Living History intern Christy Tew.

Intern Christy Tew

Christy Tew is a former Living History Youth Conservation Corp student and living history volunteer. Now a living history intern, Christy is majoring in Public History.

I have grown up surrounded by history, through which I acquired a deep respect for the people and events of the past. As a child, Harpers Ferry was one of the first places that opened my eyes to life in 19th century America. It has become my goal in life to share with others the passion for history given to me by park interpreters, living history reenactors, and curators. Through my experiences in Harpers Ferry ... I have begun to achieve this goal ... through a college internship.

Before applying to the park for an internship, I worked 8 weeks last summer in 2004 as a NPS Youth Conservation Corp Living History student. I was responsible for staffing of 13 different living history exhibits ... and exterior landscapes, coordinating with park staff and peers to complete special projects ... and assisting in the ... park’s living history volunteer and historic weapons programs. My skills in public speaking have improved dramatically. I have the ability to organize plan and present interpretive programs. I learned how to demonstrate many 19th century skills such as military drill, using a dutch oven to cook over an open fire and baking on a woodburning stove at Roeder’s Confectionery exhibit. I can set up and demonstrate a 19th century laundress impression and thread and sew on a period chain-stitching treadle sewing machine at the park’s Ready Made Clothing Store.

It’s hard to put into words the experience that I have had as an intern at Harpers Ferry. It’s so much more than a Historical Place. I’ve always loved History, especially the Civil War. I had always believed the industrial revolution was rather boring. Just being in this place that was basically here solely due to the industrial revolution has made that period so much more interesting to me.

By dressing in period clothing you almost feel as if the stories you tell are your own, and that you personally know the folks that you are telling the visitors about. The former inhabitants of Harpers Ferry are what make this park such a magical place. The original inhabitants in the History Books seem to come alive once again. The rangers here are wonderful. They want to get to know you, and are vast sources of information and are always willing to answer questions.

I have become extremely close with all of the other interns. We are from different states and backgrounds, but we all have a common love of history. They are some of the best friends that I have ever had. In one more week I have to go back to Ohio. It’s going to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. I couldn’t help but recommend an internship here, it’s one of the greatest experiences that I’ve ever had.

As a living history intern at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, I have been responsible for communicating to the visitor not only the events that transpired on these history-steeped grounds, but also the experiences of the men and women who lived and interacted here, and placing this into the context of our nation’s history during the nineteenth century. More than wearing authentic clothing and recreating the practices and actions of the nineteenth century common man, I have the privilege and deep responsibility of interpreting the meaning and purpose of the all the happenings in this general area.

After learning the general history of Harpers Ferry from the staff rangers and in depth research, the interns then had hands on experience, interpreting each of the many exhibits in the park and picking up many stories and events that had significance to this area. From the Dry Goods Store exhibit to the Provost Marshall Office, each building has some deeper relation to one or more of the following park themes: the Civil War, the Transportation and Industrial Revolutions, John Brown’s Raid and African American History. By placing the stories of the individuals in this town in a national context, and weaving together our local history with the tumultuous happenings of nineteenth century America, we are able to educate the visitor about the significance of Harpers Ferry and how it helped to mold and shape our young, budding nation.

I have been fascinated with American history, especially the Civil War, since I was nine years old. Ten years later, I am working on my history degree at Shenandoah University with a minor in political science and a certificate in public history. I love learning new things and sharing my knowledge about history with people. This internship at Harpers Ferry has allowed me to do just that. This summer, my head has been filled with more information than I ever thought possible; I have put together both talks and tours, and learned skills that I would never be able learn unless I was here. I have learned Civil War military drill, how to fire both percussion and flintlock guns, artillery drill, how to cook over a wood stove, and even the fundamentals of blacksmithing. In addition to this, my public speaking skills have improved dramatically and I have become less shy. Most importantly, I have gained a group of close friends and I am sure that these friendships will last a life time.

Intern Keegan Donovan

My summer here has been one of personal growth as a historian, as an interpreter, and as a leader. My third season here at Harpers Ferry started on May 17th, and will conclude August 21st. Throughout this time I’ve undergone various sorts of training, and loads of positive experiences.

In May, when I reported for duty, a fellow intern, Jake Koch, and I were set out to craft a hiking tour up to the Naval Battery at our Park. Jake and I then led a small party up the slope of large mountain to tell of the fortunes of an artillery battery placed on the hill during the civil War.

The Living History ranger staff at the park was incredibly helpful when the various interns had to develop information for the public presentations that we do. The rangers held us, the interns, to the same professional standards that they themselves use; our information had to be cited. That was really helpful to me, as a student. I’ve learned to recognize the diamonds in the rough, as it were. I can now go through vast quantities of books and disseminate the valuable bits of information.

The professional standard that the Park Service uses to develop public history programs (a walking tour) is something called the Interpretive Development Program (IDP). It tries to lead historians to be more than just people with information; the IDP challenged us to associate real meaning with information when presenting programs such as on the Civil War. It was significant, and people died, but WHY did they die?

We also learn to give meaning to tangible objects, whether it was a glass medicine bottle or multiple points of view about the town being invaded during the war. My favorite areas to interpret meanings are the park exhibits of the Tavern, and our Civil War-era Provost Marhsal’s Office. The Tavern is just plain fun; the stories there about drinking, temperance, and industrial history are heart-breaking and some are humorous. The Provost Marshal office is essentially what people today would call a military police office, which represents the town of Harpers Ferry under military control: strict security is the message here.

This being my third summer here, I was able to mentor new interns and YCC employees at Harpers Ferry. Interpreters can work on public speaking skills here, which is a major benefit. We’re also taught to use historic weaponry. I’m currently certified to wield both a flintlock longarm and a percussion-cap-firing weapon (respectively, a gun that was used during the War for Independence and a gun used during the Civil War). The rangers can only show the skills necessary to succeed; it is up to the individual to tie all of these different aspects (good information, meaning of information, and the ability to be heard) together.

On a regular day, the various park employees will be found in period clothing (wearing hoop skirts if female; frock coats and hats if male), working in one of our various period exhibits, interpreting the town’s history and significance.

I personally love working here. The staff is friendly, hard-working, and knowledgeable about their craft. Interaction with visitors leads us to develop understanding of many different points of view, and a lot of different stories from the visitors themselves. I thoroughly recommend this internship to anyone seeking an opportunity in the field of public history.