Alexandria, VA – In January 2019, Madison (Madi) Rumness was celebrating her 10th birthday with a “Science Behind Harry Potter” party at the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Shop/Museum when the call of history landed with her slice of cake.
Before leaving her birthday celebration, Rumness met Kristy Huettner, the volunteer program coordinator with the Office of Historic Alexandria. Huettner was (and is) actively working to expand Gadsby’s junior docent program; it currently has 65 students. She invited Humness to audition as a junior docent, and the rest is history (pun intended).
As a junior docent at the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, Humness learned to answer questions and educate crowds about its history. She now leads crowds of visitors around the halls of the U.S. Capitol.
“This summer will be my eighth year volunteering as a junior docent, my fourth year as a peer mentor, and my third year as a Head Chocolatier at the Historic Chocolate Making Station, a paid internship position,” Rumness said. Volunteering has improved her public speaking skills and her confidence in interacting with and leading small groups.
“I enjoy thinking about how to shape content, how to bring it to life for people,” she shared. “I love the storytelling aspect of museum spaces and hands-on artifacts, especially those that cater to as many senses as possible. It’s a lot of fun sharing an interest and love of learning with my fellow junior docents and adult mentors.”
Rumness, now 17 and a junior at the Madeira School in McLean, was selected for a 5-week internship in the Office of Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (Oregon-05). That position puts her front and center of small groups seeking a memorable visit on Capitol Hill.
“One of my responsibilities is to give tours of the Capitol building to her Oregon constituents,” she added. “I auditioned for this role by taking a member of Congresswoman Bynum’s staff on a Capitol tour. I feel that all of my years of experience of being a junior docent has led me to this moment where I have the privilege of giving tours of the Capitol.”
Oliver Freeman, also an experienced junior docent at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum, can relate. The George Washington Middle School 8th grader has already served several years in the program.
At the Gadsby’s Spring Fling event on Saturday, April 18, Freeman, 14, demonstrated methods of preparing chocolate in colonial days at the tavern where the expensive spice was featured in both food and drinks. His delivery was engaging, interesting, and entertaining to an all-adult audience of about 20 who stopped by his chocolate display.
“It was the Waldorf Astoria in its day,” said Ron Vassallo, president of the Gadsby’s Tavern Museum Society, as he welcomed almost 100 guests to the evening fundraiser as part of America’s 250th anniversary celebration.
“This space is the room where it happened—one of the rooms where it happened,” continued Vassallo as he noted the numerous political thinkers, e.g., George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, James Madison, and James Monroe, who met individually and debated everyday citizens on details of great import. “They did it civilly. It is a reminder of why we are here as a country!”
Praising the junior docent program as a means to bring younger generations to appreciate the value of history, Vassallo said, “We pass the baton on to people like Madi…the junior docent programs means so much to the future. Membership allows you to stay involved and help build a passion for passing a legacy on.”
Vassallo’s words resonated with Lesa Costanzo, whose husband Tony is one of the founders of the Gadsby’s endowment fund. “It’s a great way to have an informal conversation with people you may not have crossed paths with on other occasions,” said Costanzo, who added that the historic preservation of Old Town must be supported to preserve its legacy well past the 250th anniversary year.
When The Zebra asked Madi Rumness how she would advise students to find a volunteering position, she shared her approach:
“Pick your favorite interest and find an organization to volunteer with. Don’t be afraid to take risks! You never know where your excitement about an interest will take you. I could never have imagined when I was 10 years old that my excitement for museums would turn into a life-long volunteering and career path. There is something really special about sharing one’s interests with others. It’s a unique and fulfilling kind of connection. I would suggest to other students that volunteering in your area of interest is a great way to just get started pursuing your interests more formally. Just start.”
