Historical Interpreter

Overview

Do you like interacting with the public? Do you enjoy teaching children? Do you feel

energized by learning and sharing history? Have you ever thought you were born into the

wrong time period? The Historical Interpreter position at Historic Richmond Town may be

the job for you. Historic Richmond Town seeks historical interpreters to facilitate hands-on,

discovery-based learning across educational and interpretive programming.

Historical interpreters are responsible for connecting visitors to the histories of Staten

Island by leading programs that are interdisciplinary, bringing together history, art, science

and technology. Historical interpreters provide meaningful interpretation and impactful

educational experiences to our community. This role has the unique privilege to expand

narratives to include stories of underrepresented communities.

Historic Richmond Town’s main campus is New York City’s living history village,

comprising more than 30 historic buildings, with a historic artifact collection numbering

over 60,000 pieces. The village focuses on the diverse social history of Staten Island,

demonstrating foodways, shop and home trades, material culture, and the everyday lives of

Staten Islanders from the 1640s to the 1860s. Historical interpreters make the village come

to life by delivering immersive field trip programs, leading interpretive tours, and

co-leading workshops and classes. Folks in this position also staff programs and events at

partner schools, libraries and other community venues. Historical interpreters will

participate in training, wear historic costumes or museum branding, teach in historic

structures, and learn the basics of historic trades & skills. This role reports to the Education

Programs Manager.

Historic Richmond Town is proud to be an equal opportunity employment workplace

dedicated to pursuing and hiring a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an

inclusive work and learning environment and look for future team members who share that

same value.

Our People:

At Historic Richmond Town, we co-create cultural leaders who work to improve our

community. Our people are united by a shared belief in the power and necessity of public

history, and work together to effectively create meaningful experiences for our visitors.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Learn and teach inquiry-based and hands-on history educational programs and

interpretive living history programs.

• Attend regularly-scheduled on-site training sessions and off-site professional

development.

• Provide guided tours and programs, while maintaining the highest level of customer

service.

• Provide mission relevant, local history based after-school programs at partnering

elementary schools.

• Uphold safety rules and other policies as outlined in visitor code of conduct

documents.

• Set-up and break-down program spaces, including maintaining organization of

program materials.

• Lend support to site-wide events and programs.
• Help the team with other duties as needed.

Qualifications

• Interest in and curiosity about American history
• Education and/or relevant museum/public education experience
• Customer service experience and/or training
• A passion for public history and an interest in living history
• Be able to move safely unaided over uneven terrain or in confined spaces
• Be able to withstand contact with pollen, dust, non-toxic mold and other allergens,

and high and low temperatures.

• Be able to sit or stand at a duty station, often inside a historic structure, for long

periods of time during the workday

• Be able to work at a duty station alone and alongside fellow staff as scheduled
• Driver’s license and car a plus
• Experience working in historic house museums a plus

Position Details

Part-time, seasonal

Pay rate: $16.50/hour

Employment Period: September 2025 through May 2026

Benefits

This position comes with free parking and discounts to Historic Richmond Town events and

Main Street Coffee at HRT.

To Apply

To be considered, interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to

careers[at]historicrichmondtown.org. Please feel free to leave your name and address off

your application but be sure to include a contact number and email. No phone calls,

drop-offs, or faxed applications will be considered. Those whose candidacy is being

considered will be contacted.