Calling all charismatic, historically inclined people looking for something to do with their free time! Hammond-Harwood House will be holding training for new docents soon. The House is open six days a week from 12 pm – 5 pm, and we depend on our docents to introduce visitors to the rich history of the House and the wealth of objects in our collection. They also have the option to work with the schoolchildren who come to the House on field trips, dressing the children in colonial clothing and facilitating hands-on activities related to art and architecture.
Our docents are an eclectic, knowledgeable, and welcoming group of people. Janet Williman, who has been a docent here for over twelve years, says that there is an “inclusive sense of community here” and that the people who work here “care about each other.” Janet actually “fell in love with this house in 4th grade,” when her teacher brought her class here on a field trip, and many of our docents seem to have a similar special connection to the House. All of them have diverse interests in historical topics including architecture, decorative arts, and portraiture, and we encourage them to share their expertise with visitors.
Becoming a Hammond-Harwood House docent gives you the satisfaction of educating the public, as well as some more tangible rewards. Docents attend staff field trips, lectures, and social gatherings, and receive a discount in the Museum Store. If any of this sounds appealing to you, please e-mail me at allison@hammondharwoodhouse.org for more information.
