How to Volunteer at a Museum

Name a topic, any topic.

With more than 17,500 museums in the U.S., there's bound to be one that serves your interests [source: AAM].

From the Earth's core to outer space, museums provide exhibits on everything you could possibly think of -- African American history, the women's movement, contemporary art, American railroads, technology, zoology, sea life, antique cars and ancient cultures.

If you're interested in finding out more about your own heritage, you may consider volunteering somewhere like the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City, the Mexican Fine Arts Museum in Chicago, Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena or the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle.

Like politics? Turn off "West Wing" and start volunteering at one of the 13 U.S. presidential libraries and museums [source: The National Archive]. If telling war stories is your favorite pastime, why not look into donating time to the National Civil War, National World War II or National Vietnam War museums?

If you like studying particular leaders, institutions like the General George S. Patton Museum in Fort Knox, Ky. may be just the place [source: General George S. Patton Museum]. Those with a social activist streak may find gratifying work at places like the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles [source: Museum of Tolerance].

There are also museums dedicated to specific artists, such as the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass. or the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe, N.M [source: Georgia O'Keeffe Museum]. And if you're a little bit country, or a little bit rock 'n roll, don't forget the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. or the Rock 'N Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio.

Read on to find out the benefits of volunteering at a museum.

When it comes to finding a job, it's all about who you know and what you can do. And a museum can be the perfect training ground for launching your career.

Working at a museum can help sharpen professional skills like working with the public, organizing programs, raising money and working with computers. It can also beef up your resume and help facilitate a move from one industry to another -- such as a banker who transitions into becoming a history teacher by volunteering at a historical museum [source: Weiss].

It's not just about getting out of the house and finding something to do. Volunteering at a museum expands your network and puts you in contact with patrons, fellow volunteers and museum administrators. If you're looking for regular employment beyond your volunteer work, this could lead you to the next big thing (or at least help you find something that just might pay the mortgage).

Job searching aside, studies have shown that volunteering leads to greater life satisfaction, lower rates of depression and better mental and physical health, according to the Corporation for National & Community Service [source: Imperial Valley News].

For those interested in a career in museums -- such as becoming a curator, archivist or historian -- interning or volunteering at a museum is essential. Big museums like the Smithsonian and Metropolitan Museum of Art offer formal internship programs that are a great place to start.

And remember, the AAM's job search database is one of the best resources for finding a museum job or internship [source: AAM].

For more on volunteering at a museum, see the links on the following page.