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
- 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
- Jennifer Beall, Visitor Services Assistant
- 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.
2022 Board Officers
- Doug Neumann, President
- Lisha Coffey, Vice President
- Kathy Hall, Secretary
- Kimberly Hillyard, Treasurer
2022 Board Members
- Brian Bergstrom
- Kevin Bruns
- Ryan Buresh
- Robert Cataldo
- Brian Fagan, Past President
- Shadia Igram
- Mark Mathis III
- Dr. Jennifer Murphy
- Akwi Nji
- Kim Schmidt
- 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.
Event and Marketing Coordinator
Brucemore is seeking a self-motivated, detail-oriented, collaborative, and creative individual to join our team as an Event and Marketing Coordinator. This position will develop and facilitate a range of experiences to engage target audiences, including special events, community programs, and facility rentals. This position is also responsible for promoting the visibility of Brucemore’s programs, increasing appreciation and support of the organization, and strengthening its position as a leading historic site and cultural center in the region. Click here to read more and to apply.
Garden and Landscape Assistant (Seasonal)
We are seeking seasonal part- and full-time employees to work on a broad range of garden, landscape, and maintenance activities to provide beautiful and safe grounds for people to visit and enjoy. The estate features 26-acres of lawn and gardens, wooded areas, a pond, an orchard, and two greenhouses. Duties may include but are not limited to:
- Performing seasonal garden and landscape work and maintenance including planting, watering, weeding, mowing, trimming, and pruning
- Caring for diverse plantings of trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, annuals, grasses, and bulbs
- Efficiently operating, maintaining, and caring for various tools, including lawnmowers, tractors, weed eaters, shovels, rakes, and other gardening and landscaping equipment
- Representing the site while interacting with the public and volunteers
- Other duties as assigned
Wage: $13.00 per hour
Hours of position: Employees needed from mid-April to mid-October 2023. Various positions available ranging from 20 to 40 hours per week. Hours will typically be scheduled Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., with variations based on project work and weather.
Qualifications: Must be at least 18 years of age; have a high school diploma or equivalent; and a valid driver’s license with acceptable driving record. Previous experience or coursework with horticulture, landscaping or related areas preferred.
To apply complete the online form here or send a resume by email.
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.
If you’re interested in volunteer opportunities, please contact us.
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!