Magnolia Mound Volunteer Hours

Regular Magnolia Mound Volunteers log hours here.

About Magnolia Mound

Magnolia Mound: Museum and Historic Site was originally part of a 900-acre 1785 Spanish land grant. With an enslaved workforce, the plantation grew indigo, then cotton and finally, sugar cane. The historic house museum was built by an Irish settler in 1791. The house was saved from demolition in 1966 and purchased by BREC. After a nine-year restoration with the assistance of the Friends of Magnolia Mound, BREC opened the museum house to the public in May 1975. In 1976 BREC received a bicentennial grant from the US Government for the entire purchase price. Since 1983, Magnolia Mound has been accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. As a former place of enslavement, Magnolia Mound seeks to tell the stories of all its residents and their impact on our state's history and culture.

Volunteer Opportunities:

·         Museum Historic House Docent (Tour Guide)

o   Docents conduct guided tours of the historic house and kitchen for groups of children and adults

o   Docents should have an interest in history, architecture, historic houses, and antiques

o   Docents should enjoy sharing their knowledge and being in front of people

o   Docents should be able to control and lead groups of adults, students, and children

o   Experience in history or museum studies can be helpful but not required

o   Volunteers will complete training sessions, observe tours, and give a tour to an experienced tour guide before leading their tour alone

o   Volunteers are asked to commit to at least one day per month for a 3-hour shift

·         Museum Kitchen Docent (Cooks)

o   Cooks demonstrate food preparation and cooking methods of an early 19th-century open-hearth kitchen

o   Cooks help visitors understand the distinctive cuisine of Louisiana as a blend of influences from French, Spanish, African, and Native American traditions

o   Docents should enjoy cooking in a non-formal environment

o   Docents must be enthusiastic and enjoy interacting with people

o   Cooks use traditional recipes from Magnolia Mound’s cookbook or other related cookbooks

o   Cooks are responsible for preparing their cooking demonstrations

o   Cooks can use fresh herbs and vegetables from the adjacent kitchen garden tended by the EBR Master Gardeners

o   Experience in history or museum studies can be helpful but not required

o   Open-hearth cooking demonstrations are scheduled from October through May, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00am-1:00pm

o   Volunteers will complete training sessions, observe several cooking demonstrations, and cook with an experienced cook before demonstrating in the reconstructed kitchen

o   Cooks are asked to commit to at least one day per month during the opening of the cooking season

·         Education Docent

o   Docents assist with the education programs for school groups

o   Docents present historical information related to the activity

o   Docents involve students in hands-on activities that occurred in the 19th century

o   Docents facilitate and direct school groups in between programs

o   Docents should be able to control groups of students

o   Docents should be able to communicate to students in a structured environment

o   Docents should have a positive attitude, be enthusiastic, and comfortable speaking in front of a large group

o   Experience in history, museum studies, or education can be helpful but not required

o   Volunteers will complete training sessions, observe education staff teaching classes, learn the scripts, and practice teaching with staff before teaching alone

o   Docents will be contacted by the Education Program Specialist when needed; usually 1-2 days per month in the spring and 1 per month in the fall; most schools are here from 9:45-1:00; docents are expected to teach 3 sessions of a class each day schedule

·         EBR Master Gardener

o   Master Gardener volunteers maintain the vegetable and crop gardens

o   Gardening experience required; Master Gardener experience preferred

o   Volunteers will complete training sessions with seasoned volunteers