Last updated: September 19, 2022
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Intern and Fellow Highlights: Madison “Madi” Duran
Courtesy of Madi Duran
You may have heard of cultural resources, but what exactly does this work entail and what type of work do interns and fellows do? Find out through this intern and fellow highlight series that features the work of our interns and fellows service wide.
Everyone has a personal connection to cultural resources. Cultural resources help us define what makes us human through understanding the evidence we leave behind and continue to create today. This can include anything from archives, archaeological sites, museum collections, structures and cultural landscapes, and resources with significance to a group of people traditionally associated with them.
To learn more about cultural resources, visit the Cultural Resources, Partnerships, and Science Directorate page.
So... What exactly does a cultural resource internship look like?
Interns and fellows work with multiple offices, programs, and parks through partner organizations such as the American Conservation Experience (ACE) and National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE). They work on various projects that range from tribal consultation and policy to telling the stories of women in World War II and even to connecting local communities with public history.
Their work adds value to the National Park Service and supports our mission to preserve for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.
Meet Madison “Madi” Duran (she/her) who is the American Conservation Experience (ACE) Museum Collections Intern at the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site.
Courtesy of Madi Duran
Tell us a little bit about what you do? How does your work add to the field of cultural resources?
One of the biggest draws at CARL is the historic house, and that's where I spend most of my time! As the house is fully furnished and meant to look like the family is still actively living there (as much as possible), we have a lot of objects that need cleaning. Three days a week I am either dusting objects, vacuuming floors and runners, or cleaning the porches. On the weekday that we have tours, I work on book cleaning. We have over 10,000 books in the house that need to be cleaned! I spend one day in our Museum Preservation Center either working with archives and objects — organizing, cataloging, rehousing — or preparing social media posts.
Some people may know we also have goats at the Park. They're very popular! However, as a result, the museum sometimes gets less attention, so we try to keep the public interested and informed about what we're doing! In line with that, we share interesting objects from the collection in addition to helping the public understand how or why objects are treated the way they are.
Courtesy of Madi Duran
What inspires you to be in the field of cultural resources?
On a personal level, I love old things. I find them fascinating! But I also find them to be extremely important. Trends are cyclical, and we can learn a lot from history — about ourselves as well as the place and time we live in. Not only do I want to be a part of preserving culture and history, I want to help present it to the broader public and make a difference.
Do you have any advice for future interns who are interested in what you do?
Take every opportunity you can! You never know when you'll find something new that intrigues and inspires you. And having a can-do attitude can really open doors for you. Try to find a lesson in every task you're doing.
Work hard, but try to enjoy it — when it comes to cultural resources, there are so many different types of objects that there's always sure to be something interesting waiting for you. Find ways to incorporate what you enjoy into your work and vice versa.
Courtesy of Madi Duran
Where do you see yourself in the coming years?
In the next few years, I'll have a Master’s in Museum Studies, so I hope to see myself in an official position! I see a career for myself in cultural resources, wherever that may take me. I'm open to change and excited for the future!
Explore more of Madi’s work from her previous internships for the Park Service below:
Section 508 Compliant 9/11 Transcripts (some completed by Madi)
Maid's social Media posts for the Park Service:
For more information on CRPS internship programs contact Paloma Bolasny at paloma_bolasny@nps.gov
For more information on youth and young adult programs and opportunities in the National Park Service, visit Youth Programs (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)