From Furniture to Families—A Volunteer’s View of Hampton National Historic Site

Volunteer Margaret MacLeod, Hampton NHS 2016

NPS/Tim Ervin

Margaret is one of Hampton’s longest serving volunteers and has seen nearly 40 years of change in the park, its visitation, and how the site’s collection of historic structures and over 45,000-object collection are used to interpret the stories of those who lived and labored at the once 25,000 acre plantation. We invited her to share her perspectives on the park.

What is your volunteer story at Hampton?

I brought my visiting parents and a couple of their English friends to Hampton sometime back in the 1980s, and there was a poster in the visitors' hyphen asking for volunteers. I've always been interested in history and thought that I could do as good a job as the guides at several other historic sites we'd just visited, so I called the number on the poster and got started.

What made you originally begin volunteering at the site?

I think I was looking for an interesting weekend activity, and I had really enjoyed several tours I'd taken of the site earlier. I thought that I could do a good job, and that I would like the work.

What keeps you volunteering at the site?

Hampton just keeps getting better, with more restoration, research, and accuracy over the years; there is always something new to learn. It's also fun to work with the different kinds of visitors and try to give everyone the best possible experience on their tour.

What does the NPS mission mean to you?

I don't want to get all John Muir-y, but it is a way to share the United States widely, from nature to biography to history.

What connects you to the site story?

Though I'm not originally from Maryland, I live here now, not far from Hampton, so the site is in my larger neighborhood. In addition, I can relate some of the pieces in the collection, and stories of Ridgely family members, to similar pieces and stories I've seen or heard elsewhere.

Is the story of Hampton National Historic Site one that you see yourself in?

Well, certainly as an interpretive guide, I'm a part of the park's story, although the lifestyle represented in the park themes is not much like that of my family.

Why do you think people should volunteer for the National Park Service?

The help is needed, the work is enjoyable, and, at Hampton, we have had many wonderful opportunities to learn more about the history of the site and our country.

What has been your most enjoyable experience volunteering for the National Park Service?

Meeting descendants of enslaved workers at Hampton and answering their questions about the site. As someone with a background in social history, I’ve always been interested in the stories of people so it’s been rewarding meeting visitors who are learning about their own personal connection with Hampton’s stories.

What is one project that you would like to work on at the site?

At this point, giving tours is enough for me!

Are there any fun facts you'd like to share about your volunteer experience?

When I began as a volunteer, there was no standard guidebook so I had to learn a lot by shadowing others, and wondered if I’d be able to learn all the materials. In the early years volunteers wore dress suits to the park and most tours focused on furniture. Visitors then typically were an older crowd with an interest in historic homes, but over the years I’ve enjoyed meeting visitors of many different ages, cultures, and backgrounds.