If you’ve ever enjoyed digging into old stories, questioning how events actually unfolded, or wondering who gets remembered and who gets left out, a history internship can be a great next step. These internships let you move past textbooks and timelines and see how history is researched, preserved, and shared in the real world. Instead of just reading about the past, you help work with it.
Why should you consider a history summer internship in high school?
History internships often place you in museums, archives, libraries, historical societies, or community projects. You might help organize documents, research local history, assist with exhibitions, or support public history work. These experiences show you how historians think, how evidence is handled, and how stories are built from sources. They also help you develop skills like careful research, writing, and analysis, which are useful for college and for fields like law, journalism, education, and public policy.
With that, here are 15 history summer internships for high school students worth exploring! If you’re interested in an Ivy League experience but still trying to decide on the subject, we have a variety of options in this blog here.
15 History Summer Internships for High School Students
1. New-York Historical Society Student Historian Internship Program
Location: New-York Historical Society, Manhattan.
Stipend: $700
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective.
Dates: Every Wednesday evening in the academic year from October 29 – June 24
Application Deadline: August 24
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10, 11, and 12 living and attending school in the New York City metro area.
If you want to learn how a historical researcher works, this internship provides a comprehensive experience. You will conduct deep-dive research into the American past, using the museum’s resources to develop creative digital projects. These projects will then be used by the Museum as public educational resources, ensuring that your scholarship has a tangible impact. The work is intensive in terms of the research and writing involved, requiring you to synthesize information from various primary sources to support a specific historical argument. You will also interface with professional staff to learn the operational side of museum administration, library sciences, and exhibition design.
2. High School Summer Internship at the Library of Congress
Location: Fully virtual or hybrid at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive, only 12 students accepted!
Dates: June 23 – July 17
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 or older
The Library of Congress offers a small, research-focused internship where you work inside the systems that support the world’s largest library. Your work often involves researching collection materials, helping with exhibition or education projects, and learning how large-scale cataloging and preservation actually function. You may create learning content for student audiences or support teams that design public-facing educational resources. A major part of the experience is learning how scholars and librarians navigate archival systems and translate primary sources into usable material for teachers and visitors.
3. Voluntary Internship Program, National Archives & Records Administration
Location: Multiple locations throughout the country
Cost: Free; academic credit may be provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by department needs
Dates: Multiple 100-hour batches throughout the year, across a duration of 10–12 weeks. Summer internships are generally from June – August.
Application Deadline: Application window opens March 16; keep an eye on the website for details.
Eligibility: Current high school students aged 18+ who are U.S. citizens
At the National Archives, you work alongside archivists who manage federal records from creation to long-term preservation. Your tasks may include processing collections, digitizing materials, assisting with exhibits, or supporting public history and communications work. You learn formal archival handling protocols and how government records are described, stored, and made accessible through databases. The program is structured around real archival workflows rather than observation, making it a practical introduction to historical preservation and records management.
4. NMNH Summer High School Internship at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Location: Washington, DC
Stipend: $5,600 ($700/week)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, very small cohort
Dates: June 23 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Current high school students ages 15–18
This internship places you inside a working museum environment with a strong focus on collections and research support. Much of the work centers on anthropology and collections management, where you assist with specimen handling, digitization, and database entry. You learn how classification systems and metadata are used to support scientific and cultural research. In addition to daily project work, the program includes exposure to museum research methods and behind-the-scenes operations that show how large institutions support scholars and the public.
5. The Metropolitan Museum of Art High School Internship Program
Location: New York, NY
Stipend: $1,100
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Applications open early February; keep an eye on the website for details
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10 and 11 residing in NYC, NJ, or CT
At The Met, you are assigned to a specific department such as Curatorial, Conservation, Education, or Digital Media, depending on institutional needs. Your work may involve researching object histories, supporting exhibition logistics, or analyzing visitor engagement data. You also take part in Teen Fridays, where you help design and lead programs for other teens. The experience combines behind-the-scenes museum work with public-facing education, showing how scholarship is translated into visitor learning.
6. MOHAI History Lab
Location: Museum of History and Industry, Seattle, WA
Stipend: $150
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 21 – August 1
Application Deadline: May 23
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10-12
MOHAI’s History Lab puts you inside the work of a history museum, using Seattle’s past as raw material. You research items from the museum’s collection, conduct oral history interviews, and learn how archivists and historians build narratives from primary sources. The program teaches you how to combine interviews, photographs, documents, and audio into a single historical argument. A key part of the work is translating research into digital media, with your final piece published online. You will learn to synthesize primary source interviews with archival evidence to construct a cohesive work of historical interpretation that will be published on the Rainy Day History website.
7. Missouri Historical Society Teens Make History – STL Changemakers
Location: St. Louis, MO
Stipend: $150 at completion
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 3 – 13
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: High school students from the greater St. Louis metro area entering grades 10 – 12.
STL Changemakers is a partnership between the Missouri Historical Society, the United Nations Association of St. Louis, and Civitas and offers a two-week introductory program that covers the fundamentals of local history, social justice, and sustainable development. You will deeply understand the history of the St. Louis region through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and develop a project to improve the future of the region. The pedagogy is highly practical, and you will be going out in the field, meeting community leaders, and understanding the impact of historical issues and their potential solutions from a grassroots perspective.
8. Online Internship Program at the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Location: Remote
Stipend: Stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective, most positions are for undergraduates and graduates, with very few positions open for high schoolers
Dates: Varies by position, but generally runs from late May or early June to mid to late August.
Application Deadline: Application window opens in February
Eligibility: High school students with a strong interest in American history
Gilder Lehrman’s internship places you inside the daily operations of a national history organization. You work remotely with staff on projects tied to archival access, educational programming, and public history outreach. Tasks may involve organizing historical materials, supporting digital exhibits, or assisting with events and educator resources. You learn how large collections of primary sources are curated, digitized, and distributed for classroom use. The experience is closer to professional historical work than a student program, emphasizing responsibility, accuracy, and long-term impact.
9. Stephen Tyrone Johns Summer Youth Leadership Program at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum
Location: Washington, DC
Stipend: Stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, only 50 students selected per year
Dates: 7 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Typically around March
Eligibility: High school students from the Washington D.C. area who have completed the Museum’s Bringing the Lessons Home Program.
This program centers on a close study of Holocaust history using primary sources, survivor testimony, and institutional records. You learn how museums teach difficult history and how educators guide conversations around violence, ideology, and human rights. A major part of the work involves training as a peer guide, which requires deep content mastery and careful communication. You also examine how historical patterns of hatred connect to present-day issues and design projects that address bias within your own community. The program blends historical analysis with public-facing leadership and facilitation skills.
10. High School Internship Summer Program (Paul Revere House)
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, only 5-8 students admitted
Dates: July 21 – 25
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10-12
The Paul Revere House internship introduces you to how a historic house museum actually works day to day. You spend time with staff learning how a 17th-century site is preserved, interpreted, and presented to the public. Much of the work centers on visitor engagement and understanding how curators maintain historical accuracy while making colonial history understandable to modern audiences. You also work with artifacts from the house, using material culture to help create short interpretive content.
11. Summer Internship at the Art Institute of Chicago
Location: Chicago, IL
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer
Application Deadline: Typically in June
Eligibility: High school students residing in Chicago, aged 16 or older
At the Art Institute of Chicago, you work alongside museum staff and local artists on projects aimed at younger audiences. Your role involves researching artworks from the museum’s collection and helping turn that research into programs, events, or digital resources. You learn how curators think about audience, interpretation, and access when planning exhibitions and outreach. The internship also gives you a window into how decisions are made inside a large cultural institution, from programming choices to internal planning discussions.
12. Youth Volunteer Program at the National WWI Museum and Memorial
Location: Kansas City, MO
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies
Dates: 15-week batches year-round; summer shifts are available.
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students ages 14-18
This program places you on the museum floor, where historical knowledge meets public interaction. You learn World War I history in enough depth to support visitors in the galleries and research spaces. Much of the work involves explaining artifacts, answering questions, and assisting with educational programming. Depending on placement, you may also help with behind-the-scenes tasks related to administration, marketing, or development.
13. Living History Youth Summer Institute (Museum of the American Revolution)
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 1 – August 14
Application Deadline: Typically in the spring
Eligibility: High school students aged 16+
This institute trains you in living history as a research method, not performance alone. You study the lives of people of African descent during the Revolutionary era using primary sources such as diaries, military records, and material objects. Research is closely tied to practice, as you apply findings to historical interpretation meant for public audiences. You also learn how clothing, textiles, and everyday objects are analyzed to understand the past.
14. Young Ambassadors Program at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino
Location: Washington, D.C., for the training, and one of 19 museums or cultural centers across the country for the core program
Stipend: $2,350
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive, only 24 students selected
Dates: 5 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April 11
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors with a commitment to Latino community leadership and a minimum 3.25 GPA
The Young Ambassadors Program focuses on how museums preserve and interpret Latino history in the United States. You begin by learning directly from Smithsonian staff about exhibition development, collections, and public education. You then apply that training during a museum or cultural center placement, working on projects tied to local history and community engagement. The program emphasizes how archives, storytelling, and public programs shape cultural memory. You come away with a practical understanding of how national and local institutions work together to document history.
15. American Independence Museum Summer Internship Program
Location: Exeter, New Hampshire
Cost: Free (eligible for course credit)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 8–10 weeks during summer (intern-chosen schedule, minimum two days per week)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school and college students with an interest in history, museum sciences, education, or the non-profit sector
The American Independence Museum welcomes student interns who are passionate about American Revolutionary history and museum work. You will work closely with museum staff and volunteers to develop a deep understanding of how museums operate behind the scenes. Depending on your interests, you can focus on one of four areas: Education (developing and executing educational programs), Programs & Visitor Services (managing day-to-day museum operations, events, and tours), Curatorial (conducting original research on the museum’s collections and assisting with exhibits), or Development (supporting fundraising and social media initiatives).
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like history, historical research, political history, international relations, or cultural studies, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image Source – The Metropolitan Museum