What is Ben Lomond?
Ben Lomond and its outbuildings were constructed for Benjamin Tasker Chinn in 1832. Confederate forces used the house as a hospital following the 1861 Battle of First Manassas and you can find the many signatures of Federal soldiers who occupied the property in 1862 all over the walls. Here you can smell, touch, hear, and taste history in an immersive environment. Ben Lomond isn’t just the house, it also has restored slave quarters, smokehouse, dairy, and an antique rose garden
What You Can Do as a Junior Preservationist
Our Junior Preservationists work with historic preservation staff and other volunteers doing many of the same work performed by adult volunteers. You can learn more about how historic sites are run, how artifacts are cared for, and maybe tackle a special project suitable to your age range. You can also assist with special events, summer camps, education programs, and the daily operations of Ben Lomond.
There are a lot of ways we can use your help! From spring to fall, the site has substantial gardens including a vegetable garden, herb garden, and large antique rose garden. JPs can help other garden volunteers and staff with watering, weeding, or planting.
Becoming an interpretive guide is a very people-focused visitor opportunity! If you’re passionate about history and really like to share it with folks, this will be a rewarding position. If you are sixteen or older, site staff will help you learn Rippon's history to prepare your own guided tours of the historic site for regular hours or special events.
If you have any skills or interests you think would be a good fit for Ben Lomond that we didn’t mention, feel free to mention them when you apply! We’re happy to find something that suits your abilities and needs as best we can.
What to Expect After You Apply
Once your background check clears, you should expect an email from the division volunteer coordinator with a more detailed interests and availability form. Depending on the season and site needs, there may not be volunteer hours immediately available.
For Junior Preservationists, volunteers 13 to 15 will need to be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian while volunteering. When applying, please let us know of any service hour requirements or accommodations you might need while volunteering.
