Working as an Intern at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House

Having the opportunity to work at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House as an intern has really given me, a UC history major, a much deeper understanding of Cincinnati’s history, the ways a growing museum function, and much more knowledge about the wonderful Harriet Beecher Stowe’s time here, as well as her abolitionist ideals.

Being an out of state student at the University of Cincinnati, I really did not have much background information about the city’s history or how important of a role Cincinnati played in the discussion of slavery in the 1840s. I was particularly struck with how directly the economy and pork industry of Cincinnati tied into the debate. Although economy and industry typically play a role in conflicts, pork really influenced many aspects of life that I had absolutely no idea about. Such as being a major part of the slave diet, but only the lesser cuts of meat, as well as using pig hair in the plaster of homes. I knew pork was one of the industries that bolstered the city’s economy, however I didn’t know it literally built it as well.

I did not know much about Harriet Beecher Stowe prior to working at the house besides her writing Uncle Tom’s Cabin, so I have had the chance to really expand my knowledge about her time in Cincinnati and how it affected her. The house in itself is a true gem since it has more important public history besides the fact Harriet and her family lived here. The Harriet Beecher Stowe House introduced me to the Green Motorist’s Guide, a book of safe places African American travelers could eat, sleep, and patron without fear of being turned away. It is even more wonderful this very house is listed in the Green Book as the Edgemont Inn, a boarding house and tavern for African American travelers. Having a chance to gain more public history about the city in recent years through learning more about the Walnut Hills community, the guest who stayed within the house, and the fact this house has always been a safe space since it was built makes it quite easy to delve deeper into the details and historical significance.
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It has been great to see that other people have taken an interest in learning more about the history and significance of the house as we have seen the number of visitors increasing steadily throughout the summer, as well as our number of volunteers. It is amazing to have the opportunity to share small, but fascinating tidbits of information with visitors about the more recent history of the house and even how it has changed architecturally. The minute details are what I tend to focus on since they help to create a more complex story of the past, and it helps shape the way one looks at the big picture. There are so many things to learn and enhance one’s knowledge here at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, and I so glad I had the chance to be apart of it all both in showing around visitors and helping behind the scenes. A lot goes into running a house museum, but it makes learning about the community and its importance easily accessible to all.


​-Elena Butler