For twenty-six years, Celeste Bernardo has worked for the National Park Service, inspiring individuals and communities to discover, value and celebrate their heritage. She currently serves as Superintendent of Lowell National Historical Park, one of the first urban cultural parks unveiling the story of America’s Industrial Revolution and preserving an urban landscape of mills, mill housing and canals through a progressive historic preservation program.
Prior to Lowell, Celeste served as Deputy Superintendent at Boston National Historical Park and Boston African American National Historic Site where she oversaw all park operations. She previously served as Superintendent at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, as the National Park Service’s first Partnership Training Specialist, and Director of Education at the USS Constitution Museum, a nonprofit NPS partner. Her other assignments include Independence National Historical Park, PA; Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, NY; Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and Point Reyes National Seashore, CA; and Fire Island National Seashore, NY.
Celeste holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies from the State University of New York at Cortland and a Master of Arts degree in History from Northeastern University.