Museum Collection Member (Harness​/Tack) - Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park

Location: Bridgewater Corners

Summary American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), is seeking up to ONE Museum Collection (Harness/Tack) Member to contribute to museum collection care/preservation projects alongside NPS Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date:

October 13, 2026

End Date:
April 24, 2027 Location Details/

Description:

Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (Woodstock, VT)
The NPS preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The NPS cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park (MABI) is the only unit of the NPS in Vermont.

Within its 550 acres are cultural landscapes, historic structures, and Mount Tom (the oldest continuously managed scientific forest in the United States) including 20 miles of trails. The boyhood home of George Perkins Marsh, one of America's first conservationists, and later the home of Frederick Billings, the property was given to the American people by its most recent owners, Laurance S.

and Mary

F. Rockefeller. The purpose of MABI is to interpret the history and evolution of conservation stewardship in America; to preserve the Mansion and surrounding lands through active stewardship; and to recognize and interpret the contributions of George Perkins Marsh, Frederick and Julia Billings, Mary Billings French, and Laurance S. and Mary

F. Rockefeller. Museum collections are considered a cultural resource as defined by NPS Directives System; MABIs museum collection reveals a high degree of historic integrity and serves as a tangible example of conservation stewardship. The museum collection consists of over 100,000 objects, primarily historic furnishings, but also extensive 19th and 20th century fine art (Hudson River School) as well as mementoes and textiles belonging to the Billings and Rockefeller families.

It is a varied collection original to the site, thus integral to the historic structures and reflective of the continuity of inheritance and stewardship.

For more information about this park, visit the parks website. About the area:
Woodstock, VT, a picturesque New England village including a historic downtown surrounded by farms and forests with an abundance of hiking trails and recreational opportunities. Nearby communities in the state include Quechee and White River Junction to the East, Pomfret to the North, Hartland and Windsor to the South, Bridgewater and Rutland to the West. Larger communities include Lebanon, NH and Claremont, NH, both of which have all standard services and amenities.

Hanover, NH, home of Dartmouth College, is a college town just north of Lebanon with a variety of amenities. Boston is 2.5 hours from Cornish, while Montreal, Quebec, is just over 3 hours away. New York City is approximately 5 hours away and can also be reached by Amtrak or luxury coach bus service.

Having a personal vehicle is not required but is highly recommended for commuting and to access groceries and other needs on your days off. Public transportation and ride share are not available or dependable. Temperatures in the area range from
-10 F to +40 F in the winter and +50 F to +95 F in the summer, though the heat index/humidity raises the real feel. Precipitation is approximately 35 inches annually.

Position Overview:

This position is one of two being recruited for a museum collection youth program at the co-managed NPS units of MABI and Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park (SAGA) in Cornish, NH. This position will primarily (80%) be duty stationed at MABI in Woodstock, VT.The critical project for this position is to care for/preserve the harness and tack collection. Objects are related to animal husbandry, animal tack, and other accessories/components for animal-powered vehicles and furnishings from a typical 19th century stable.

Picking up where the last position stopped, this position will continue 100% inventory, assess condition (compare to previous descriptions and identify professional conservation treatment), perform light cleaning (remove significant surface dirt/dust), photograph, and rehouse nonarchival materials. If completed, this position can start rehousing beyond the nonarchival materials, perhaps estimating and scoping more solutions.

There are common condition issues found so far including rodent evidence and mold. Rodent evidence can be old and is unsurprising for the building. When the NPS converted the Stable to a visitor center in , the harness and tack collection relocated to its current storage space in the Woodshed. Built between 1875-76 to accommodate Frederick Billings' forestry operations, timber products were processed in the adjoining yard then stored in the Woodshed which…