Position: Horticultural Intern

Stratford Hall is located in Westmoreland County on the beautiful Northern Neck of Virginia. Stratford Hall is a 45-minute drive from Fredericksburg, two hours from Washington DC and 90 minutes from Richmond.

This National Historic Landmark is set on 1,800 acres with over 2 miles of Potomac River waterfront. The Great House and related buildings were constructed in 1738 and are among a handful of exceptionally intact structures from colonial Virginia. In addition to the Great House, Stratford Hall also features an operating reconstructed 18th century gristmill, a newly installed 18th century garden and a Colonial Revival garden that dates to the 1930s. Stratford Hall was the home to four generations of the Lee family, which includes two signers of the Declaration of Independence. It was also the home of “Light Horse” Harry Lee and birthplace of Robert E. Lee.

The Landscapes Department at Stratford Hall is seeking a qualified intern to participate in a 10-week, 40 hrs/wk., paid horticultural internship. The horticultural intern’s primary responsibility will be caring for the crop demonstration field which will include planting, upkeep, and research of the space for 10 weeks. While the demonstration field would be the intern’s main focus, the intern will also perform horticultural duties in additional areas as needed. Additionally, the horticultural intern will serve as an educational resource to visitors of Stratford Hall and will conduct research on a historic horticultural topic identified by Director of Landscapes. The intern would be available on special weekends to talk with visitors about horticultural practices, specific work experiences, and the relevancy of the historic plants, including tobacco, to Stratford Hall. This research and these conversations will add to the intern’s learning experience and educate visitors on historic horticultural practices.

Requirements: This opportunity is open to undergraduate students who have completed at least one year of college. Applicants must be able to perform manual labor outdoors in hot and humid weather. Applicants should also be comfortable greeting and talking with guests of all ages and available during the entire 10-week internship period. Applicants with a background or interest in horticulture, historic farming, historic landscapes, and/or American history are preferred. On-site housing and a stipend of $1,200 will be provided to the intern.

How to Apply: Applicants should submit a resume, names of 2 references, and a cover letter no more than 500 words detailing interest in this position. Deadline to apply is February 22, 2021. Applications may be emailed to Matt Peterschmidt, Director of Landscapes, at mpeterschmidt@stratfordhall.org with the subject line as Horticultural Intern. Applications can also be mailed to:

Matt Peterschmidt, Director of Landscapes

Stratford Hall

483 Great House Road

Stratford, VA 22558