Guiding visitors through a living piece of Bermuda’s history are dedicated National Trust student volunteers Josie DeBraga, Riley Ricketts and Shannon Mahoney.

The trio have been donning 18th century clothes and bringing the past to life on Saturdays at the historic Tucker House Museum in St Georges.

They got started when Josie, 16, signed on in September. The Warwick Academy student did not want to be alone in the house, so she recruited Shannon, followed by Riley. Both of her fellow tour guides study at Mount St Agnes.

“Living in St George’s, which itself is historical, my family has always been interested in history,” said Josie, who is from St David’s.

“It’s a self-guided tour in Tucker House, so we greet the people who come here, tell them a suggested route to follow, and if they have questions, we answer them.”

The old cellars of Tucker House became Bermuda’s first archaeological museum in 1994, housing centuries-old everyday items and chinaware, while the upstairs rooms are filled with antique furniture and paintings.

The house dates back to the early 1700s, and in 1775 was bought by Henry Tucker, Colonial Treasurer and President of the Governor’s Council. It stands now as one of the Island’s finest historical properties.

“I refuse to let my mother tell me the ghost stories,” Josie said. “Originally I worked in here by myself. There would be knockings and little noises around the house. I didn’t want to know.”

Shannon, 16, of Hamilton Parish, acquired an interest in the Island’s storied past through the National Trust’s history camps.

“Josie dragged me along for the walkabouts,” she added.

Like the others, Shannon was wearing historical garb, provided by the Trust, when The Royal Gazette came calling on Saturday.

Tucker House is open from 11am to 3pm, and the three keep each other entertained in between welcoming the curious.

Giving up part of their Saturdays also goes toward school credit.

For Riley, 17, also from St George’s, spending a few hours each week in the museum offers a fun chance to immerse himself in history — and take care of community service hours for the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

“I have an interest in history and doing something like this gets your foot in the door and gets your name out there with the National Trust,” he said.

As well taking part in the historical walkabouts and guiding at Tucker House, Josie enjoys playing roles from the past for the Trust’s Halloween events at Verdmont House in Smith’s.

Aside from educating visitors on Bermuda history, volunteer work affords the three a chance to have playful interactions with the public.

“There was a couple who came here — I forget where they were from,” Josie recalled. “Texas,” Shannon interjected. “They were downstairs in the archaeological exhibit. We heard knocking coming from down there, so we followed the sound of it and knocked back on the floor.”

The couple returned from the Tucker House cellar professing surprise at the mystery knocking.

Fortunately, if the house on Water Street holds any ghost stories to explain its creaks and thumps, Josie remains safely uninformed.