Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer with the San Diego Historical Society and help bring history alive!

Our volunteers are involved in all aspects of the Society, from conducting educational programs at the Serra Museum to processing collections in the Research Center. If you have a love of history and have a desire to give back to your community, then there is a volunteer position for you!

Education Volunteers

Marston House Docents
Marston House Docents take visitors on hourly guided tours of this 1905 historic home. Tours focus on architectural and decorative elements of the home, as well as the history of the Marston family. Training is provided. Prior knowledge is useful, but not required. Tours take place on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Volunteers are asked to complete a 3 hour shift weekly or bi-weekly, between the hours of 10 am-1 pm or 1 pm-4 pm.

Museum of San Diego History Docents
Museum of San Diego History Docents lead guided tours of the gallery spaces detailing the history of a variety of objects on view. Share the history of the region with guests from around the world. Gallery Docents also monitor the galleries for visitor safety, answer questions, keep the gallery tidy, and perform other as-needed tasks. Training is provided. Docents are asked to complete the training and to work at least one 3 hour shift per week.

San Diego Before Statehood Docents
The San Diego Historical Society is currently accepting applications for docents to lead school groups on an interactive tour through the Junípero Serra Museum and the historic Presidio Park.  Tours will take place between 9:30 and 11:30 AM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from November through June. Full training will be provided and docents will be required to be available for one tour per week.

Events Volunteers

Special Events Volunteers
Special Events Volunteers help all departments with events held at the San Diego Historical Society sites and at other venues around San Diego. Duties at these events include anything from helping kids with crafts to simply answering questions at a Society booth. Training will be provided as necessary. Events are periodic; therefore there is no minimum time commitment for volunteers.

Friends of the Marston House - Geranium Sales
San Diego Historical Society and the Friends of the Marston House are looking for volunteers to assist with the sales of their plants Geranium George and Kate Sessions on the 2nd Sunday of the Month. This is the perfect opportunity for gardeners and those interested in contributing to the preservation of San Diego's historic arts and crafts home, the Marston House. Additional volunteer opportunities are available for those interested. Volunteers are asked to complete one 2-3 hour shift per month and additional events as needed.

Administrative Volunteers

Marketing Volunteer
The Marketing Volunteer will work closely with our Marketing Coordinator on various projects related to the promotion of the Society's events and exhibitions. Volunteer must be an established professional in marketing, public relations, or a related field who wants to volunteer their time to a non-profit organization. Duties will include writing and sending press releases, maintaining SDHS records of actual press received (print or other media), writing articles as assigned for the TIMES newsletter, monitoring placement and supplies of marketing materials at visitor centers. Volunteer must commit to 2-3 hours per week, generally between the hours of 9 am- 5 pm Monday-Friday. May involve some weekend or after-hours work.

Clerical Assistants
Project Volunteers help with special projects on an as-needed basis. Duties may include stuffing envelopes, organizing files, assisting the staff with preparatory work for meetings, and other tasks. Projects are periodic; therefore there is no minimum time commitment for volunteers.

Research Library Volunteers

Research Library General Volunteers
Research Library volunteers work closely with Research Library staff to process our vast archival collections. Duties include sorting and processing of collections, data entry, and other tasks as needed. Training is provided. College credit is available for interns who work at least 8 hours per week. Volunteering takes place between 9 am- 4 pm on Tuesday-Saturday.

To apply, please send your cover letter, resume and completed volunteer application to:

Volunteer Program Coordinator
San Diego Historical Society
1649 El Prado, Suite 3, San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 232-6203 ext. 131

Download volunteer application form
Send email by clicking here.

Above image:
Men in front of saloon, 14th & K, 1887, #16778