Are you, or do you know of a student interested in the preservation, enhancement, and sustainable use of our nation’s diverse historic resources? The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) in Washington, D.C., has three paid internship opportunities available for undergraduate or graduate students, as well as individuals at an early stage of their career and professional development. 

A small, independent federal agency, the ACHP oversees the historic preservation review process for federal projects and manages a variety of preservation programs dealing with national preservation policy and legislation, promoting public appreciation of cultural heritage, Native American interests, sustainability, building a more inclusive preservation program, workforce development, and youth engagement.

Two 40 hour/week and one 20 hour/week internships are available; each will run for 10 weeks. Professional ACHP staff supervise the internships listed below. The ACHP Foundation provides a stipend equivalent to $15/hour to support these internships.

Candidates should have an interest in historic preservation and may come from a wide variety of disciplines, such as history, planning, law, cultural resources management, architectural history, archaeology, architectural design, communications, or education. Selected interns complete projects contributing to or broadening awareness of the work of the ACHP and our historic preservation partners nationwide. Specific assignments are developed based on current agency needs and the skills and interests of selected interns. Interns become familiar with the full range of work of the agency through orientation and training, and by participating in meetings to observe the development and implementation of federal historic preservation policy. They may also participate in programs with others interning at related agencies and organizations. Advisory Council on Historic Preservation members, staff, and the ACHP Foundation assist interns with networking and advice.

Questions? Contact Internship Program Coordinator, Judy Rodenstein, at jrodenstein@achp.gov.

How to Apply – Deadline February 17, 2023
Interested applicants should apply using this form and a resume. Please specify which internship you are seeking. Save the filled-out form on your computer as a pdf and then attach it to an email along with your resume.  Send to Judy Rodenstein, Internship Program Coordinator, at jrodenstein@achp.gov. 

Summer 2023 Projects

ACHP's Office of General Counsel (OGC) is seeking a second-year law student to intern full-time this summer.  Working remotely, the intern would carry out legal research relating to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. While Section 106 sets forth procedural requirements for federal agencies, there are often claims that measures must adequately resolve or mitigate for adverse effects to historic properties. The intern would research case law and agency policy and practice to explore and assess claims of "sufficiency" of mitigation in the Section 106 review process. In addition to this research, the intern would participate in all aspects of OGC activities. There may be opportunities for occasional in-person meetings or office visits. The internship would run for a minimum of 10 weeks at an agreed upon time between May 30th and August 25th.

The Office of Federal Agency Programs is seeking a 20 hour/week virtual intern to support the agency’s training program on Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The intern's projects align with the ACHP's current initiative on historic preservation workforce development and strengthening connections with graduate and university programs. Assignments may include working with staff to improve the Section 106 Essentials classroom course for students and interns as well as improving existing webinars and eLearning courses to reach university-level students. The selected intern would attend and participate in a live Zoom session of the Section 106 Essentials classroom course in mid-June (exact times/dates TBD). The intern will earn a certificate of completion for the course, suitable for inclusion in applications for jobs in Section 106 in the federal, Tribal, state, local, or consulting sectors. The selected intern will also have the opportunity to observe Section 106 consultation meetings and network with a variety of preservation professionals.
Applicants should have an awareness of the review process required by Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for federal or federally-assisted projects, have a career interest in working with federal historic preservation programs, be proficient in using digital meeting software and PowerPoint, and be willing to learn new eLearning software. Experience as a teaching assistant or secondary teacher, in graphic design or video editing, and/or in developing case studies would be a plus.

The Office of Communication, Education, and Outreach (OCEO) is seeking a full-time virtual intern to research and develop materials highlighting the importance and benefits of historic preservation for all Americans, including engagement with a wide range of communities, organizations, and educational institutions representing more diverse audiences. The intern will develop outreach strategies tailored for a variety of audiences, including Congress, young audiences, preservation partners, and the general public; and suggest ideas, do research, and draft content for the ACHP Web site and social media. The intern will help expand the agency’s social media presence by getting involved with Instagram takeovers, writing posts for Facebook, taking pictures for social media platforms, and more.

Past interns say…

“I loved how friendly and welcoming everyone was. Even though it's a federal agency, it's small enough that you can easily meet people and learn about what they do. I also appreciated how flexible the ACHP was in making my internship project work for my graduate program, and I felt like I was doing substantive work, both with the work directly related to my project, and the everyday work that I did.” - Diana Maxwell, Associate Director of Grants, National Trust for Historic Preservation

 “I was not only afforded the opportunity to immerse myself in preservation law and policy at the national level, but my eyes were also opened to a wealth of interesting possibilities throughout the preservation world. My supervisor was incredibly instrumental in helping me draft my research, cultivate professional connections, and explore opportunities for success in my prospective career.”  - Jonathan Stark-Sachs, Office of General Counsel Intern (2019), J.D. /M.S., Law and Historic