Tour Guide at Pendarvis Historic Site - LTE

The Wisconsin Historical Society, considered one of the nation's finest historical institutions, is a State of Wisconsin government agency as well as a mission-driven entrepreneurial organization. The Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS), founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. At its core, WHS believes that increasing the public's knowledge of history has profound societal, cultural, and economic benefit. Its library, archives and collections, historic sites and museums, historic preservation office, and extensive educational programs and community outreach are focused on our vision to enrich and transform lives through unparalleled access to history. Click here for more information about WHS' mission, vision, and core values.

WHS is committed to being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization because we truly believe this is the most effective way to attract, engage, and retain the best talent and the most meaningful way to support our mission.

Pendarvis Historic Site is a 47.5-acre historic site located in Mineral Point, Iowa County, Wisconsin. Guests explore an 1840s Cornish settlement of stone and log cottages, built during the heyday of mining in Lead Mining Region, and discover the 20th century restoration of and revitalization of a community led by the pioneering efforts of two gay men. Our 43-acre Merry Christmas Mine Hill Trails and Prairie provides a scenic hike, taking visitors on an adventure through southwest Wisconsin’s native prairie oak savanna landscape as well as its early mining history. Staff work in historic indoor and outdoor spaces with fellow team members in the heart of the Driftless Region to create exceptional experiences for our guests.
Historic Open-Air and House Museum in Mineral Point, Wisconsin and Belmont, Wisconsin. The sites offer guided tours from May – October.

Professional level work is performed under limited supervision of the Pendarvis Site Manager or the Southwest Sites Regional Director. Guides are stewards of the buildings and collections of the Wisconsin Historical Society and are responsible for daily cleaning and collections care to ensure that we can share Wisconsin’s stories for generations to come.

Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Visitor Experience

• Open and close site(s) as needed
• Provide comprehensive guided tours to student groups as well as the general public
• Assist with special events and public programs
• Logistics support (tracking tour numbers)
• Assist with other administrative tasks as needed
• Sell tickets and merchandise in museum store using point of sale systems

Administrative Duties

• Engage in all aspects of group management at Pendarvis
• Work to address issues that may arise with tours, visitors, staff, or volunteers
• Report to Site Manager about concerns with tour or site
• Give feedback on tours and special events
• Site or Collections care under the direction of the Site Manager

Pay is $14.00 per hour with a weekend differential of 80 cents per hour. This classification is in schedule and class 18-00.

Please note this is a Limited Term Employment position so it does not include paid time off or benefits upon hire.

A criminal background check will be conducted by WHS prior to an offer of employment to determine if the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job.

This is a Limited Term Employment (LTE) position and limited to 1,039 hours. This position will be part time and average 10 - 20 hours per week.

Wisconsin residency is required for Limited Term Employment positions.

Limited Term Employment (LTE) positions are not civil service classified positions, do not give any rights to permanent civil service classified positions and do not lead to permanent status.

WHS does not sponsor work visas. Any appointment made will be contingent on the applicant being able to prove valid status to work in the United States.

• Knowledge of (or willingness to learn) interpretive methodologies, including guided tours.
• Knowledge of (or willingness to learn) site-specific and Wisconsin history.
• Knowledge of (or willingness to learn) professionally recognized collection care principles and practices.
• Knowledge and ability to develop and install exhibits (or willingness to learn).
• Excellent oral communication skills with staff and the public. Ability to give presentations to the public.
• Ability to work well with interns, volunteers, and employees.
• Ability to use computer applications, including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Access, Excel), ACME point of sale system, and CounterPoint point of sale system.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Apply online! To apply, click “Apply for Job” to start the application process. Then, you will access your existing account or to create a new account if you don’t have an account. Once you are logged in, click “Apply for Job.” Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.

Your letter of qualifications and resume are very important parts of your application and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. For instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications for your application and what should be included in these materials, click here.

Submitted materials will be evaluated and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the hiring process.

We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce.

Questions can be directed to dawn.garcia@wisconsinhistory.org or (608) 264-6670

Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for general wisc.jobs user information and technical assistance.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.