Jessika was an Intermountain Historian Intern for Charles Redd Center for Western Studies during Winter 2025.
Briefly explain what you did and the result of your internship.
You know those historical markers you come across when road-tripping but you don't have time to explore them all? My internship essentially was making those historical markers on a digital platform. It was so fun to dig up photos, find a place in the Intermountain West that had deep history, and research and write about it. Now, those stories can be accessed and enjoyed by anyone as they're driving along an unfamiliar place and they get a taste of what happened there. It's bringing forgotten history to the public in an easy and exciting way so we can all continue to learn from it!
What did you learn on your internship that you were not expecting to learn?
I had no idea how much research goes into writing a short historical synopsis of a place, but wow, was it intriguing! Digging into reliable primary resources and scanning old newspapers about stories I thought I knew made me realize how much I didn’t. I’ve enjoyed sharing this exciting knowledge with my friends, family, and even random strangers!
How have your future plans changed because of what you learned from your internship experience?
Before this internship, I had no idea what “public history” was, now it’s opened up a totally new path. I'm seriously considering graduate school specifically in public history now.
Please share how your experience led to personal inspiration or insightful revelation.
Getting a taste of a potential future career led me to hone in on what I feel is the best direction for me.
Would you recommend this internship to other students?
Absolutely! From flexibility to academic skills to fueling your passion, this internship is perfect for anyone thinking about being a historian while wanting to make an impact. And getting to choose your own topics to write about made everyday something to look forward to.
Is there anything else you would like to say regarding your internship?
I'm incredibly grateful for this opportunity and being able to work closely with a professor to improve my writing, research, and even get published! It was definitely a challenge to be disciplined enough to set my own schedule and complete everything on time, but with the right support, determination, and resources, anything is possible. I feel so fulfilled by the work I got to do.
