Four people work together to pull rope on deck of Mayflower

Volunteers

Be Part of History in your Community!

Do you have an open mind and enjoy engaging with people who share a common passion for history, lifelong learning, and community engagement? Volunteers work in support of and alongside our staff fulfilling the Museum's mission to provide powerful personal encounters with history.

Featured Volunteer Opportunity - Historical Clothing Care Volunteer

Historical Clothing Care Volunteers keep our Public History Performers looking their very best. They may launder, iron and sort clothing for historical performers, and deliver it to their dressing rooms.

Volunteer hands wool sample to Museum guest.

An ideal volunteer candidate for this position would be able to stand for the majority of their shift, though accessibility accommodations can be discussed with the volunteer supervisor. Training will be provided, no experience required. Clothing care volunteers come in between 2 and 5pm for 1-2 hour shifts Monday through Saturday. The position can extend to mending clothing if a candidate has sewing experience and the desire to do so.

Additional Volunteer Opportunities

  • Museum Guides are passionate about history and delight in sharing their knowledge with thousands of guests each year! Museum Guides work in the living history exhibits (including the 17th-Century English Village, Historic Patuxet Homesite, Mayflower II and Plimoth Grist Mill) answering guests' questions about the Indigenous and English colonial communities who lived along these shores of change in the 1600s from a modern, 21st-century perspective.

    Please Note: Museum Guides attend additional training sessions and participate in monthly meetings which may include additional reading and continuing education opportunities.

  • The Historical Clothing and Textile Department makes and maintains all of the 17th-century reproduction clothing worn by our Public History Performers, and all of the textiles used in the homes in the 17th-Century English Village. We are supported by 4 primary groups of volunteers.

    • Plimoth Sewists: These volunteers assist with daily tasks in our Costume Shop, such as mending clothing and textiles, hand sewing accessories, and laundry and ironing. Intermediate skills in either hand or machine sewing are required, but we'll provide instruction on period sewing techniques.
    • Plimoth Knitters: This group mends all of the knit goods used by our public history performers, and makes new knit items when the need arises. These garments include stockings, garters, mittens, various styles of hats, waistcoats, and more. Volunteers can either pick up and drop off projects or spend time knitting in the Costume Shop. Yarn and patterns are provided, but you must have your own needles. In addition to the Plimoth Knitters, the Museum also partners with a separate group, the Greater Boston Knitters Guild, for public knitting demonstrations and new pattern development as well as regular knitting.
    • Weavers (in association with the Weavers Guild of Boston): The weavers demonstrate in front of the public in the Craft Center, both weaving a communal project on our LeClerc Nilus loom and teaching guests how to use inkle looms.
  • The Plimoth Cinema Volunteer helps Plimoth Cinema staff members in the afternoons and evenings with cinema operations. The Plimoth Cinema Volunteers assist with preparation of concessions, such as making and serving popcorn and restocking candy and drinks while the Cinema staff sells tickets. You will be taught all necessary responsibilities to succeed in the position.

    The Plimoth Cinema Volunteer may:

    • Help Plimoth Cinema Staff prepare and serve concessions to cinema guests at the admission desk;
    • Answer basic questions about the theaters, movies, as well as questions about the museum and Plymouth in general;
    • Help guests to their seats, if necessary.
  • As part of the Guest Services Team, Guest Services Volunteers & Golf Cart Drivers are responsible for greeting guests, answering questions to help guests orient themselves, and increasing accessibility throughout the Museum's campus. Schedule is flexible. Weekdays and weekends, as well as indoor and outdoor, shifts are available.

    Guest Services Volunteers & Golf Cart Drivers May:

    • Greet guests as they arrive;
    • Ensure the orientation theaters are clean and operable: lighting, climate control, etc.;
    • Coordinate with the front end staff and volunteers on seating availability and timing of shows;
    • Coordinate with Golf Cart Drivers to assist guests with limited access;
    • Operate golf carts (only volunteers over age 19) to help guests circulate around the campus;
    • Instruct chaperones and group leaders on guidelines and expectations for visiting the Museum
    • Direct the flow of guests through the Visitor Center;
    • Report and deliver lost and found items to staff; and
    • Help guests with directions and inquiries in Plymouth or beyond.

Apply to be a Volunteer!

We are now accepting applications for the Fall 2025 cohort (starting September 2025). The deadline to apply for this cohort is Wednesday, August 6. After submitting an application, we will schedule a brief interview to be sure we can meet your needs and interests in volunteering with us. All volunteers who join us will need to attend an orientation session on Thursday, August 28 at Plimoth Patuxet Museums. Thank you for your interest in joining our team!

Apply today

Questions?

Please email volunteers@plimoth.org with any questions. Volunteer opportunities are available based on departments' needs, and therefore not every opportunity may be available at all times. Each opportunity is different and may require its own unique blend of skills and experience.

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Thank you for sharing your time with us!

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