Student Opportunities at Pittock Mansion

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Are you looking for volunteer hours to fulfill a class or degree requirement, or thinking of getting a degree in History, Museum Studies, or Education? Pittock Mansion is seeking enthusiastic college students to greet visitors and host the Hands-On History Artifact Carts.

Mansion Host Description: Hosts sit in or circulate through the Mansion, greet guests, and answer questions about Pittock Mansion and the family. Hosts also assist visitors with operating the original Otis elevator.

Artifact Cart Host Description: The Hands-On History host uses the Artifact Carts to engage visitors in hands-on learning. The Artifact Carts consist of historic objects that visitors can pick up and use. This host helps guests learn about the historic objects and how they were used, so visitors get an insight into what life was like around the time Henry and Georgiana Pittock lived in the Mansion. The Hands-On History host chooses which Artifact Cart they’d like to share with visitors: "Home Technology & Architecture" or "Kitchen Gadgets & Gizmos."

**Please refer to the specific Mansion Host or Hands-On History Host postings for more information about these opportunities.

Impact: Pittock Mansion volunteers actively support the Mansion’s mission to inspire understanding and stewardship of Portland history through Pittock Mansion, its collections, and programs.

Training: All volunteers are required to attend a 2-hour general volunteer training, complete an application, and submit a background check consent form. If interested in hosting the artifact cart, volunteer must attend an additional 1-hour training that focuses on the objects on the carts. During the training, volunteers receive the Guide’s Guide, Gate Lodge Families, and the Hands-On History Guides for each cart to study and learn.

Commitment: Volunteer shifts are about 4-hours (10am-2pm; 10:30am-2:30pm; 11am-3pm; or 11:30am-3:30m) Shifts are available 7-days a week, February-December. There isn't a maximum or minimum number of shifts a volunteer must sign up for--schedules are flexible.

How to Apply: please contact Kyla Foster at kfoster@pittockmansion.org or (503) 823-3587.

Please Note: All floors of Pittock Mansion are elevator accessible to a manual/push wheelchair. The 1913 elevator cannot accommodate powered chairs or scooters due to its size and weight limitations.

History of the Mansion and Pittock Family: In 1853, Henry Pittock arrived in Portland "barefooted and without a cent." By 1860, Mr. Pittock had moved his way up from a typesetter to the owner of The Oregonian newspaper. Portland’s history is reflected in the unique lives of the Pittocks, whose work, interests, and life stories still influence Portlanders today. Henry and Georgiana Pittock were activists, community builders, and lovers of the outdoors. They helped establish the Portland Rose Festival, the Mazamas climbing club, the Oregon Riding Club, and were gifted fundraisers for the Ladies Relief Society, Portland Women’s Union, and helped found the Portland Rose Society.

Pittock Mansion was built in 1914 for one of Oregon’s most influential families and is filled with rich history and remarkable stories. The Mansion is known for its architectural and technological prowess with an original Otis elevator, central vacuum cleaning system, dumbwaiter, and thermostat-controlled central heating.