Volunteers are essential to the quality of service provided to the public by the State Historical Society of North Dakota. In addition to the thousands of visitors at the North Dakota Heritage Center, Pembina State Museum, and historic sites each year, the agency responds to many inquiries and provides assistance to researchers. At the North Dakota Heritage Center, public areas such as the information desk and museum store are staffed by volunteers, and docents provide museum teaching for visitors. Some historic sites are also staffed by volunteers, such as the Former Governors' Mansion in Bismarck during the summer months. Volunteers assisting staff have an impact on services provided statewide by the agency.
The volunteer program results from the desire to involve the public in activities of the agency and to meet certain needs. When the Heritage Center was opened on May 30, 1981, a group of volunteers was trained and on hand to give tours of the facility and to staff the information desk and museum store. Within a year, the program expanded to provide volunteers to staff special behind-the-scenes projects and a docents program. Volunteers currently work with paid staff throughout the agency on projects of varying degrees of complexity, from those requiring simple skills to the very specialized.
Volunteers are also utilized at some of our State Historic Sites:
Today, Heritage Volunteers represent a broad spectrum of society in terms of work experience, age (14 to 95), education, and ability. All volunteer work is important; every effort is made to coordinate volunteer skills and interests with needs of the State Historical Society. Volunteers are provided with orientation and on-the-job training, as well as the opportunity to participate in the volunteer study group, field trips, and various other programs.
Since the program’s inception in 1981, Heritage Volunteers have donated over 324,000 hours to the State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Each August, a Volunteer Recognition Banquet is held to celebrate the accomplishments of all volunteers and present a number of awards.
The Hospitality Award is presented to the individual having served in the public area promoting the State Historical Society of North Dakota with exceptional enthusiasm and loyalty.
The Curatorial Award is for exceptional achievements and assistance to staff in non-public areas.
The Dedication Award is presented to the individual having served the most hours from May 1 to April 30.
The Youth Award is presented to a volunteer between the ages of 14 and 18 for exceptional achievements and assistance to staff.
The Special Projects award is presented to a volunteer(s), who have assisted staff with a unique project.
Hospitality: Carol Heyd
Dedication: Adam Schweitzer
Curatorial: Bonna Cunningham & Erlys Fardal
Special Projects: Marilyn Campbell, Norma Rodlund, Jeanette Radig,
Dell Swenson, George Anderson, Vern & Doris Hansen
See previous award winners
If you are interested in volunteering for the State Historical Society of North Dakota, please complete the Heritage Volunteer Application Form and submit to the Visitor Services Coordinator.
Visitor Services Coordinator
State Historical Society of ND
612 East Boulevard
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
701-328-2674 or bcampbell@nd.gov
Address:
612 East Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
Get Directions
Hours:
Exhibit galleries and Museum Store: 8am - 5pm M-F; Sat. & Sun. 10am - 5pm.
State Archives: 8am - 4:30pm., M-F, except legal holidays, and 2nd Sat. of each month, 10am - 4:30 pm.
State Historical Society offices: 8am - 5pm M-F, except legal holidays.
Contact Us:
phone: (701) 328-2666
fax: (701) 328-3710
email: histsoc@nd.gov
