Internships

Internships are one of the ways the Preservation Alliance is working to address the need for skilled workers in the preservation trades. Available internships are listed below. To stay on top of future opportunities, be sure to sign up for our weekly e-newsletter (link at the bottom of the screen). Learn more about our work to encourage interest in the preservation trades here.

February Break Mini-Internship for High School Aged Students (February 22-28, 2025)

Spend February break learning to save historic buildings! Get hands-on experience in the preservation trades, a rewarding field in which 96% surveyed report satisfaction with their careers and demand is high for a skilled workforce. Your mentors will be seasoned trades professionals at active job sites and workshops.

Activities will depend on the projects available at the time and each intern’s skill sets. You may learn about running a small business, traditional construction techniques, repair of damaged building elements, wood window restoration strategies, and the history of the buildings you’re working on. Last year, interns engaged in hands-on activities including site preparation at Strawbery Banke Museum's Penhallow House, repairing a wood window for the New London Historical Society, watching a barn being lifted by Geddes Building Movers, Inc., and delivering scaffolding to Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village where they toured the Ox Barn and Herb House. Mentors include members of the Timber Framers Guild and the Window Preservation Alliance.

“I wish it were longer than five days!” said one participant.

Qualifications:

No experience required. The ideal candidate for this position will have interest in and/or curiosity about old buildings and their construction and repair. The ability to follow instructions and use tools safely will be important. Reliable transportation and the ability to engage in moderate physical activity is required.

For more information or to apply:

Send an email to ab@nhpreservation.org with “Mini-Internship” in the subject line, or call the N.H. Preservation Alliance at 603-224-2281. Tell us you’d like more information on the Mini-internship opportunity. We’ll send you a short application and you’ll be on your way!

Former Interns:

Destiny Emery

Though Destiny Emery had never restored old wooden windows before, she brought a strong work ethic and hands-on learning style to her week-long mini-internship in April 2023 with Arch Weathers of Historic Sashworks. She had learned a lot about the trades from her family and from observing her father while he worked, and she said she was “always willing to push myself to new limits and try things that may be intimidating.” These qualities came through as she visited historic sites and worked in Arch’s workshop rehabilitating an old window sash and learning techniques to build a new window sash out of mahogany. She reported, “It’s been really fun. A great opportunity. I wish it were longer than five days…”

Creed Ebba

Creed Ebba’s goals for the N.H. Preservation Alliance mini-internship in April 2023 were to get a better general understanding about the preservation trades and timber framing. He was considering a career in the trades after high school, and at age 15 was eager for more experiential learning. Creed had volunteered at the New Hampshire Farm Museum “giving tours, working in the forge, running historical games, dealing with livestock, and doing odd jobs” and observed the museum barn getting a new foundation. He had heard about careers in plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and at the local shipyard, but wanted to learn more about historic preservation careers. Creed spent his internship working with Arron Sturgis and the Preservation Timber Framing crew at various Seacoast historic sites. He enjoyed the internship’s format, on-site visits and joinery practice, and called it a “very unique experience.”

Phoebe Cunningham

For Phoebe Cunningham, the week-long N.H. Preservation Alliance mini-internship in April 2023 complemented her interests carpentry, metal working, antiques, old motorcycles, and theater and set design (painting and plastering). Her goals for the internship were to “get a basic understanding, learn about the industry, and have fun.” By the end of the week-long internship, Phoebe reported, “My time with Arron Sturgis and Preservation Timber [Framing] was spent seeing some of the coolest things. Watching them lift a barn and seeing the start and ends of projects really gave me a glimpse at the level of work it takes to make that happen. Everyone I met was incredibly kind and always happy to explain something or answer a question. It was interesting to see how many different types of work go into the jobs of preserving old barns and houses. It made me appreciate the work behind this trade even more and I'm really grateful for the experience and the people I met.”

Lucas Newton

Lucas Newton joined our N.H. Preservation Alliance team as a summer intern for the month of June in 2023 as a recent graduate of the University Vermont where he earned a BA in History and was going on to pursue his MS in Historic Preservation. His interest in history and preservation was apparent the minute he walked through our door! In his short time with us, Lucas assisted with a plaster repair workshop and wrote a follow-up blog post on plaster repair, assisted with his first NH State Register nomination and completed a multitude of in-office tasks. He also completed work in the field by attending site visits with Community Preservation Services Manager, Andrew Cushing, as well as interning with Arron Sturgis and his company, Preservation Timber Framing.