Instead of doing typical intern duties like running errands or filing paperwork, two college students got busy this summer learning local history.

As part of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Initiative, Michael Perkins, 23, and Adrienne Norwood, 25, have been interning with the Natchez National Historical Park Service since June.

The initiative, Perkins explained, links college students and National Park Service sites to expose students to how African Americans have played a vital role in national history.

“From antebellum homes to the Civil Rights Movement, we’ve learned a little bit of everything,” said Perkins, who is studying sports management at Jackson State University.

Norwood, who knew little of Natchez history before coming to the area in June, said the experience has been eye opening.

“It’s been interesting to find out about all the history that happened right here,” said Norwood, who is studying mass communications at Jackson State.

And while both agreed that the internship proved educational, Perkins said his favorite part of his Natchez stay was, in fact, where he stayed.

“We’ve been staying with Mama Marsha,” Perkins said fondly, referring to Marsha Colson, who owns the historic Lansdowne Plantation, located off Martin Luther King Jr. Road. “She’s a wonderful lady, and she welcomed us with open arms.”

When park service historian Jeff Mansell called Colson in June and asked her if she would be interested in housing two summer interns, Colson said the decision was easy.

“I said, ‘Jeff, yeah — of course I have space for them,” Colson said. “And a week later, they were here.”

After long days interviewing local officials and residents about Natchez history, Norwood said it was nice to come “home” to Lansdowne and share a meal with Colson.

“Sometimes I would cook for them, and sometimes they would cook for me,” Colson said. “They have both been such a delight. They’re really great young people.”

Colson said programs that bring people to town for an extended stay offer a plethora of benefits for Natchez.

“Any time we can draw people to Natchez who might not know much about it, I think that promotes understanding and awareness,” Colson said. “There are so many bad impressions of Mississippi, and unfortunately that is all some people know.”

One of the ways Perkins and Norwood learned about Natchez was through writing and recording the Natchez History Minute, a social media initiative for the tricentennial — the yearlong celebration commemorating Natchez’s 300th anniversary in 2016.

“We’ve interviewed everyone from the mayor to Cathedral students,” Perkins said.

The Natchez History Minute, Norwood explained, is a short video clip featuring a Natchez native who reads a historical fact.

Once all 366 minutes are recorded, they will be spread out daily during the tricentennial year and can be viewed on various social media platforms.

“We had to compile all those facts, so it required a lot of reading and studying,” Perkins said.

Norwood said Natchez provided no shortage of factual information, though.

“So much happened right here, so it wasn’t hard to find the information,” Perkins said.

As the pair packs their bags and heads back to school, both said they would leave with a plethora of knowledge and a few new friends.

“This is the greatest internship I’ve ever had,” Perkins said. “Natchez is a small town, but it has some big history.”