Career Opportunities and Internships

University of Pittsburgh
Urban Studies Internship Description

Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation

Funding: $1,000 per Term

Organizational Background

Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation (ROS) conserves, interprets and develops historical, cultural and recreational resources throughout eight counties in southwestern Pennsylvania.  The dynamic and powerful story of the region’s evolution from colonial settlement to “Big Steel” to the modern era is evident in its many artifacts, buildings, vibrant communities and industrial sites.  Among other destinations, such core landmarks as the Carrie Blast Furnaces Nos. 6 and 7, Pinkerton’s Landing, the Pump House and Water Tower at the site of the former United States Steel Homestead Works, and the W. A. Young Foundry and Machine Shop at Rices Landing on the Monongahela River, illustrate the magnitude of this story.

Rivers of Steel seeks to link our colonial and industrial heritage to the present and future economic and cultural life of the region and the communities it serves. To achieve these ends, it fosters and promotes resource conservation and development, heritage tourism, cultural and educational programs and economic revitalization in partnership with hundreds of local communities in the greater Pittsburgh area, and along the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio River valleys, the very places that gave birth to the most powerful industrial heartland the world has ever seen.

Potential Projects

The major deliverables of the Internship could include one or more of the following endeavors:

• Hands-on project(s) of mutual interest involving one or more of the following activities: Industrial heritage, NPO fundraising, historic walking tours, tourism planning, NPO financial management, tourism technology or other related areas
• Mini-research involving the population of ROS’s virtual exhibit “Steel Footprints” http://www.riversofsteel.com/map/category/all/
• A statistical analysis of the attendance at ROS’s tour site
• Participation in the enhancement and production of the Carrie Furnace tour and related interpretation
• Bost Building Museum administration and management

Requirements/Interests

Business planning/management, event planning/promotion, social media, tourism, community development, MicroSoft Office, and access to a car is preferable, but there is bus service from Oakland to Homestead.

To Apply or Request Additional Information

Contact Jeff Leber, VP/COO@ (412)464-4020 x35 or jleber@riversofsteel.com

Applications are available in Word 2010 or PDF format.