Preserving
and Sharing
History for All
Brucemore inspires community interaction with history, preservation, and the arts. The 1880s mansion, six other historic structures, 26-acres of gardens and grounds, and tens of thousands of objects and archival documents serve as an irreplaceable foundation representing more than 130 years of history. Since 1981, more than one million people have visited the carefully preserved estate for community, cultural, and heritage programs.
Our vision is twofold:
- To expand the legacy of Brucemore’s families in making Iowa a better place to live, work, and visit.
- To model a balance of best practices in preservation and innovative use.
Are you passionate about history, preservation, or the arts? Get involved in supporting our mission and vision.
Brucemore Staff
Organizational Leadership
- David Janssen, Chief Executive Officer
- Tara Richards, Chief Operating Officer
- Katie Benedix, Director of Business and Development
- Rachel Potthoff, Facilities Manager
Operational Management
- Jennifer Beall, Events and Communication Coordinator
- Aaron Brewer, Historic Landscape Manager
- Megan Clevenger, Program and Outreach Manager
- Ashley Courtney, Office Administrator
- David Morton, Curator of Landscape
- Jessica Peel-Austin, Curator of Museum Collections
- Blais Richlapp, Site Maintenance Specialist
Operational Support
- Stephanie Carleton, Visitor Services Assistant
- Michael Coester, Visitor Services Assistant
- Allie Mersch, Visitor Services Assistant
Board of Trustees
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a non-profit organization based out of Washington D.C., owns the Brucemore buildings and landscape. The operation, which oversees care of the estate and programming efforts, are developed by Brucemore, Inc., a non-profit run by a local Board of Trustees.
Board Officers
- Doug Neumann, President
- Lisha Coffey, Vice President
- Kathy Hall, Secretary
- Kimberly Hillyard, Treasurer
Board Members
- Brian Bergstrom
- Kevin Bruns
- Ryan Buresh
- Robert Cataldo
- Brian Fagan, Past President
- Shadia Igram
- Mark Mathis III
- Akwi Nji
- Kim Schmidt
- Dr. Jennifer Smith
- Doug Steinmetz
- Daniel Thies
Jobs & Internships
Brucemore’s team views history as a collection of diverse experiences and cultures that provides a better understanding of who we are today. We are committed to preserving this unique estate for future generations, and we embrace collaboration, integrity, and other core values in order to achieve the highest professional standards.
POSITION: Visitor Services Assistant
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open until filled
REPORTS TO: Program and Outreach Manager
CLASSIFICATION:
- Part-Time, Hourly
WAGE RANGE: $11.00 per hour
SCHEDULE:
- Start date to be scheduled early April
- 12 – 15 hour weekly commitment required; up to 28 hours available per week
- Shifts occur Thursdays through Saturdays 9am – 4:30pm and Sundays 11:30am-4:30 pm
Additional shifts may be available on occasion during evening tours or events
POSITION OVERVIEW:
As a Visitor Service Assistant, you will spend each shift welcoming guests and creating a lasting, positive impression at one of the most beautiful historic sites in Linn County and the only National Historic Site in Iowa. You will work with a team of staff and volunteers who are dedicated to sharing stories about the history of the estate with visitors and tourists to help ensure it remains a vital part of the community for future generations. This is a great opportunity for someone looking to enter the museum industry, or to become more connected to the community.
DUTIES MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
- Create a welcoming environment for all guests, including anyone passively using the grounds, taking a tour, attending an event, or inquiring over the phone or online, and be available to provide general information about Brucemore, including wayfinding on site, site history, special events and programming, membership and donations, and other amenities.
- Provide exceptional guest service and ensure that other staff, volunteers, and vendors maintain our guest experience standards and other policies.
- Mitigate distractions and safety concerns or alert appropriate staff as necessary.
- Provide accurate cash handling skills and operation of the cloud-based point-of-sale system, including processing admissions, memberships, donations, merchandise sales, event/program fees, and other retail transactions.
- Facilitate and deliver self-guided, guided, and special-themed tours of the mansion, grounds, outbuildings, and estate following procedures and interpretive goals established.
- Record and tabulate attendance and demographic records.
- Assist with mentoring and supervising volunteers in the content and delivery of the tour.
- Open and close the gates and buildings for visitor operations and follow site security procedures.
- Other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or GED.
- Previous customer service work experience preferred.
- Ability to stand for long periods of time, climb stairs daily, walk on uneven ground, and occasionally lift and/or carry items up to 25 pounds unassisted.
TO APPLY:
Please submit a resume by mail or email to:
Brucemore
ATTN: VSA
2160 Linden Dr. SE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
ABOUT BRUCEMORE:
Brucemore is a historic site and community cultural center, owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and operated in co-stewardship with Brucemore, Inc. The organization is responsible for the stewardship of seven historic structures and 26 acres of gardens and grounds, in addition to thousands of artifacts, works of art, furnishing elements, and archival resources. Brucemore reaches approximately 45,000 visitors a year through an extensive menu of interpretive tours and exhibits, annual community events, public programs, and site rentals.
If you’re interested in volunteer opportunities, please contact us.
Brucemore is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability.
Internship Spotlight
Brucemore provides internship opportunities in a variety of disciplines, from museum studies to event management. We are excited to showcase our interns and their learning experience with Brucemore!