Living History Volunteer

Disclaimer: You must be 16 years of age or older to volunteer in this position. Parental consent is required for those under the age of 18.

The Fort Donelson National Battlefield Living History Crew is seeking new recruits to serve as living history volunteers. If you are passionate about history and seek to bring it to life for others, consider enlisting to serve on one of the Civil War’s most important battlefields.

Fort Donelson's artillery crew deploys an average of six weekends per year to demonstrate how artillerymen would have operated a cannon in 1862. No experience is required, but a desire to learn about the life of artillerymen, the role the artillery played during the campaigns for Forts Henry and Donelson, and the passion to share that knowledge with others is a must to be successful in this position. Artillery demonstrations occur on battle anniversaries, holiday weekends, and weekends throughout the summer, so applicants must be willing and able to serve at those times. Fort Donelson’s Cannon Crew is occasionally called upon to travel to other battlefield parks in the Southeast, such as Shiloh, Parker's Crossroads, and Stones River, to assist with their living history programs. A willingness to travel with the crew is not required to serve in this position but is appreciated.

Fort Donelson’s Rifle Corps is also looking for new people. This group deploys an average of one weekend a month to show how soldiers loaded and fired their muskets. No experience is required, but a desire to learn about the common soldier and the role of infantry in the campaigns for Forts Henry and Donelson is a must. Infantry demonstrations occur on battle anniversaries, holiday weekends, and weekends during the summer when volunteers are available. Applicants for musket demonstrations must be willing and able to participate a minimum of six times a year.

Applicants who have their own period‑correct Federal and/or Confederate uniforms are a bonus, but those uniforms must meet the park's authenticity standards and guidelines to be used during programs and demonstrations. The park is able to lend some basic uniform items to those who do not have their own impressions. Summers at the park are long, hot, humid, and buggy (ticks/mosquitoes). Applicants should be willing and able to work in these conditions while wearing period‑correct uniforms for up to 6–8 hours at a time. Heavy lifting may be required.

Applicants will be required to participate in National Park Service historic weapons drill training once per year in order to serve as a member of the Living History Crew on the cannon crew.

If you think you have what it takes to serve as a Fort Donelson Living Historian Cannoneer, apply today!

Training Provided (R = Required, O = Optional)

• Volunteer Orientation (R)

• Orientation to the Battle of Fort Donelson (R)

• Historic Weapons Training (R for use of weapons)

Free Online Training: Eppley Institute, ProValens (requires passcode)

• Introduction to the National Park Service: The History of the NPS (R)

• Foundations of Interpretation (R)

• Effective Informal Interpretation (R)

• Effective Interpretive Talks (O)

• First Aid and CPR (O)