Volunteer with us!

Are you looking to get more involved in your community? Do you have some free time you’d like to contribute towards a worthy cause? Considering volunteering with the History Museum! We are always accepting volunteer applications, and have a variety of ways you can be involved.


Click the Volunteer Application button below to fill out an online application or visit our front desk for a paper copy. 





Volunteer Opportunities include:


Front Desk Attendants
These friendly volunteers greet museum visitors, ring up admission and gift shop purchases, answer the phone, and answer basic questions about the museum’s exhibits and programs. Are you friendly and enjoy talking to people? This could be the position for you. Some experience with computers or technology preferred.

Docents
Docents greet school groups and give short guided tours of the exhibits. Groups are scheduled in advance and vary when they arrive, but most tours take place Monday through Friday, anytime from 9am to 4pm. Groups usually stay for about an hour and a half. There may be an occasional Saturday tour. Docents are contacted after tours are scheduled to check if they are available.

Special Events
Event Volunteer: Assist attendees with way-finding, watch to the front desk, greet attendees, and answer the back door phone. If you’re willing, we won’t say no to helping with clean up!
Event Set-Up: We may occasionally need tables and chairs set up or taken down for events. The more folks that lend a hand, the faster it goes!
Photographer for Special Events: Do you have photography skills? Consider volunteering your time to snap candid or posed photos to document museum events, such as exhibit opening or major fundraising events.

Youth Programs
Sometimes Programs for children include field trips, scout programs, home school programs, virtual programs, and more. Often the programs are no more than a half-day in length, but sometimes they run full days, where volunteers would have shifts. Tasks can vary and can include helping kids with crafts and activities, leading short educational lessons, directing groups around the museum, and more. 

Collections/Archives
Volunteers in this area assist in cataloging artifacts and processing archival collections, inventorying collections, data entry, research, or assisting with special projects. Volunteers need attention to detail; computer proficiency preferred.


Exhibit Work

If you've ever wanted to see what goes into building an exhibit, this is the volunteer opportunity for you. Tasks may include preparing artifacts to be on display, making artifact mounts, painting display cases or galleries, adjusting lighting, building exhibit props, or tearing down an exhibit. 


Office Work/Mailings

Help us get the word out about memberships, Fund Drives, and field trips by helping prepare mailings. This is a great opportunity for a group of friends, coworkers, family members, or other small groups to do together. Other office work may include filing, organizing office supplies, assembling materials for tours, and more.
 
Internships
Click
here to learn more about available internships.

Open Daily, Except Tuesdays  

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

330 E. College Ave., Appleton, WI

920.735.9370

Jan Krohn is pictured here with Board President Monica Rico and Executive Director Matt Carpenter at the 2017 Annual Meeting. Photo courtesy of Brad Cebulski

50% off regular admission until April 12, 2024

​Volunteer of the Year


​Each year, the history museum honors one of its volunteers with the Harold C. Vonder Here Outstanding Volunteer Award. It is given to a committed individual who has made a significant contribution to the Museum and its mission.


The 2019 Harold C. Vonder Here Outstanding Volunteer Award was presented to Gordon Lind for his work maintaining the model railroad of Appleton on display at the History Museum and his his dedication to public education.


​Thank you, Gordon!