Sarah Lerch ’14

Sarah and two interpretive interns, Elizabeth Steinhour and Zach Wakefield, with Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower, in front of the Eisenhower home in Gettysburg, PA
Sarah and two interpretive interns, Elizabeth Steinhour and Zach Wakefield, with Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower, in front of the Eisenhower home in Gettysburg, PA

This summer I was a Curatorial Intern at the Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The site includes the retirement home of President Eisenhower and surrounding Angus cattle farm property. I split my time between working in the home and at an offsite storage facility. I assisted the curator with the exhibition of Mrs. Doud’s room, Eisenhower’s mother-in-law, in the family home. I also worked in storage to clean, organize, and inventory artifacts. I had many amazing opportunities this summer, including attending the Eisenhower Academy at Gettysburg College, a week long seminar for teachers who learn about Eisenhower. I also was able to visit and tour the National Park Conservation Center near Harpers Ferry. As an intern, we were housed in National Park housing on the Gettysburg Battlefield. I could not have been in Gettysburg at a better time since the park was honoring and celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Not only was I exposed to everything Eisenhower, I was also immersed in Civil War history! This internship, along with interpretation internships, is advertised on the Eisenhower National Historic Site website.