The Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation (SBTHP) offers a wide variety of internship opportunities for students and recent graduates, providing practical work experience within a museum setting. Internships at SBTHP are typically part-time and unpaid; however, students often receive college credit. It is up to each individual student to contact his or her school to determine the requirements for earning credit through an internship with SBTHP.

Each museum department operates its own internship program. Qualifications, duration, responsibilities and application procedures vary accordingly. Internship opportunities include:

Museum Education

The education department's internship program provides undergraduates, recent graduates and graduate students with practical work experience and in-depth training in museum education. Working under the general supervision of the SBTHP's Director of Education, interns contribute to timely projects, gain a general knowledge and broad understanding of how an education department functions within the context of a larger museum. Education interns learn about the SBTHP's various docent, school and community programs.

Museum Curation

Intern Devi Noor cataloging an artifact loan.

Interns will assist the Curator primarily with exhibition and collections-related projects. This may include managing collection records, cataloging, housing and cleaning artifacts, and assisting with research, design and production of temporary and permanent historical and art exhibitions.  Interns may also assist with public relations and fundraising projects related to the curatorial department. Most projects will involve enhancing interpretation at the two historical sites operated by SBTHP, El Presidio de Santa Bárbara State Historic Park, founded in 1782 as a Spanish colonial military outpost, and Casa de la Guerra, home of the Presidio’s fifth commandant, José de la Guerra, now operated as a house museum interpreting life in California during the Mexican period.

Interest in history, public history and historical museums preferred, but applicants interested in collections management and exhibition development at art or natural history museums are also encouraged to apply.   Ability to work independently, attention to detail and organization, good writing and research skills required.

Archaeology and Historic Preservation

The Archaeology Department has a number of ongoing lab, collections management and archival projects available for potential interns. Currently there are opportunities to process material recently recovered from an early 19th century trash disposal feature. The work involves dry screening, wet screening and rough sorting the materials, including numerous examples of Hispanic, British, and Chinese ceramics, medicine and liquor bottles, faunal material (bone and shell), metal artifacts and more.

There are also opportunities to work in the laboratory researching, analyzing, and cataloging the materials described above. Additionally, there a number of ongoing archival projects that can always use work. We are currently in the process of trying to get more than thirty years of artifact catalogs entered into an electronic database. These materials have been recovered from various locations within the presidio and represent deposits associated with Spanish (1782-1810), Mexican (1810-1846), American (1846-present), and Chinese and Japanese (1870s-1940s) occupants of the site.

Development and Public Relations

Interns will assist with the development and implementation of new marketing and public relations strategies. Opportunities are also available to assist with the planning and marketing of special events and fundraising projects. Duties will include some research and data entry. Interest in history and/or historical museums preferred but not required. Interest in public relations and marketing strategies recommended. Ability to work independently, attention to detail and organization, good writing and research skills required.

How to Apply?

For more information on internship opportunities contact SBTHP's education department at (805) 962-9504 or email Director of Education Karen Anderson. Applications accepted year-round. To begin the application process complete an internship application (pdf) and return it to:

Attn: Karen Anderson
Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation
123 East Canon Perdido Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2215

Volunteer opportunities also available! Learn more.