Volunteer
Volunteers are essential to preserving and promoting the history of Dakota County.
Each year Dakota County residents volunteer over 7,000 hours at our office and our three historic sites. We invite you to get involved! No experience is necessary and training is provided.
We currently have two new volunteer opportunities available at the Lawshe Memorial Museum (South St. Paul). Please review the descriptions to learn more about these opportunities and if interested, please fill out a Volunteer Application and submit it via email (dakotahistory@co.dakota.mn.us), or mail (130 3rd Avenue N – South St. Paul, MN 55075).
For general volunteer opportunities, please choose from the opportunities below and fill out our Volunteer Application form, or contact us with any questions: 651-552-7548, dakotahistory@co.dakota.mn.us.
- Volunteer Application Form – DOC File
- Volunteer Application Form – PDF File
Interested volunteers can also use the Dakota County Volunteer Management online portal. To learn more, click here. If you use our paper application process, you will be added to the system later for use by DCHS staff to manage our volunteers and volunteer hours tracking.
Board of Trustees
Help govern and guide policy for DCHS. The Board is made up of residents from around the region. Each brings their own sets of skills and expertise to the organization, which helps ensure that DCHS achieves its mission. Take on leadership duties and act as an ambassador for DCHS in the community. Trustees are required to regularly attend board meetings, DCHS sponsored events and the annual meeting. Trustees can serve three consecutive two-year terms. If you are interested in serving as a DCHS Trustee, please complete this Statement of Interest form and return it to DCHS staff.
On-Going Volunteer Opportunities
Administrative Assistant and Front Desk Attendant
Help with light office work and welcome visitors to our office and historic sites. Regular hours preferred.
Site Hosts
Extend hospitality to visitors and provide guidance and information at LeDuc Historic Estate and Sibley Historic Site. Regular hours preferred.
Research Library Volunteer
Assist the public and our members using DCHS resources and collections. Assist DCHS staff in cataloging and organizing our collections. Regular hours preferred.
School Tours
Provide history tours to school groups visiting Lawshe Museum, LeDuc Historic Estate, or Sibley Historic Site. Flexible; hours as needed.
Research and Writing
Write and edit articles for our newsletters, website, and Over the Years journal. Flexible hours.
Student Academic Year, Summer Internships
DCHS offers an intensive hands-on internship program to college students to gain practical experience in a local history organization. Interns must be either undergraduate or graduate students with some background or interest in history, museum studies, or education. Applicants should be enthusiastic and creative, and have strong written and oral communication skills. Interning at DCHS will give students a great introduction to the field of local history and non-profit work, and it will help build contacts and personal interests. Internships are unpaid; the hours are flexible. DCHS has experience working with students who wish to receive school credit for their internship experience. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange for credit with the school/professor.
Each year, the DCHS seeks summer interns in exhibit development, education and administration to assist in a number of museum projects. These unpaid internships run approximately 12 weeks (May to August), with flexible hours.
Current Internship Opportunities
LeDuc Historic Estate
Sibley Historic Site
Examples of Past Internships:
Exhibit Intern. Duties include creating and installing one off-site exhibit and assisting the Curator with two new exhibits at the DCHS museum.
Collections Intern. Duties include cataloging and photographing artifact back-logs, assisting with the Historical Society’s running inventory, and assisting the Curator with two new exhibits at the DCHS museum.
Public Program Intern. Duties include delivering Dakota County Historical Society programs to the public at our three historic sites, or locations outside of our organization. Programs can include children’s programming workshops, walking tours, tastings and teas. The Public Programs intern is also responsible for helping DCHS staff booths at local fairs and festivals; preparing materials and spaces; and assisting with program research, development and evaluation.