Top 10 History Internships for High School Students in 2025–2026

If you want hands-on experience and a head start on exploring careers in history, museum work, or public policy, history internships for high school students are the way to go. These programs let you step out of the classroom and into museums, archives, and historical projects where you can research primary sources, curate exhibits, and work directly with professionals.

In this guide, we will break down ten of the best history internships for high school students in 2025–2026. You will get specific details on program dates, locations, stipends, weekly schedules, and the tasks you will tackle as you develop practical skills and experience.

• What Are the Best History Internships for High School Students?
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) — Summer High School Internship
• New-York Historical Society — Student Historian Internship Program
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) — High School Internship Program
• Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History — Internship Program
• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) — Voluntary Internship Program
• Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh — High School Internships
• Paul Revere House — High School Summer Internship
• Spark!Lab Teen Innovators Program
• Auburn Historical Society & Museum — High School Internship Program
• Wilmette History Museum — Student Internships
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Are the Best History Internships for High School Students?

The best history internships for high school students allow you to learn practical research, curation, and public engagement skills while exploring careers in history, museum work, and nonprofit management. These internships also look strong on college applications, showing commitment, teamwork, and real-world experience.

Before exploring each internship, here is a quick overview including their dates and locations:

Let’s discuss each program one by one.

1. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) — Summer High School Internship

• Dates: June 24 to August 5, 2025
• Location: Washington, D.C., Smithsonian NMNH
• Benefits: $3,600 stipend, six weeks of structured project work, field trips, behind-the-scenes tours, lunch provided, and SmarTrip cards for eligible students

The NMNH Summer High School Internship places you in a defined role inside a working museum. You work 24 hours per week from Tuesday to Friday and complete tasks tied to real collection and exhibit needs. This program is open to current high school students ages 14 to 18.

You work in one of two departments:

• Department of Entomology. You sort and classify moth specimens and work with collections that include spiders, centipedes, and millipedes. You handle acquisition, preservation, organization, and maintenance tasks that support long-term research collections.
• Department of Exhibits. You learn how exhibits are developed and contribute to active projects. You help with content planning, design preparation, and tasks that support final exhibit production.

You also take part in scheduled enrichment sessions on Tuesdays and Fridays. These include field trips, guided tours, and group activities designed for high school interns. 

You apply through the Smithsonian SOLAA system. Your application must include a résumé, a three-part Statement of Interest, and two letters of recommendation.

2. New-York Historical Society — Student Historian Internship Program

• Dates: October 29, 2025, to June 24, 2026 (Wednesdays, 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm)
• Location: New-York Historical Society, New York City
• Benefits: $700 stipend, weekly in-person research training, digital project development

The Student Historian Internship Program lets you complete primary-source research using the New-York Historical Society’s archives and digital collections. You focus on the theme Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass’ America and study how economic conditions, labor systems, and policy shaped daily life in the nineteenth century. You produce a digital project that uses your research to explain historical economic patterns to the public.

The program runs in person during the academic year and gives you direct access to curators, librarians, and digital humanities staff who teach you archival research, source analysis, and digital media production. Weekly sessions require structured study and writing, and you collaborate with other interns to verify sources, organize findings, and create a polished public-education resource.

You can apply if you are entering grades 10, 11, or 12 and attend school in the New York City metro area. Each cohort admits about 25 students, with 150 to 200 applicants for the academic-year cycle. The process includes an online group interview, a required teacher or mentor reference, and valid working papers before the program begins.

3. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) — High School Internship Program

• Dates: Summer 2026, exact dates released in early February
• Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, New York City
• Benefits: $1,100 stipend, in-person hands-on work, mentorship

The Met High School Internship Program places students in museum departments to complete paid, project-based work. You work full-time during the summer and may be assigned to any of the following departments:

• Education
• Design and Exhibitions (Exhibition Design, Graphic Design, Lighting Design)
• Curatorial
• Conservation
• Publications
• Imaging
• Institutional Advancement
• Finance
• Office of the General Counsel and Secretary
• Archives
• Registrar
• Operations
• Capital Projects

You complete assigned projects, attend Skill Labs and Career Labs, and work directly with staff mentors. Eligible students are in grades 10 or 11, live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, and have working papers plus an SSN or ITIN. 

Applications require a completed form, short essays, and one letter of recommendation. Selected interns attend an in-person group interview. Interns receive a $1,100 stipend after completing the program.

4. Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History — Internship Program

• Dates: Summer 2026, late May/early June through mid-to-late August
• Location: Hybrid, with at least one in-person day at GLI’s Midtown New York office
• Benefits: Paid internship at $16.50 per hour

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Summer Internship places high school students who can attend at least one in-person day per week in the Development Department. You will update and maintain donor information in Salesforce, log emails and correspondence, create and send acknowledgment letters, support fundraising campaigns, assist with event logistics, and conduct research on individual and institutional prospects. 

You will gain practical experience in nonprofit fundraising, donor communications, data management, and professional collaboration. The internship requires a commitment of 15–20 hours per week, and applications must include a cover letter and resume.

5. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) — Voluntary Internship Program

• Dates: Summer 2026 (late May/early June–August), Fall 2026 (September–late November/early December), Spring 2026 (late January/early February–April)
• Location: NARA facilities across the United States
• Benefits: Academic credit eligibility, hands-on archival experience, professional mentorship

The NARA Voluntary Internship Program allows high school students who are at least 18, U.S. citizens and able to complete a background check to work 10–40 hours per week for 10–12 weeks, accumulating at least 100 hours on-site, with at least 50% of the time spent on-site. 

Internships cover archival processing, business functions such as accounting and budget analysis, digitizing materials, public programs, social media, legal, conservation/preservation, records management, and event support. 

Applicants submit a cover letter, resume (max two pages), unofficial transcript, and, for some positions, letters of recommendation or writing samples. Interns gain practical experience in federal archives, research and organizational skills, and direct mentorship from NARA staff.

6. Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh — High School Internships

• Dates: Summer 2026, varies by program
• Location: Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Powdermill Nature Reserve, Kamin Science Center, The Andy Warhol Museum, and Pop District, Pittsburgh, PA
• Benefits: Hands-on museum experience, mentorship, skill-building in research, education, arts, and operations; stipends for some programs

The Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh offers high school internships that provide real-world experience working alongside museum staff in research, education, and operations, while contributing to arts, science, and natural history programs.

Internship and teen programs include:

• Carnegie Museum of Art Youth Art Initiative (YAI). High school students create museum experiences, plan events, and collaborate with staff and peers.
• Carnegie Museum of Natural History Teen Volunteer Opportunities. Assist with summer camps, data entry, and educational programs.
• Powdermill Nature Reserve Volunteer Program. Support environmental research, trail maintenance, summer programs, and bird banding station projects.
• Kamin Science Center Teen Programs. Hands-on experience in science education, museum operations, and visitor engagement.
• The Andy Warhol Museum Teen and Volunteer Programs. Work in archives, The Factory, or assist with exhibitions, registrars, and rights/reproduction offices.
• Youth Arts Council (The Warhol). Yearlong leadership program with public program creation, art projects, and stipends.
• Pop District Mentorship Opportunities. Guide participants in digital media, social media content, and creative workforce development projects.

You can join these high school internships and volunteer programs if you are at least 14 years old (16+ for summer camp programs) and meet museum-specific requirements. Placement depends on your experience, availability, and the museum’s staffing needs.

7. Paul Revere House — High School Summer Internship

• Dates: July 21–25, 2025
• Location: Paul Revere House, Boston, MA (North End, near Haymarket and North Station MBTA stops)
• Benefits: Hands-on museum experience, collaboration with staff, content creation using authentic artifacts, exposure to museum operations, and historical interpretation

The Paul Revere House High School Summer Internship lets you work directly with museum staff for five days, observing daily operations, educational programs, and guided tours. You collaborate with fellow interns to create content about artifacts, participate in discussions about historical interpretation, and learn how museums present history to the public. 

Groups of five to eight interns work with two to three professional staff members. The program is open to students entering 10th through 12th grade in Fall 2025. 

8. Spark!Lab Teen Innovators Program

• Dates: July 1 – August 16, 2025
• Location: Draper Spark!Lab, National Museum of American History, Washington, DC (in-person)
• Benefits: $2,300 stipend, hands-on invention experience, mentoring, museum tours, public speaking, problem-solving, design thinking, teamwork

The Spark!The Lab Teen Innovators Program gives high school students aged 15–17 in the Washington, DC area the chance to work in small teams at Draper Spark!Lab, located in the National Museum of American History. You will design a museum-based invention, facilitate activities for visitors, attend behind-the-scenes workshops, and present your prototype at the “Share It!” Showcase. 

Applicants should have a strong interest in invention, hands-on creative projects, museum programs, education, history, music, or other innovative activities, and be motivated to collaborate with peers and engage directly with museum visitors. 

Participants receive a $2,300 stipend for working 16 hours per week over seven weeks, with sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from July 1 to August 16, 2025.

9. Auburn Historical Society & Museum — High School Internship Program

• Dates: Summer 2026 (exact dates vary)
• Location: Auburn Historical Society & Museum, Auburn, MA (in-person)
• Benefits: Hands-on museum experience, research and archival skills, collection care, program planning, teamwork, and public engagement

The Auburn Historical Society & Museum High School Internship Program allows local students to assist with Summer Kids programs, conduct historical research, digitize collections, and support special projects. You will work directly with museum staff on archival handling, program coordination, and public engagement.

Interns must maintain reliable attendance, follow dress code guidelines, respect the museum’s drug- and smoke-free policies, keep sensitive information confidential, and log internship hours. Applicants must be high school students interested in history and museum work.

10. Wilmette History Museum — Student Internships

• Dates: June 2026
• Location: Wilmette History Museum, Wilmette, IL (in-person)
• Benefits: Hands-on museum experience, research and archival skills, exhibit planning, digitization, oral history collection, public program support, $1,000 honorarium for the Helen N. Morrow Summer Internship

The Wilmette History Museum High School Internship lets you work directly on museum projects while building practical skills. High school students who can commit to part-time hours, collaborate with staff, and submit a resume with relevant classes and two references are encouraged to join. 

You will help catalog objects, process archival collections, digitize photographs, create walking tours or podcasts, assist with public programs, and contribute to upcoming exhibits.

The Helen N. Morrow Summer Internship provides one to two students with 8–10 weeks of work, 14–21 hours per week, Monday through Thursday, along with a $1,000 honorarium. Each project is designed around your interests and develops skills in research, collections management, exhibit planning, and engaging museum visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is considered the most prestigious history internship?

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Summer High School Internship is widely regarded as the most prestigious for high school students. Programs like The Met and the National Archives are also highly respected and give you hands-on experience that looks impressive on college applications.

2. Do history internships require previous history knowledge?

Most history internships for high school students do not require extensive prior knowledge of history. You should have curiosity, attention to detail, and the motivation to research or handle artifacts and programs such as Gilder Lehrman and Spark!Lab provides training on-site. You will learn how to analyze sources, curate exhibits, or manage archival materials while working alongside professionals.

3. Are there virtual history internships available in 2025?

Yes, some programs offer hybrid or virtual options in 2025, such as the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History internship. You can complete tasks online while attending at least one in-person day at their New York office. Virtual internships let you practice research, fundraising, and digital project skills without relocating.

4. How competitive are high school history internships?

These internships can be competitive because programs like the New-York Historical Society accept around 25 students from 150 to 200 applicants. The selection process often includes essays, interviews, teacher or mentor recommendations, and proof of eligibility, like working papers. You improve your chances by applying early, submitting complete materials, and showing genuine interest in history and museums.

5. Can history internships improve my college application?

History internships give you concrete experience that colleges value, showing you can handle responsibility and work on real projects. You gain skills in research, public engagement, curation, and archival work, all of which strengthen your academic profile. Programs at the Smithsonian, The Met, and NARA provide both practical experience and strong credentials that make your application stand out.

Takeaways

• You can gain museum and archival experience through programs like the Smithsonian NMNH and The Met, where you can handle collections and curate exhibits alongside professionals.
• Programs such as the New-York Historical Society and Gilder Lehrman let you work on research projects and digital presentations that teach practical history skills you can put on your college application.
• Hybrid and in-person options like Gilder Lehrman and Spark!Lab lets you build professional skills, collaborate with peers, and complete projects, even if you cannot relocate entirely.
• Applying to competitive programs like NARA or the Paul Revere House teaches you how to present a strong application, prepare essays, and secure recommendations while standing out to admissions.
• Working with a college admissions expert can help you choose the right history internships, plan projects that highlight your skills, and make your application to top colleges more substantial and more impressive.