12 Museum Internships for High School Students

If you’re thinking about a future in museums, history, library sciences, archives, and related fields, then a museum internship could be an exciting opportunity for you. Through these internships you’ll get the opportunity to explore culture, history, and art, diving into the world of curatorial practice, educational programming, or conservation work. 

Internships can give your college applications a boost, giving you the chance to build a unique narrative for your application essays. Working and learning in a museum setting indicates an eagerness to be part of diverse learning environments and a community-oriented mindset. These qualities can enhance your applications and help you stand out to admissions committees! An internship also tells college admissions officers that you’re committed to learning beyond the classroom, and that you’re keen to explore areas of cultural and historical significance. 

This list of 14 museum internships for high school students, offered by prestigious institutions and museums across the country, can be your stepping stone to your future career. 

1. Smithsonian Institution Young Ambassador Program

Location: Washington, DC; New York; Massachusetts; Arizona; Florida; California; Colorado; Illinois; Michigan; New Mexico; Puerto Rico; Texas
Eligibility: 1) Be a high school senior graduating in 2024; 2) Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States with a valid Social Security Number 3) Have a minimum weighted cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 on a 4.0 scale
Application deadline: 15 March, 2024
Program dates: June to August
Stipend: $2,000

The Young Ambassadors Program (YAP) is a nationwide program for graduating high school seniors. It is designed to create the next generation of socially-conscious leaders in the Latino community, with a focus on fields like the arts, sciences, and humanities, with the Smithsonian Institution’s resources. The program also provides training in leadership and community building skills. You will start with a one-week pre-professional and pre-collegiate seminar in Washington, D.C., centered on Latino perspectives. During the seminar, you will work and collaborate with your peers from across the country. After that, you will start a 4-week interdisciplinary internship, working at museums and cultural institutions across 18 US cities and Puerto Rico. You will gain insight into potential career paths in the arts, sciences, and humanities, interact with established Latino leaders, and improve their networking skills and knowledge.

2. Metropolitan Museum of Art Summer High School Internships 

Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, New York, NY
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors from New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are eligible to apply.
Application deadline: March 8, 2024
Program dates: July 8, 2024 - August 9, 2024. Note, students will be expected to attend a few training and orientation sessions towards the end of June as well.
Stipend: $1,100. See details here.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art offers internships for students to immerse themselves in the world of art, museums, and creative professions. These opportunities are not exclusively for those with a direct passion for art – The High School Internship Program at The Met offers a range of professional fields for students to explore. Whether your interest lies in editorial work, marketing, social media, education, scientific research, conservation, or another area, the program provides an opportunity to connect with museum professionals in these sectors. You will engage one-on-one or in small cohorts with these experts, gaining invaluable insights and work experience. 

The Met is deeply committed to promoting diversity in the arts, museums, and creative careers so it actively seeks students from diverse backgrounds and with varied interests. The Met also runs a school-year internship program that runs from January to June, which you can consider.

3. National Archives High School Internships

Location: Varies with the internship position.
Eligibility: Must be a U.S. citizen, at least 16 years of age
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Program dates: Internships are offered throughout the year.
Stipend: N/A

This internship is perfect for those who wish to explore the world of historical documentation and preservation. Open to both undergraduate and graduate students, you can consider this program if you’re thinking about pursuing history, political science, or library and information science. At the National Archives, known as NARA (National Archives and Records Administration), a federal agency established in 1934, you will be at the center of the nation’s efforts to catalog and store crucial government documents. This internship will allow you to dive into the intricate processes of document preservation, archival science, and historical research.

If you are interested in other disciplines such as Business, Computer Science, Education, Communications, Law, or Information Technology, the National Archives also offers internships in these areas. Engaging in an internship at NARA allows you to get insight into how a major federal government agency operates in managing and protecting the country's valuable historical records. 

4. Student Historian Internship program at the New York Historical Society

Location: New York Historical Society, New York, NY
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10, 11, or 12 can apply. Applicants must live in and attend school in the New York City metro area (includes the five boroughs of New York City, as well as areas of New York State, Connecticut, and New Jersey). 
Application deadline: April 7, 2024
Program dates: July 9, 2024 - August 15, 2024
Stipend: Interns who attend a Title 1 School or are eligible for free or reduced lunch will be offered a stipend to participate. Unpaid internships will be provided for all other accepted students, with the option to receive community service hours or school credit.

The Student Historian Internship program at the New York Historical Society is a great way for you to dive into American history and digital media. In this program, you will conduct research using the vast resources of the New-York Historical Society, while also working on creative digital projects. You will interact with professional staff to learn about various aspects of the museum, library, digital humanities, and history fields. You will work alongside fellow students to develop your historical thinking, communication, and digital media skills. The hands-on work involved in the program will deepen your understanding of American history, particularly focusing on the theme Our Composite Nation: Frederick Douglass' America’ (every year the theme changes).

5. American Museum of Natural History Science Research Mentoring Program

Location: New York City
Eligibility: You must be in the 10th or 11th Grade and pass your classes for the last three or more semesters. You must ALSO meet at least one requirement from the list below: a) Complete a course in the Science and Nature Program, the Science Alliance Middle School Program, or Science Alliance High School Program OR b) Attend one of the partner high schools or partner programs
Application Deadline: March 8, 2024
Program Dates: Aug 5, 2024 –Aug 31, 2024, in the summer after which teams meet twice each week after school for the rest of the year till June 2025
Stipend: $2,500

This is a year-long scientific research project where you will work alongside Museum scientists. You will work on projects covering a wide range of topics, from the genetic basis of foraging in ogre-faced spiders to the mysteries of ancient Maya diets. You will work with your peers and dedicated scientist mentors twice a week throughout the school year, for a total of four hours a week, on projects that are breaking new ground in scientific research. This hands-on experience offers you a unique insight into the world of scientific exploration and discovery.

For this program, you are not expected to have any prior experience in research activities. You will learn new skills, including working with DNA in the lab, analyzing data from space-based telescopes, reading scientific articles, and coding and data analysis using programming languages like Python and R. 

6. Museum of Science Summer Youth Internship Program

Location: Boston, MA
Eligibility: Applicants must be between the ages of 14-19 and currently enrolled in a High School or equivalent program
Application Deadline: Applications typically open mid-February and are posted on this site; all applications are accepted on a rolling basis so apply as soon as possible!
Program Dates: Summer Youth Internships take place over a 7-week program between July-August
Stipend: Paid

This immersive experience is an opportunity for students to learn about the operations of the museum and develop practical skills that will be useful in the future. The internships offered cater to a range of interests, including education and behind-the-scenes roles. You'll get to see firsthand how the museum engages with its audience and operates day-to-day. You will participate in professional development workshops that are designed to enhance your skill set and prepare you for the working world. These workshops cover topics like financial literacy, effective resume and cover letter writing, and more, ensuring that you're not only gaining work experience but also learning how to navigate the professional environment successfully.

7. Holocaust Museum LA Summer Internship

Location: Los Angeles, CA (Hybrid)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12 
Application Deadline: March 15, 2024
Program Dates: June 24 - July 18, 2024.
Stipend: Unpaid

This internship program is for students considering a future in museums, archives, non-profits, or education. As an intern, you will meet and learn from experts in the field, work closely with mentors, and gain a comprehensive understanding of museum operations. Your internship might include assisting with archival work, participating in educational programming, and engaging with museum visitors. The Holocaust Museum LA High School Internship Program offers both historical education and professional development. You will connect with the history and arts through the lens of the museum. As you contribute through various projects, you will gain valuable insight into the workings of a non-profit educational institution, building your professional and leadership skills.

8. High School Explainers Program at Exploratorium

Location: Exploratorium, San Francisco
Eligibility: Students who are at least 15 years old, not more than 18 years old, and have completed their first year of high school can apply.
Application Deadline: Applications for the year-round and summer High School Explainer program are typically available in June and March respectively. When the application is open, you will find it on the Exploratorium's Current Openings page. 
Program dates: Throughout the year (after school and on weekends) and in the summer (5 days a week)
Stipend: San Francisco minimum wage

High School Explainers are a diverse group of students who play a pivotal role in engaging visitors at exhibits, leading demonstrations, and managing various museum operations. This program is best suited for students who are passionate about science or those who generally enjoy learning new things. The program is designed not just for students to impart knowledge but also to build their own skills in the process. With two cohorts - one for the summer and another for the school year - the program offers over 130 paid positions annually. Since its inception in 1969, when the Exploratorium first opened, more than 3,500 students have participated, making it a program rich in history and impact. High School Explainers undergo extensive training, receiving over 60 hours of specialized instruction. The training covers several areas: science content, exhibit facilitation, career readiness, and youth development and mentorship. This comprehensive approach ensures that Explainers are well-equipped to handle their responsibilities and grow as individuals. 

9. Houston Museum of Natural Science Sugar Land SciTeen Program

Location: Houston, TX
Eligibility: Students who will enter grades 9-12 in the fall
Application Deadline: Applications open in February. 
Program dates: Minimum 4 weeks during the summer
Stipend: Unpaid

With this opportunity you can join the top tier of volunteers at the museum. As a volunteer, you will work to provide crucial support across various departments and sections of the museum. These include assisting with school field trip visits, presenting engaging touch carts, giving hall tours, assisting with the unique ‘Science on a Sphere’ exhibit, and much more. The SciTeen Program specifically supports science education by enhancing visitors' experiences through teen-led interactive demonstrations and presentations. This will allow you to engage with visitors of all ages, to spark their interest in natural science. This internship will also help you develop skills that will be useful in the future, and foster learning and collaborative work. 

10. Benjamin Lawless Internship

Location: Washington, D.C.
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors can apply.
Dates: The program runs 8 weeks in the summer. Students can plan the exact dates via discussions with their mentors.
Application deadline: March (tentatively, based on previous years)
Stipend: $3,200 ($400/week)

The Benjamin Lawless Internship is an opportunity for students to work in the fields of art and art history, cataloging, collections management, education, exhibits, public affairs and social media and research and analysis. Named after Benjamin Lawless, who was a renowned exhibition planner, designer, Emmy winning filmmaker and writer, this internship guides students to explore their interests in these fields. As an intern, you will work on audience engagement, exhibition design, and identifying collections and artifact collectors of artifacts through the academic lens, while participating in a structured educational experience for 36-40 hours a week. This intensive internship also encourages students to present their work in a format of their choice at the end of the program.

11. Design Hive at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

Location: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, New York, NY
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors in NYC are eligible to apply.
Dates: The internship typically runs from November to May.
Application deadline: There is no information available on this at the moment.
Stipend: $2,000 paid in two $1,000 installments during the program.

This Design Hive program invites high school students who are interested in the field of design, curation, art and more. During the program, you will collaborate with your peers and with professional designers to learn design processes – how an initial idea becomes the final design – and develop collaborative projects. The program includes access to the museum, which means you can engage with the exhibitions, objects, and people. This can prove to be a valuable resource in your design journey.  The program is scheduled with 2-hour sessions every Tuesday. Keep an eye on the official Design Hive page for application announcements!

12. Museum of Arts and Design Teen Programs

Location: Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), New York, NY
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores and juniors in NYC can apply to Artslife. All students aged 13–18 in NYC can apply to RECESS.
Program dates: July 9, 2024–August 16, 2024 (Artslife) | February 20–23, 2024 (RECESS I) | April 23–26, 2024 (RECESS II)
Application deadline: April 7, 2024 (Artslife) | January 7, 2024 (RECESS)
Stipend: $16 an hour and an unlimited MetroCard for the duration of the internship (Artslife). $200 stipend and weekly unlimited MetroCard (RECESS).

MAD offers two paid art internships to high schoolers in New York City: Artslife and RECESS. 

The 6-week Artslife program offers a combination of art and design through leadership training, museum studies, and community engagement. You will have the chance to explore different careers in museum departments – Curatorial, Education, Development, Communications and Marketing, Visitor Services, Security, and Registrar. You will work on collaborative projects (which could involve the creation of artwork and visits to other cultural institutions) with mentors, which include museum staff, local designers, and arts professionals. You will also participate in team bonding activities!

RECESS is an intensive 4-day program that can help deepen your understanding of art and art history, and how museums work. RECESS I and II are scheduled during the winter and spring breaks of NYC public schools, respectively. Both, Artslife and RECESS, involve developing and leading peer-to-peer tours of the museum. The programs also offer a chance to develop a podcast series! You can check out podcasts developed by MAD interns here. 

13. The New Jersey Historical Society High School Internships

Location: Newark, New Jersey
Eligibility: High school students who are 16 years of age or older
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Program dates: Year-round, hours and schedules are flexible
Stipend: N/A, High school credits provided

The New Jersey Historical Society is a nonprofit historical museum and library that works toward preserving and interpreting the political, social, cultural, and economic history of New Jersey. Through the lens of this history, the organization aims to promote New Jersey’s culture – American culture. With that in mind, the society offers a number of high school internships. You will be assigned to projects based on your skills and project availability. You will have the chance to work in manuscript curatorship, historical research, exhibitions and research, museum collections, and more. In addition to being a valuable addition to your skillset and CV, students also earn high school course credit with this program.

14. The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Internship

Location: New York City
Eligibility: High school, undergraduates, graduate students
Application Deadline: March 29, 2024
Program dates: The program offers both summer and academic year internships and varies depending on the type of internship you apply to, summer internships are typically between June and August 2024.
Stipend: $16/hour

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Internship is a great opportunity for students to explore, promote and engage with American history. During the program, you will work with dedicated historians, educators, and researchers in a variety of capacities. Your role as an intern may include archival research, educational program development, content creation, and event planning, all geared toward advancing the understanding and appreciation of American history. This program gives students access to historical resources, valuable experience and the chance to contribute to dissemination of knowledge about the nation's past.

Looking for an immersive internship experience?
Check out Ladder Internships!

Ladder Internships is a selective, virtual internship program where students work with startups and nonprofits from around the world! The startups range across a variety of industries, with a large number of them in tech. As part of their internship, each student will work on a real-world project that is of genuine need to the startup they are working with, and present their work at the end of their internship. In addition to working closely with their manager from the startup, each intern will also work with a Ladder Coach throughout their internship. Apply now!

Stephen is one of the founders of Ladder Internships and a Harvard College graduate.