Exploring History and Education: Internships at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum stands as America’s national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and an educational institution dedicated to the history and lessons of the Holocaust. Chartered by the US Congress, this nonpartisan institution seeks to educate Americans from all 50 states and all walks of life, as well as international audiences. The Museum has three areas of expertise: Holocaust remembrance, Holocaust scholarship and education, and genocide prevention. In carrying out its important memorial and educational mission, the Museum is guided by its institutional values for our workplace: Honor the memory of the victims; carry out our work with dignity, humility, integrity, and respect for others; and strive for excellence through teamwork, rigor, and a culture of continuous learning. Consistent respect for others is the foundation for trust, collegiality, and inclusion.

One of the key ways the Museum achieves its mission is through its internship program, which offers a unique opportunity for qualified candidates to learn about the Holocaust and gain insights into the inner workings of a major museum.

The Internship Program: A Deep Dive into Holocaust History and Museum Operations

The Museum’s internship program enables qualified candidates to learn about the Holocaust as well as the way the Museum operates. Interns take part in hands-on projects and work directly with Holocaust scholars and Museum professionals. The Museum offers paid internships. Internships usually last for one semester, and flexible schedules are generally available. The Museum strives for a diverse workforce and is an equal-opportunity employer.

The internship program invites qualified candidates to learn about the Holocaust, as well as the way in which a museum operates, specifically related to the archives. Interns will learn and assist with the various methods and steps required to process, digitize, preserve, and catalog artifacts in an environment dedicated to Holocaust history and education.

Experiential Learning and Skill Development

Interns take part in hands-on projects and work directly with Holocaust scholars and Museum professionals. These experiences provide invaluable opportunities to develop critical skills in areas such as:

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Archival preservation and digitization
Oral history collection and cataloging
Translation and interpretation of historical documents
Museum operations and public engagement

Specific Internship Opportunities

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum offers a range of internships tailored to different interests and skill sets. Here are a few examples:

Archival Internship

The preservation of historical documents and artifacts is crucial to understanding, teaching, and learning from history. Holocaust Museum LA is committed to the preservation and retention of artifacts in both physical and digital format. The Museum strives to make its collection accessible online, transitioning and maintaining a catalogue of primary sources on a digital platform, and providing free public access to this platform as a resource for scholars, teachers and students. The Museum’s online archival database provides digital access to these important resources and receives visitors from around the world.

Interns will learn and assist with the various methods and steps required to process, digitize, preserve, and catalog artifacts in an environment dedicated to Holocaust history and education.

Archival Intern, Translation

Archival Interns with language expertise are integral to the translation and interpretation of the Museum’s vast collection of primary source documents spanning the 18th century through the 1960s. Archival materials are in a variety of languages, such as German, Polish, Czech, Dutch, Hebrew, Yiddish, Ukrainian, and Hungarian. The translation of the museum’s archives is a vital part of making the collection accessible to the public and the continued use of these primary source materials in Holocaust commemoration, research, and education.

Interns will work with the Archives department, where they will be assigned documents to translate into English. Proficiency in at least one language, as well as in English, is required. Near-native fluency in the target language is preferred. Volunteers are able to provide translation services either in person or virtually.

Oral History Summer Internship

The Museum invites qualified students to apply for the Oral History Summer Internship. The program provides a dynamic and unique learning opportunity to engage with Holocaust survivor testimonies while learning about the Holocaust and gaining experience and exposure to the oral history interview process, as well as the way in which a museum operates, specifically related to the archives. The intern will learn and assist with the organization and cataloging of the Museum’s oral history collection, including tasks such as reviewing and organizing interviews, creating transcripts, preparing testimony for cataloging by creating standardized naming conventions, collecting metadata and drafting interview abstracts and subject terms.

Benefits of Interning at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum

Participating in an internship at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum offers numerous benefits, both personally and professionally.

Deepening Understanding of the Holocaust

Interns gain a comprehensive understanding of the Holocaust, its historical context, and its lasting impact on the world. They engage with primary source materials, survivor testimonies, and scholarly research, fostering a deep appreciation for the complexities of this tragic period in history. Not only do I have a deeper understanding of Holocaust history, but the experience has left me with a deep sense of responsibility to share what I have learned with the students who visit the museum.

Contributing to the Museum's Mission

Interns play a vital role in supporting the Museum's mission of remembrance, education, and genocide prevention. Their contributions help to preserve historical artifacts, make the Museum's collection accessible to the public, and educate future generations about the dangers of intolerance and hatred.

Developing Professional Skills

The internship program provides opportunities to develop a wide range of professional skills, including:

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Research and analysis
Critical thinking
Communication and presentation
Teamwork and collaboration
Project management

Career Advancement

An internship at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum can be a valuable stepping stone to a career in the museum field, historical research, education, or related areas. The experience provides interns with a competitive edge in the job market and helps them to build a professional network. The Graduate Profile also celebrates “Applied Learning,” and Paris used this experience to grow her leadership skills. She is now the Vice President of the Liberty’s Promise club at E.L.

Beyond Internships: Other Educational Opportunities

The US Holocaust Memorial Museum offers a variety of educational programs and resources for students, teachers, and the general public.

Programs for Students

Bringing the Lessons Home Program: Introduces high school students to Holocaust history and encourages them to share its lessons with their family, friends, and community.
DC Area High School Students Internships: Enable qualified candidates to learn about the Holocaust and to see how the Museum operates from the inside.

Programs for Educators

In the Classroom: Through a partnership with the Washington, DC, public school system, the Museum provides an introduction to Holocaust history to thousands of 10th-grade students every year. Learn more.
Online Resources: Explore videos, online exhibitions, first-person accounts, and more.

Fellowships

Summer Research and Digital Humanities fellowships: Support research and writing about the Holocaust.

Volunteer Opportunities

To become a volunteer at Holocaust Museum LA, please fill out our Volunteer Application.

To become a docent, you must participate in and complete the docent training program. Training sessions are on Thursday evenings from 6:00 - 8:30 pm at Brawerman West. Training Dates are April 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, and 28. This 9-week intensive training will cover Holocaust history, narrative building, and presentation skills.

A Student's Perspective: The Impact of Museum Education

Paris F. is not like most students. She reads constantly. She co-founded the high school’s Banned Books Club. And she loves museums. “It’s been a passing thought as a kid, like maybe I’d work in a museum,” the 11th grader said. And in a way, she got that opportunity this past summer. “I wanted to try to make myself become more social,” Paris said. “When I get to a new environment, I’m really quiet and shy. The E.L. “I like history in general, but histories about genocides, and how unfair and cruel people have been to get into power interest me so much,” she said. “You might think ‘No, that can’t possibly happen now. One teacher adviser at the museum, Jolly, helped Paris find her voice in the internship. “It really helped me open my shell. I had to learn how to be comfortable around people I didn’t know,” Paris said. In addition, she’s taken upon herself to continue educating her peers. “Ever since the Holocaust Museum, I’ve been encouraging people to talk to Holocaust survivors,” she said. “If you study history, you start noticing a cycle of things happening. Lots of kids say, ‘This could never happen again,’” she said.

Applying for an Internship

Interviews for the Summer 2026 internship program will begin in March 2026; for advanced applicants. The Museum’s internship program enables qualified candidates to learn about the Holocaust as well as the way the Museum operates. Interns take part in hands-on projects and work directly with Holocaust scholars and Museum professionals.The Museum offers paid internships. Internships usually last for one semester, and flexible schedules are generally available. The Museum strives for a diverse workforce and is an equal-opportunity employer.

The incumbent participates in the daily operation of the Museum building and its public spaces. Performs specialized functions vital to the Museum’s daily and on-going operations. Experience in a customer service-based role.

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