Visitor Services Summer Contractor

About Us: Established in 1894 and located in the Carnegie Library in Downtown DC, the DC History Center deepens understanding of our city's past to connect, empower, and inspire. As the only community-supported nonprofit organization focused on the District's history, our vision is to engage with neighborhoods across DC and elevate the stories of Washington's diverse people, communities, and institutions. We aim to do this work as a welcoming and inclusive nonprofit organization that fosters curiosity and nurtures civic engagement to strengthen the District. The DC History Center supports a diverse, vibrant, and complex city by preserving, honoring, and uplifting the full range of stories that unfold in the nation's capital. The DC History Center promotes a brighter future for all Washingtonians by shining a light on the city's triumphs and shortcomings as well as instances of resistance, resilience, and communal cooperation. We serve as a welcoming convener, using the tools of history to put our audience members in conversation with each other, while encouraging learning, empathy, and civic engagement. In addition, we urge our stakeholders-as engaged citizens, taxpayers, educators, and leaders-to use these insights to support a city where we can all thrive in every aspect of life. Project Overview: District of Columbia residents have been disenfranchised from the moment the nation's capital attracted its first permanent inhabitants. More than two centuries later, Washington, DC still lacks voting representation in Congress, effectively silencing the voices of 712,000 tax-paying citizens. This enduring contradiction stands at the heart of our nation's struggle to uphold a truly representative democracy. For generations, Washingtonians have pushed back-organizing, protesting, and legislating-and the fight continues today, more than 50 years after the passage of the Home Rule Act of 1973. In FY26, The Historical Society of Washington, D.C., dba the DC History Center, continues its longstanding work to preserve, interpret, and share the history of DC's campaign for Home Rule and Statehood. Scope of Work: The Visitor Experience Contractor will support the DC History Center's relevant obligations under a FY26 grant awarded to the DC History Center by the Office of the Secretary. The Visitor Experience Contractor will work with existing visitor services staff in providing a welcoming and supportive environment for local, national, and international visitors with diverse interests through personal interaction. Following best practices for museum education and public programming, they will design and pilot exhibit-based activities, and design and deliver pop-up programs that engage the public with the history and concept of home rule and the fight for DC statehood. Deliverables: * Design and pilot two (2) DC home rule and statehood-focused exhibit activities within the long-term exhibit, Class Action: Education and Opportunity in the Nation's Capital. * Design and deliver two (2) pop-up programs or activations that engage a general audience with the concept of home rule and the fight for DC statehood. * Engage with the public and support visitor services staff and volunteers during exhibit hours (Thursday-Sunday noon-6pm), including supporting visitor evaluation and responding to patron questions and inquiries. Qualifications: * High School Diploma or GED * Outstanding verbal and written communication skills * Excellent customer service skills * Proactive and adept at problem solving * Disciplined approach to project management * Punctuality, dependability, and reliability Desirable Attributes: * Deep familiarity with local DC history, including the history of the fight for Home Rule and DC Statehood * Practical experience in cultural heritage, including exhibitions and public programming Period of Performance: The period of performance is projected to be May 15 - September 15, 2026. For best consideration, candidates should plan to be present for the following 12 - 6 p.m. shifts: * Saturday, May 23 * Sunday, May 24 * Thursday, May 28 * Friday, May 29 * Saturday, May 30 * Sunday, May 31 Compensation: This contract is for $6,000.00 over the course of four months. The fee is structured to be invoiced monthly at $1,500 per month and to cover an average of 50 hours per month at $30/hour, or a total of 200 hours. However, hours are not expected to be evenly distributed across the time frame.

Created: 2026-04-29