816.580.3387

Get Involved

Join Watkins Mill Association and help preserve the legacy of Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site, one of America’s great historic treasures.

Membership Form

Watkins Mill Videos
Membership Classes

Individual

$25

Family

$50

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Sponsor

$100

Patron

$250

Corporate

$500

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Lifetime

** $1000.00

Membership Benefits
  • Beginning in 2019 we will have a Annual Happy Hour for all Members
  • Beginning in 2020 we will have a $5 discount for Get Outdoors 6K (not transferrable to friends/family.  Applies to current WMA Members)
  • Free Pass(es)*
  • Subscription to “News from the Farm,” the Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site’s quarterly newsletter. Sent via email or US Postal Service, the newsletter shares information about the historic site and Watkins Mill Association, and includes something fun from the Watkins archives – a quote, a recipe, a letter or excerpt.

 

Become a Member Today!

 * Members receive 1 free pass for each $25 increment of their chosen membership class. (For example, individual members receive 1 pass, while patrons receive 5 passes.) Each pass is for one house tour and one mill tour for up to 4 people.

** Lifetime members are entitled to unlimited free tours.

Donate

Support Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site for generations to come by making a donation to Watkins Mill Association. Click on the below button to donate through PayPal or by credit card.





Watkins Mill Association Trustees

David Ross, President
Stacey Winkelbauer, Vice President
Open, Secretary
Bob Wright, Treasurer
Don Smith, Membership
Mike Beckett (Park Staff: Superintendent)
David Blyth
Gary Boyer
Margo Boyer
Raymond R. Brock, Jr. (Emeritus)
Ann Case
Carol Crouch
Keith Doss
Doug Ervin
Dennis Heine
Larry Janacaro
Amy Kanning
Meredith Klamm
Bette (Frass) McDaniel
Chad Means

William Mitchell
James Moffett
James Reuland
Margaret Reuland
Dr. Elaine Reynolds
Dieter Schmitz (Emeritus)
Irma Schmitz (Emerita)
Ann Sligar (Emerita)
Brenda Spicer
Anna Sue Spohn
Sam Switzer
Elizabeth Thompson
Gordon Tompkins
Kelley Uthe
K. Russell Weathers
David Wharton
Brock Winkelbauer
Stacey Winkelbauer
Megan Wyeth

Internships & Paid Positions

These positions offer flexible hours and tailored experiences to meet the your internship needs.

Watkins Mill Association Archival/ Museum Collections Internship

This is a great opportunity for college students who anticipate entering either the archival or museum curation field and want to get some hands on experience. The facilities manager can work with you to create an internship that meets the requirements of your university.

Position: Year-round

Requirements: There are no set time requirements for this position. Volunteers who choose this category will meet with the volunteer coordinator as well as the archive coordinator to discuss the assignment of archival and curation projects based upon the volunteer’s interests and the archival priorities of the historic site.

Duties: Volunteer duties in this field may include, but not be limited to:

  • Preservation of Watkins artifacts such as letters, photographs, clothing, books, etc., using correct archival materials and techniques.
  • Assigning and recording archival numbers to undocumented and/or recently donated artifacts; as well as providing a description and rating for each artifact using correct archival recording methods.
  • Entering recorded data into electronic archival database system using PastPerfect electronic archival system. This could include not only entering the description of the artifact, but also digital pictures of the artifact.
  • Transcribing original documents of the Watkins family, including personal and business letters, business records, etc.

Volunteer as a living history interpreter and you can immerse yourself in the Victorian era. This young lady watches visitors arrive for Christmas on the Farm, an evening event where visitors get a feel for life before electricity – the house lighted with candles and lamps

Historical Interpreter (Paid position/Internship)
Join the staff at Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site as a paid temporary or seasonal historical interpreter. The facility manager can work with you to create an internship that meets the requirements of your university.

Job duties & requirements of seasonal historical interpreters at Watkins Woolen Mill State Park and State Historic Site include:

  • Providing guided tours of the historic structures and grounds.
  • Dressing in period garb of the 1870’s (costuming provided) and 
performing living history activities such as wood stove cooking, 
gardening, livestock care, etc.
  • Presenting historical topics to the public

To apply contact the facilities manager

Volunteer Positions

Volunteer at Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site and you can help bring the history of Watkins Mill to life for today’s visitors. You can dress in period clothing and demonstrate a number of 1870s activities during our living history events. You can cook in the summer kitchen, make rag dolls or rope, and teach Victorian games to children who don’t know a world without computers. You can immerse yourself in the times and give tours of the historic site. Or, if you prefer to work behind the scenes, consider volunteering in the archives.

Seasonal and year-round positions are available. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, though children under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

If your interests and abilities are in areas other than those listed, please contact the volunteer coordinator to discuss a personalized volunteer opportunity that will best suit your time and talents.

Volunteer Coordinator

Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site
(816) 580-3387

Click here to email for more information 

This is a great volunteer position for college students who anticipate entering either the archival or museum curation field and want to get some hands on experience. It is also a great position for those who like history, but don’t want to dress up, or for anyone interested in preserving the past!

Position: Year round

Requirements: There are no set time requirements for this position. Volunteers who choose this category will meet with the volunteer coordinator as well as the archive coordinator to discuss the assignment of archival and curation projects based upon the volunteer’s interests and the archival priorities of the historic site.

Duties: Volunteer duties in this field may include, but not be limited to:

  • Preservation of Watkins artifacts such as letters, photographs, clothing, books, etc., using correct archival materials and techniques.
  • Assigning and recording archival numbers to undocumented and/or recently donated artifacts; as well as providing a description and rating for each artifact using correct archival recording methods.
  • Entering recorded data into electronic archival database system using PastPerfect electronic archival system. This could include not only entering the description of the artifact, but also digital pictures of the artifact.
  • Transcribing original documents of the Watkins family, including personal and business letters, business records, etc.
Historic Maintenance / Maintenance

This volunteer opportunity is a good fit for the pro or amateur wood worker who wants to learn authentic reproduction techniques and methods; the pro or amateur gardener who enjoys learning about and preserving heirloom varieties; as well as for anyone who is interested in livestock or just enjoys being outside.

Position: Year round

Requirements: There are no set time requirements for this position. Volunteers who choose this category will meet with the volunteer coordinator as well as with the historic maintenance supervisor to discuss the assignment of historic maintenance/maintenance projects based upon the volunteer’s interests and the historic maintenance/maintenance priorities of the historic site.

Duties: Volunteer duties in this field may include, but not be limited to:

  • Historic maintenance projects such as repairing and white washing the Watkins house fence; working on the mule pasture and school fence projects; painting the roof of the engine shed; as well as the reproduction and repair of period artifacts such as furniture and outbuildings using period correct tools and techniques.
  • Regular maintenance duties such as mowing and trimming areas of the historic site and park; and cleaning and maintaining of historic site and park buildings. * operating power equipment and mowers requires a valid drivers license and will be assigned on a as needed basis.
  • Care for historic livestock (off-season: September through May), including feeding the animals and maintenance of livestock housing.
  • Care and maintenance of heirloom variety garden (off-season: September through May; and in season: June through August before and after living history hours), including planting, cultivating, and seed saving.
Period Clothing

This is a great volunteer opportunity for both the amateur and master seamstress or tailor to try something a little different. It is also a good opportunity for college students interested in pursuing a career in design, as well as for anyone who enjoys making clothes.

Position: Year Round

Requirements: There are no set time requirements for this position. Volunteers who choose this category will meet with the volunteer coordinator as well as with the period clothing coordinator to discuss the assignment of period clothing projects based upon the volunteer’s interests and the period clothing priorities of the historic site.

Duties: Volunteer duties in this field may include, but not be limited to:

  • Repairing and reproducing proper methods and techniques.
  • Researching and documenting specific period clothing items to determine level of authenticity as relating to the main time period being interpreted at Watkins Mill.
  • Assisting in the set up and disassembly of period clothing displays at the visitor center.
  • Assist the period clothing coordinator in dispensing period clothing to paid staff and volunteers for the regular living history season as well as special events. This also includes recording clothing numbers.
Special Event Volunteer

This is a superb position for the volunteer who enjoys living history or just wants to help Watkins Mill out, but doesn’t quite have the time to do so on a regular basis. Volunteers in this category really help us to truly make our special events something special!

Position:
Per special event

Requirements: Volunteer to participate in a minimum of 1 out of the 4 yearly special events held at Watkins Mill: Spring on the Farm; Fall on the Farm; and Christmas on the Farm.

Duties: Volunteer duties in this field, with the exception of the Back Porch Jam/Fall Music Festival (see following Back Porch Jam/Fall Music Festival duties), may include, but will not be limited to:

    • Assisting in the set up as well as the clean up of the special event.
    • Dressing in period garb assigned or approved by the period clothing coordinator.
    • Performing assigned living history tasks such as cooking on a wood burning stove; cross cut sawing; making lye soap; or other activities appropriate for the time period and the nature of the special event.
• notification of assigned tasks will be provided by the special event coordinator prior to the event. Requests can be made for certain activities, but the assignment of activities will be at the discretion of the special event coordinator.
    • Engaging the public following the interpretive theme of the event as well as provide standard interpretation of the Watkins Home and Mill.
Living History

This is an excellent position for those who love to bring history to life and have the time and dedication to do so. It is also a good fit for college students interested in working in the interpretive field, or for anyone who wants to learn about history through doing historical activities. Volunteers in this category are the lifeblood of our living history program!

Position: Seasonal (June – August)

Requirements: The minimum time requirement for this category is 1 full (8 hr) day once every other week for a total of 6 full days per season.

Duties: Volunteer duties in this field may include, but not be limited to:

      • Dressing in period garb assigned or approved by the period clothing coordinator.
      • Performing assigned living history tasks such as cooking on a wood burning stove; cross cut sawing; making lye soap; or other activities appropriate for the time period.
      • Care and maintenance of heirloom variety garden (in season: June through August), including planting, cultivating, and seed saving.
      • Engaging the public through interpretation of the Watkins Home and Mill.
      • Provide tours of the Watkins Home and Mill *optional
      • Participate in special events (see special events description). *optional
Visitor Center

This is a good opportunity for volunteers interested in a career in sales, or for anyone who likes to meet people and has good customer service skills. This category is especially important during special events, school tours, and the peak of the tourist season (May – September).

Position: Year Round

Requirements: There are no set time requirements for this position. Volunteers who choose this category will meet with the volunteer coordinator and the historic site administrator to discuss assignment of volunteer responsibilities based upon the volunteer’s interests and the needs in regards to the visitor center.

Duties: Volunteer duties in this field may include, but not be limited to:

    • Possessing an adequate knowledge of the historic site and park in order to answer visitors’ questions either directly, or via phone.
    • Operating the site’s video equipment to show videos or slide shows as per request.
    • Maintaining the site’s displays.

Contact

Watkins Mill Association
Mailing address
P.O. Box 155
Kearney, Missouri 64060

Main Entrance of Watkins Mill
NE 161st Street and County Road RA, USA

816-580-3387
[email protected]

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