National Park — St. Croix
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Christiansted Internship Investigates the History of Gallows Bay
The National Park Service seeks up to three unpaid interns to work over a four week period to create a walking tour of Gallows Bay, Christiansted. During May-June, selected students will walk the site numerous times, learn about the neighborhoods development, buildings and other physical features, consult cadastral maps of the area located in the Lieutenant Governor’s Office, and talk with/ interview residents during the walk. There will be a focus on older generations for ethnographic evidence of past lifestyles, traditions and responses to events, such as hurricanes, and conducting library/archival research. The goal is to learn the history and culture of this vital neighborhood that is an integral part of the town of Christiansted and the development of Christiansted National Historic Site. Many noted persons emerged from prominent Gallows Bay families. These same families were close in kinship and friendship with the people of the Free Gut and Christiansted proper.
Students will work together with the park’s education staff to describe Gallows Bay in different historical periods: 1733-1917; the remembered past, 1917-the present; and the vision of the present day youth for the future. They also will look at the intersections of military and commercial activities in the area; for instance, the erection of the gallows and subsequent friendships /relationships between the soldiers of the fort and gendarmes of the barracks with the people, as well as the vital fish market, fishing residential village, the container port facilities and the major commercial area.
Once developed, the participants will prepare a descriptive brochure of the tour. Students will take appropriate photographs that describe the neighborhood and select historical photos that tell the story of Gallows Bay.
During the academic year, the tour will be given by the National Park Service and the interns to interested Crucians, school groups, and visiting tourists.
Requirements for participation: university sophomore or juniors are preferred. However, motivated high school students or college freshmen will be considered. Individuals with particular interest in the social sciences, with a substantial interest in Virgin Islands history, are strong candidates. All students will have to devote three hours, three mornings per week to the fieldwork at the site and a few hours during the course of the month at historical depositories. Transcriptions and writing will be expected to be done at home during off-hours. Excellent writing and speaking skills are required. The transcription of interviews is mandatory, and they will be deposited in the archives of the National Park Service Library. Students should be knowledgeable in the use of standard computer software to generate the brochure. All work will be done in teams. Students must have access to transportation to the NPS Headquarters.
Interested candidates should send a resume to David_Goldstein@nps.gov, and be prepared to begin work on May 23, ending on June 28.
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