Brickyard Interpreter
Colonial Williamsburg
101 Visitor Center Drive
Williamsburg,
VA
23185
Full-Time
Description
Who We Are
Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation. Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 88 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library. Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.
About the Position
Those hired will work primarily in the Brickyard site and be employed in the production of hand- made bricks used throughout Colonial Williamsburg in our ongoing reconstruction and conservation efforts. Working as a member of a team you will be expected to do the work necessary in brickmaking including digging clay, treading clay with water using your bare feet to achieve a workable consistency, molding and stacking dry bricks. You will be working in costume and will be in front of the public, interpreting and engaging guests into the work where appropriate. In turn you will learn about the masonry trades, develop hand skills, interpretive techniques, and public contact experience.
Essential Functions:
- Works to make bricks using traditional tools and techniques.
- Provides in-depth interpretations on the trades, their history, and their products and services in the community, region, and the world; the technology, processes, skills organization and working environment of the trades; the lives and times of those who pursued the trades; the evolution of the trades; relationships between trades, etc., with emphasis on the 1607-1781 time period to a variety of audiences in a variety of settings.
- Creates a welcoming environment for guests and encourages learning.
- Wears appropriate period clothing (provided) while performing the work in order to maintain an 18th century atmosphere. Maintains costuming as set forth in standards established by the Costume Design Center.
- Follows safety and security procedures established for the site, tools, materials, and equipment.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to meet the physical requirements of the trade including:
- Ability to lift and carry 75 lbs.
- Ability to carry 150 lbs. on a wheelbarrow.
- Ability to perform all of the steps required in the production of bricks, plaster, mortar, lime etc.
- Ability to work in excavated trenches and on scaffolding or other uncomfortable work environments as work needs require.
- Ability to work in dusty environments while wearing proper safety gear including respirators.
- Ability to safely handle and work with chemical materials such as lime, mineral spirits, linseed oil, etc.
- Ability to perform repetitive work safely with traditional 18th century tools
- Ability to work under extreme weather conditions from freezing cold to temperatures over 100 degrees with heavy pollen and humidity.
- Ability to perform activities that require repeated or long-term standing, kneeling/squatting, lifting, stooping.
Required and Preferred Education & Experience:
Required:
- Fundamental knowledge of the 18th-century Williamsburg, American, World history; ability to clearly interpret historical information to the public.
- Previous public contact experience (similar to that gained working in a living history museum).
- Must be able to do strenuous physical work in all weather conditions.
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule; including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Preferred:
- Bachelor's or higher degree in History or related field.
- Four-year degree in American History or on subject matter relating to American history and/or the masonry trades.
- Previous living history museum experience.
Colonial Williamsburg
The Colonial Williamsburg Company has been driven by the same core values since 1930, when the ideas were first established by Williamsburg Tavern and Ordinaries, Inc. With a new formation of hotel properties, the opening of the Williamsburg Inn by Mr. John D. Rockefeller Jr. in 1937, we’ve hosted and entertained guests from across the globe with our rich history and impressive collection of amenities.
Today, we offer gorgeous guestrooms & colonial homes, over 20 food and beverage outlets, three championship golf courses, a 30,000 sq. ft. spa wellness & fitness center, and a retail shopping district – all supporting The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s education mission and historic preservation. By utilizing our relevance, craftsmanship, courage, and inclusion we’ve continued to fuel our passion in providing captivating experiences for our guests and rewarding opportunities and benefits for each of our trusted employees. And as an Equal Opportunity Employer, we embrace diversity and incorporate culture to unite our team and ensure that we always exceed our guests’ expectations.
