, or Maryland locations, working directly with professional staff on ongoing museum projects. Depending on your placement, you might process archival collections, conduct provenance and archaeological research, assist with exhibition development, support repatriation efforts, or contribute to education and public programming initiatives. Your work may involve handling and documenting objects, writing finding aids or research summaries, creating metadata in collections systems, and supporting community engagement efforts. The program provides structured mentorship opportunities within your assigned department, along with the chance to shadow another department, giving you insight into how different museum departments collaborate.
8. Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Internship Program
Location: Washington, D.C.
Stipend: $1,200/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; up to 14 interns
Dates: June 8 – August 7 (tentative)
Application Deadline: February 12 or until the program receives 200 applications
Eligibility: U.S. college students or recent college graduates who are at least 18 years old and have a GPA of 3.0 or higher; check individual internship descriptions here for internship-specific prerequisites
This internship offers project-based placements across Advancement Operations, Communications, Digital Community Engagement, and Museum Administration tracks, giving you exposure to both public-facing and behind-the-scenes museum work. As a history undergraduate, you may be especially interested in the “Beyond Notable” Communications Internship, where you conduct archival and scholarly research on historically significant women and write blog articles to expand their digital representation. In the Digital Community Engagement track, you may contribute to initiatives such as We Do Declare: Women’s Voices on Independence and the Discoverability Lab, researching tools that make women’s history more accessible online, and contributing to open knowledge platforms like Wikipedia and WikiData.
9. Museum of the American Revolution Internships – Collections and Exhibitions Intern
Location: Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: $2,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive, with only 2 available positions
Dates: 10 weeks in mid-June – mid-August
Application Deadline: March 6
Eligibility: Undergraduate students pursuing a degree in history, public history, art history, museum studies, or a related field | Must have completed at least sophomore year | Must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 | Must have experience with both online and in-person early American historical research
The Museum of the American Revolution offers a 10-week, paid summer internship in its Collections and Exhibitions Department for undergraduates, graduate students, and recent graduates in history or related fields. You will work under the supervision of the Associate Curator, Collections Manager, Registrars, and the Education and Community Engagement team. Your responsibilities may include conducting archival and object-based research for upcoming exhibitions, writing interpretive labels, updating and standardizing collections database records, and assisting with preservation tasks and inventories. The structure of the internship divides your time between exhibition research and hands-on collections management, giving you exposure to both public interpretation and behind-the-scenes museum operations.
10. The Gilder Lehrman Institute (GLI) of American History Summer Internship Program
Location: Remote, hybrid, or in-person at New York City
Stipend: $17/hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; approximately 15–25 interns
Dates: June 1 – August 28
Application Deadline: March 27
Eligibility: Undergraduate students | Must be eligible to work in the U.S. | Check individual internship descriptions for internship-specific prerequisites
In this program, you gain direct exposure to archival collections, digital exhibitions, and history-focused educational programming through placements in curatorial, educational programs, and development departments. In curatorial roles, you will work with the 87,000-item Gilder Lehrman Collection by conducting primary source research, transcribing historical documents, assisting with exhibition materials, and supporting the monthly Inside the Vault public program. Educational Programs internships involve supporting initiatives such as the David McCullough Essay Prizes, History School courses, and Teacher Seminars, where you help manage submissions, moderate Zoom sessions, and maintain program records. Development internships focus on fundraising operations, data management, and event coordination in a nonprofit history organization.
11. American Bar Foundation (ABF) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program
Location: Hybrid, with in-person sessions at ABF offices in Chicago
Stipend: $6,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 4–5 students
Dates: June 8 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: Undergraduate students currently enrolled in a U.S. college or university | Must have completed at least two years of their undergraduate program, but have not yet received their bachelor’s degree | Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
The ABF Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program provides an eight-week, research-intensive experience for students exploring sociolegal studies and considering graduate training in the social sciences. You will work closely with an ABF Research Professor, assisting with archival investigation, literature review, or qualitative data analysis. You may even get to work on an independent project under structured mentor guidance. The fellowship incorporates weekly faculty-led seminars, guest lectures, and site visits that contextualize research within legal institutions and broader social science studies. Throughout the program, you will be expected to participate actively in discussions and engage with the ABF intellectual community.
12. Natural History Research Experiences (NHRE)
Location: National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC
Stipend: $8,250 + up to $800 in travel support to and from Washington, DC + $1,500 in conference participation support upon successful completion of NHRE program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 15–18 students
Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 16
Eligibility: Undergraduate rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents
NHRE focuses on undergraduate research in natural history disciplines, including Anthropology, Paleobiology, and related fields. You will work with a museum scientist to complete an independent research project, which may involve analyzing archaeological materials, bioanthropological data, or historical museum collections. The program includes lectures, museum collections tours, and professional development activities that introduce you to museum-based research and scientific scholarship. The internship is well-suited for undergraduates seeking structured research experience at a major museum, particularly those interested in material culture, archaeology, or the historical dimensions of natural history collections.
13. Brick Store Museum Internships
Location: Brick Store Museum, Kennebunk, ME
Stipend: $1,000 – $1,500, depending on the internship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 3 interns per summer session
Dates: 8–10 weeks beginning in May or June
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Students who are in the process of completing or have recently completed their undergraduate or graduate degree in history, education, museum studies, anthropology, archaeology, or a related subject
In this internship, you will work approximately eight weeks on project-based assignments while also assisting with public programs, events, and visitor services alongside museum staff. In the Collections Internship, you will learn standard museum practices such as cataloging in PastPerfect, digitizing records, photographing and organizing artifacts, and conducting object research, with an optional opportunity to write an article for publication. The Education Internship focuses on curriculum development, outreach to local schools, and presenting materials during programs and exhibitions, while the Community Engagement Internship involves public-facing work such as staffing outreach tables, creating a 1936 interactive StoryMap, and producing social media content based on the museum’s collections.
14. Volunteer Student Internship at Valley Forge National Historical Park’s Interpretation and Education Department
Location: Valley Forge National Historical Park, King of Prussia, PA
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; up to 4 positions available
Dates: May 11 – early to mid-August
Application Deadline: March 1 or until 15 applications have been received
Eligibility: College students over the age of 18 majoring in history, museum studies, communication, education, or natural sciences | Must possess a valid driver’s license and have access to your own transportation | Pass a criminal background check
In this summer internship at Valley Forge National Historical Park, you will work in the Park’s Interpretation and Education Department to gain firsthand experience in public history and visitor engagement. You’ll orient visitors at the Visitor Center, answer questions about the Park’s Revolutionary War history and trail system, and deliver scripted announcements. You’ll also interpret multiple historical themes at Washington’s Headquarters, including the Continental Army encampment, the industrial village of Valley Forge, and early memorialization efforts. An independent project may be incorporated into the internship, allowing you to develop a tangible product that contributes to the Park’s interpretation and education work.
15. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Voluntary Internship Program
Location: Hybrid, with in-person sessions at NARA locations across the U.S.
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies by location
Dates: Late May/early June – August
Application Deadline: Late March/Early April
Eligibility: Current undergraduate students who are U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, and complete a background check
The NARA Voluntary Internship Program offers 10–12 week unpaid placements in archival facilities across the country, including presidential libraries and regional National Archives. During your assignment, you may arrange and describe records, prepare documents for digitization, create metadata for the National Archives Catalog, and assist with reference or holdings maintenance. You’ll work with professional archivists and staff, gaining practical experience in archival processing, preservation techniques, and digitization workflows used to manage millions of federal records. Many placements involve producing tangible outputs such as box and folder lists, finding aids, indexes, or digitized materials that expand public access to historical records.
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