Author: Harper Morrison
One of the many attractions of the National Museum of American History is Dorothy’s ruby slippers. While interning at the museum over the summer, I had the pleasure of viewing them frequently. Only a few months later, I sit here trying to hold this image in my mind. To compare my time as a Special Events intern to Dorothy’s time in Oz may seem like a stretch, but to me, this is almost exactly what it felt like. In May, I was transported to the strange yet magical land of the NMAH. Then one day, I blinked and was back in a college classroom.
In a 1.32 million-square-foot building, it is easy to feel as if you are lost in some bizarre new land. Yet, the Special Events office quickly became my home base. My supervisors, Maddie Wellbaum, Sarah Fagnoni, and Elise Luthi, were truly some of the most caring and supportive people I have met. Having all once been in the same internship themselves, they were incredibly patient and eager to help me learn.
While I came into the internship with a museum studies background, I knew relatively little about event planning. It was a challenge for me to picture holding a dinner in a space that was currently occupied by screaming children. But at night, the museum transforms. Audio-visual teams can manipulate light to change a room’s entire appearance. Event planners and caterers strategically place furniture and decor to suit the intended vision. It’s easy for a large room to become relatively intimate when full of smaller seating areas, and even more full of people.
I would be remiss not to touch on how event planners are more than just designers. Instead, I would argue the job primarily consists of putting out fires. The world is unpredictable; therefore, something will always occur during an event. Someone's dress will tear, guests will arrive too early, or people will have a little too much to drink. It is the event planner's job to fix whatever issues may occur. For me, this is the best part of the job. Making sure things run smoothly means making people happy and their day a little better. There is no feeling quite like watching people come together and knowing you helped make it possible. A great event’s team will even have the guests leaving not realizing any “fires” ever occurred.
To some, hosting a party at a museum may appear frivolous. But special events are vital to museums' success. Depending on the museum, the revenue they generate can go towards anything from funding a new exhibit to supporting an employee's salary. It is also partially through these revenue sources that museums are able to stay open to the public. My time with the Smithsonian has made me determined to be a part of these efforts. I hope that one day I'll be able to click my heels and be transported back.
Harper Morrison was a 2025 Summer Intern at the National Museum of American History, supported by a Tomayko Foundation Summer Internship Grant.