Natchez National Historical Park

08/04/2026

Melrose Balcony Repair Complete!

Staff of the Historic Preservation Training Center recently completed repairs to the southwest corner of the Melrose balcony. Understandably, after 178 years, the balcony needed a little preservation TLC and the talented Training Center staff stepped in to repair a failing girder. The project also required the removal and reinstallation of decking, reinstallation of the cast iron railing, and the patching and repainting of spots of the exterior faux finish. Needless to say, the crew did an excellent job and the balcony is as good as new.

Come out and inspect for yourself! Tours of the house are offered on the hour at 10, 11, 2, 3, and 4. Reservations are available on Reservation.gov. The Melrose grounds and outbuildings are open daily and free to the public from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

07/23/2026

Come Join Our Curatorial Team!

Natchez National Historical Park is seeking a seasonal Museum Technician to work with our senior curator and our priceless museum collections!

Duties
Assist curator with the care, maintenance, and preservation of the museum collection in both exhibit and storage facilities.

Perform museum housekeeping including technical and delicate cleaning of objects that require special treatment and handling such as glass, metals, ceramics, textiles, books, paintings, photographs, and furniture.

Create and maintain manual and automated curatorial records which include accession records, catalog records, and inventories using the National Park Service systems.

For more information and to apply, go to USAJobs at this link:

One position is located at Natchez National Historical Park in Natchez, MS. One position is located at Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail in Tuskegee, AL.

07/02/2026

Celebrate Julyteenth! When Freedom Came to Natchez!

06/16/2026

Due to the weather forecast, all Juneteenth events scheduled for Friday, June 19, at Natchez National Historical Park are cancelled

06/03/2026

All sites of Natchez National Historical Park will open at Noon, Thursday, June 4 so that staff may participate in annual emergency training operations. We apologize for any inconvenience.

05/29/2026

Luminary Set for Friday, June 19

Natchez National Historical Park will once again present a luminary on the front lawn of Melrose at 7:00 p.m., Friday, June 19. This special event is held in commemoration of Juneteenth, the national holiday recognizing the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The over 700 lights will honor the lives of those who were enslaved at the estate and on the plantations owned by the McMurran family who created the Melrose estate in the 1840s.

Dr. David Slay, chief of interpretation, highlighted the significance of the lights. "Each light represents a human soul; a three dimensional being with hopes, dreams, and dignity," he said. "The luminary will provide a powerful visual representation of the human cost of Melrose."

On the 19th, the Melrose front gate will close at 5:00 p.m. on Friday and reopen at 7:00 p.m. Visitors are asked to park in the main parking lot and walk to the lower portion of the front lawn where an area will be set aside specifically for solemn reflection. The public is encouraged to bring lawn chairs and flashlights, as it will be dark by the end of the event. David Slay, Chief of Interpretation, will present a commemorative program at 7:30 p.m. The observation will conclude at 9:00, and the gates will close at 9:30 p.m.

Throughout the day on June 19th, park staff will offer a variety of children’s activities and provide tours of the Melrose mansion that focus on the African American experience. The house tours will highlight what is known about the enslaved men, women, and children who lived and labored at the estate as well as the system of slavery in this region that made such extravagant homes possible. Melrose house tours take place seven days a week at 10 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 pm., and 4 p.m. The cost for adults is $11.00 while children 17 and under are free. Tour tickets can be purchased at Melrose or in advance online at Recreation.gov.

Visitors will also be able to experience the exhibit in the Melrose slave quarters, “Through the Labor of Others: the McMurrans as Enslavers,” which will provide additional information on the McMurran family and those people they held in bo***ge. It will include the currently known names of nearly 400 people enslaved by the McMurrans. This exhibit can be viewed free of charge every day between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

The grounds and outbuildings at Melrose are open from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/natc

05/28/2026

Come be a part of our team!
Natchez National Historical Park is hiring Seasonal Park Guides! Park Guides greet visitors to educate and inform them in our National Parks. Work can include providing information on natural, cultural, or historical resources.

For more information about and to apply for this position, click on the link below:
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/870792400

Park Guide Standard Duties
Staff information counter in a visitor center.
Answering questions on a variety of subjects.
Present Limited and repetitive pre-established talks including introduction to films, map talks, and static exhibit interpretation.
Orient hikers to conditions and equipment needs.
Guide small parties (up to 20 people) on short walks.
Some park locations issue backcountry camping permits and provide backcountry camping information.

Additional Duties for GS-5
Perform duties including programs that require application of broad subject-matter knowledge of the park.
Guide large groups (up to 50 people) on longer walks or programs.
Provide a wide range of services to park visitors.
Orient and explain current park events and warn of safety hazards.

This position will be filled under the Field Unit Local Hiring Authority. Eligibility is limited to applicants who reside within the defined local commuting area at the time of application. For this announcement, the local commuting area is the area from which individuals can reasonably commute to the duty station under normal conditions.

The defined vicinity for this position is limited to individuals who maintain a permanent and exclusive residence within 75 miles of Natchez, Mississippi

05/27/2026

Natchez National Historical Park is looking for volunteers to assist with its Juneteenth Luminary Event on June 19, 2026. Volunteers will support park staff with event setup, luminary placement, wayfinding light placement, visitor support during the event, and post-event breakdown and cleanup.

Volunteers may assist with:
Placing luminaries and wayfinding lights as directed by park staff
Supporting event setup before the program
Moving light materials, supplies, signs, or event equipment as directed
Assisting with visitor direction during the event
Helping maintain safe visitor flow in assigned areas
Assisting with post-event breakdown and cleanup
Retrieving lights, signs, and temporary event materials
Helping clean, dry, inventory, and store event materials the following business day
Reporting safety, visitor, or operational concerns to park staff
Volunteers will work under staff direction and will not be assigned duties requiring specialized training unless properly cleared and authorized.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age unless otherwise approved through park volunteer procedures. Volunteers may be required to wear park-approved volunteer identification while supporting the event.

For more information and to apply, click on the link below:

https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a09SJ00000Nv6t3YAB/melrose-juneteenth-luminary-program-volunteer-support

04/09/2026

Natchez is seeking a Museum Services Member!

Have you ever wanted to work with a museum collection? Well, here is your chance! American Conservation Experience (ACE), a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS), is seeking applicants for a museum services member to contribute to the curatorial museum program alongside Natchez National Historical Park staff.

The ACE Member will assist curatorial staff with the care, maintenance, and preservation of the museum collection located in modern and historic buildings. The ACE member will accomplish many needed tasks contributing to the preservation of the museum collection.

Duties will include:
Museum housekeeping in period furnished room exhibits, museum storage, and other exhibit areas;

Preparing manual and computerized curatorial records including conducting inventories and container lists;

Collecting and processing environmental monitoring and integrated pest management data relevant to the museum collection;

Upgrading museum storage materials and relocating museum objects;

Photography of museum objects and cultural resources;

Other tasks related to the museum collection;

For more information, click this link.
https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/1295163