LONG Reflections: My Time at Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site
A December 2024 Share Out by Member Kaylie Alvarez
After more than six months at Longfellow House, I am sad to say goodbye to the staff and site that has meant so much to me during my internship. With my time here feeling like it went by too quickly, I have spent the last week here reflecting on how much I have not only grown as a future museum professional, but also as a person. Uprooting myself from Los Angeles to live in Boston for half of the year was a daunting task, one that I was both worried and excited for. From my first day to my last day, the staff at LONG showed me so much support in helping me adjust to a new position and a new city, and I am so thankful for having the opportunity to meet and get to know all of these amazing people.
Kaylie in the LONG offices.
My time in this historic house was spent doing a multitude of tasks, all of which have cemented how remarkable I feel the National Park Service is in supporting their sites through creative and accessible interpretive spaces for visitors to engage with. At LONG and many other sites, park rangers have introduced myself and many visitors to new perspectives through their interpretive tours, challenging conventional ideas towards American history while being quick to begin important conversations with visitors. One of my favorite memories of this site were the occasional times I would cover the front desk during the open season, helping with signing visitors up for a house tour. There, I enjoyed hearing the stories from visitors who were regulars and newcomers, who had stumbled upon the site and left their tour with great reviews.
With the Indigenous Artists’ fellowship I have been working on, I have learned a multitude of lessons as one of the planning members on the project. From helping make connections with a facilitator who will aid in the future community consultations to conducting interviews with NPS interpretive officials from across the country about their artist programs, one of the most important lessons I have learned was the importance of taking time to develop relationships.
Since my internship has encompassed the beginning of planning for the fellowship’s first year, myself and my supervisors have found so much support in the NPS community and with individuals who are excited for the start of a program that will bring Indigenous history and culture to LONG through art. Meeting new people to discuss the fellowship was another favorite part of my internship, and it was their help that made it possible to develop the project into what it is today. Although my time at LONG has ended, I am so excited to see how the site and the fellowship develops and grows over the next year.
My small pop-up was featured in the Visitor Center about the legacy of Indigenous writer, Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, and her connections to LONG
Visiting New Bedford Whaling Historical Site brought me and other interns on a walking tour with Ranger Rufai, who spoke about the city’s connection to the Underground Railroad.
My last day at LONG.