71 Results for tag "Trades"

• Historic Trade: Blacksmith

  The Revolutionary War wasn't won through battles alone. To keep pace with the might of British industry, Virginia desperately needed a new armoury. Watch our blacksmiths take red-hot iron from the fires of their forges and hammer it into a variety of tools, hardware, and weapons.

• Historic Trade: Brickmaker

  During the summer, brickmakers mold and dry thousands of bricks. In the autumn, the bricks bake in a giant wood-fired oven. Keep an eye out, too, for bricklayers using these bricks in all sorts of projects around town.

• Historic Trade: Gardener

  Watch the historic gardeners use 18th-century tools and techniques to grow herbs, vegetables, and decorative flora. Plots within the garden represent provision gardens of the enslaved and American Indians, as well as the luxury gardens that ornamented the landscape of wealthy households. Visit the garden to learn more about the Sankofa Heritage Garden and the Three Sisters Garden.

• Historic Trade: Weaver

  When English imports were cut off by the Revolution, local weavers came forward to fill the need for everyday items. Watch how flax, cotton, and wool are converted from tangled masses into orderly, precise fabrics—ranging from simple linens for shirts and shifts to blankets, towels, dyed wool for needlework, and stout woolens for military uniforms.

• Historic Trade: Farmer

  Engage with our farmers as they work throughout the year to grow food for the community and to prepare the grounds as needed for the seasons to come. The well-being of the entire colonial economy is dependent on these crops. This involves the growing and harvesting of tobacco, corn, wheat, flax, and cotton.

• Historic Trade: Carpenter

  Carpentry was one of the most common trades in Williamsburg. From one end of town to another, houses, shops, sheds, dairies, smokehouses, kitchens, and storehouses exhibit the handiwork of carpenters. Discover how our experts use hand tools to transform trees into lumber, cut and raise heavy timber building frames, and enclose new structures with siding and roofing.

• Historic Trade: Joiner

  Joiners were woodworkers who produced the finish work for buildings including doors, windows, shutters, fireplace surrounds, and built-in cupboards. Watch our experts use saws, planes, hammers, and other tools to fashion wood into the pieces of a future building.

• Historic Trade: Bookbinder

  Today we might take books for granted, but in colonial America only the rich could afford a large library. Binding books—especially fancy ones—was a specialized and time-consuming craft. Visit the bindery to glimpse the fascinating world of creating fine books.

• Historic Trade: Founder

  Visit the founders on the site of the Geddy family home. See skilled hands at work crafting bronze, brass, silver, and pewter into magnificent 18th-century-style items.

• Historic Trade: Milliner & Mantua-Maker

  Fancy yourself an 18th-century customer as you shop for the latest ornaments and accessories. Consult with the mantua-maker about updating old gowns to bring them into the newest 18th-century fashion.

• Historic Trade: Cabinetmaker & Harpsichord Maker

  Cabinetmakers made fashionable furniture like tables, chairs, desks, and chest of drawers.

• Historic Trade: Gunsmith

  See how our gunsmiths make rifles, pistols, and fowling pieces using the tools and techniques of their 18th-century predecessors and uniting many skills from forging iron to working wood.

• Historic Trade: Printer

  In an age before TV, radio, and the internet, the printed word was the primary means of long-distance mass communication. Watch and learn as printers set type and use reproduction printing presses to manufacture colonial newspapers, political notices, pamphlets, and books.

• Historic Trade: Apothecary

  What was it like to be sick or injured in colonial times? Meet the apothecaries and learn how medicine, wellness, and surgical practices of the 18th century compare to today.

• Historic Trade: Wigmaker

  Routinely wearing a wig may seem strange to us, especially for men, but it communicated the wearer's elegance, his station in society, and even his occupation. With the skill of a barber and hairdresser combined, our wigmakers fashion "perukes" of quality and distinction.

• Historic Trade: Tailor

  View a variety of fabrics and garments that clothed colonial Americans, from elegant suits in the latest London styles to the sturdy uniforms of Revolutionary soldiers. Interact with the tailors as they measure customers and create clothing using 18th-century methods.

• Historic Trade: Tin Plate Worker

  Soldiers valued tinware for its durability, low cost, and light weight. To supply the army during the Revolution, Virginia's government established a tin shop to produce kettles, cups, plates, and other items. See how our tin plate workers snip, shape, and bend this flexible material.

• Historic Trade: Silversmith

  Watch as silversmiths transform coins and outdated silverware into fashionable pieces for the dining room, parlour, and personal adornment. Silver cups, teapots, and spoons are just a few examples of what you will find here.

• Historic Trade: Cooper & Wheelwright

  Wheelwrights and coopers created many of the items that colonists used every day. Wheelwrights made wheels for vehicles such as carriages, wagons, carts, and cannons. Coopers transformed thin strips of wood into items such as buckets and shipping containers. Visit these skilled tradesmen to learn more about eighteenth-century woodworking.

• Historic Trade: Leather Breeches Maker & Shoemaker

  How were men's shoes made before modern glues and rubber soles? Meet some of the last shoemakers who work entirely by hand and watch them make everyday and fancy footwear. In the same workshop, discover the practice and history of one of the 18th century's most common garments, leather breeches. The shop follows the trade in all branches: making, mending, and cleaning leather breeches.

• Historic Trade: Engraver

  Watch as our Engravers carry on the same tradition as engraver William Waddill did in late 18th-century Williamsburg.

• Historic Trade: Cook

  What did Williamsburg’s 18th-century residents eat—and how did they cook it? Visit a historic kitchen as our cooks prepare authentic colonial dishes using the equipment and recipes of the time.

• A Suit of Clothes For Puss

  “I had been at work about two months when Christmas came on – and here I must relate a little anecdote. The principal and his lady were invited to a part among their friends and the other boy was permitted to go to his father’s to spend the holidays, when …

• Head Over Heels

  When Anne E. Bentley first saw the wig, she whispered in awe, “Is this it? My god! It’s gorgeous!”For more than 40 years, she’d worked with the artifacts at the Massachusetts Historical Society, including a deteriorating 18th-century bagwig, which had been stored in, of all things, a coconut. Now, in …

• Not Your Typical Internship

  As a fourth-year pharmacy student at Campbell University who enjoys participating in Revolutionary War living history events across the state of North Carolina, studying the history of pharmacy at Colonial Williamsburg seemed like the perfect fit for some out-of-classroom experience.

• Preparing for Dye Days

  Every month we, the Weavers, head out to our dye yard to experiment with various dye recipes, where we invite guests to see this process in action. But before you join us, here’s a little background on all of the work that goes into these monthly “Dye Days.”Our shop master, …

• Brewing Beer, sharing Knowledge from England

  Food historian Marc Meltonville brewed a batch of pale ale with our Historic Foodways staff in February.

• Connecting to Past Makers

  Get to know the tools and techniques of reproducing a Coastal NV Writing Table from the 18th century. Learn more about historical woodwork, design, and more.

• Imagining COVID-19 in the 18th-century

  Epidemics plagued the colonial era. Read on to learn how Williamsburg apothecaries would respond to Covid-19 with limited medication and technological progress.

• “Is that fire real?” And Other Questions It’s Ok to Ask at Colonial Williamsburg

  Your visit to Colonial Williamsburg Foundation may spark several questions in your mind. Read on to find the answer to common questions and queries by visitors.

• Buckle Up!

  Take a look at this ornate buckle that was fashionably used to secure shoes in the 18th century. Read on to learn more about the history of shoe buckles.

• From Daub to Dough

  Experience baking bread in a brickyard oven, commonly used in the 18th century. Learn how to build an oven from a mixture of clay and straw with a brick base.

• New Lambs, New Wool

  The start of lambing season is an exciting time for spinners, weavers, and dyers at Colonial Williamsburg. Learn about the wool quality and its dying process.

• What’s Your Favorite Tool?

  Our Cabinetmakers and Harpsichord makers share their favorite tools. Discover what makes these tools unique and discover their uses in the colonial era.

• How to Make a Glue Brush

  Learn how to make a glue brush using natural ingredients from scratch. Read on to learn the step-by-step guide to woodwork your very own glue brush at home.

• Nerves of Steel

  Discover the art of blacksmithing from Mark Sperry, an expert at Colonial Williamsburg. Learn about his time as a competitor in the Forged in Fire program.

• Timber!

  Learn how our historic carpenters offer hands-on instructions to participants of the Revolutionary Chesapeake program by Washington College. Read more.

• Counting Spoons

  The role of silverware was much more than hosting dining parties in the 18th century. Read to learn about the benefit of owning silver spoons in that era.

• The Wheelwright Shop’s Most Frequently Asked Questions

  Known as the only 18th-century Wheelwright Shop left in the world, it's no surprise that visitors have questions about this historic shop. Read to learn more.

• How Did You Get This Job?

  Meet Michael Nikolich, an Apprentice Wheelwright at Colonial Williamsburg. Read on to learn about his favorite part of his work at the foundation.

• Planting with Hope

  Soil preparation is a labor-intensive task that plays a key role in growing crops. Get land preparation tips from farming experts at Colonial Williamsburg.

• Making Mistakes and More: 5 Elements of an Apprenticeship

  Apprentices are essential to preserving 18th-century trades at Colonial Williamsburg. Discover the five things an apprentice can expect in the first year.

• Freedom of the Press in the eyes of the Founding Fathers

  The founding fathers understood the power of the press and its need to remain free of government control. Read to learn the history behind freedom of the press.

• How We Know What We Know About Milliner Margaret Hunter

  Milliner Margaret Hunter was a single businesswoman in a male-dominated economic system in the 18th century. Read on to learn more about this incredible woman.

• Laying out the Garden

  Gardening evokes a sense of accomplishment and peace of mind. Read on to get tips and tricks for laying out a garden from experts at Colonial Williamsburg.

• How to appear knowledgeable about Virginia Architecture

  Learn all about Virginia's 18th-century architecture. Read to discover the architectural styles and features that reflect the taste of Virginians of that era.

• How Much Clothing Did an 18th-Century Woman Really Own?

  Ever wondered how much clothing did the average woman have in the 18th century? Read on to learn how clothing represented the socioeconomic position of women.

• Cutting to the Chase

  In the 18th century, gowns were made by cutting to the body for the perfect or stitching a new one based on an old garment. Learn more about the process.

• Whisking Away

  Our Master of Historic Foodways department shares his favorite cooking utensil from the 18th century. Learn more about this historic kitchen equipment.

• Five Things You Should Know About 18th-Century Medical History

  Eighteenth-century professional medicine was heavily influenced by the science of the Enlightenment. While superstitious beliefs were not promoted in the professional textbooks, practitioners occasionally mention details when they encountered them.In 1735, John Atkins comments about fetishes in his book, “A Voyage to Guinea, Brasil, and the West-Indies.” He notes that …

• Missing the Forest for the Trees

  Guests at the Joinery love to ask how my coworkers and I became 18th-century woodworkers. It’s a fair question; our job is certainly unusual, and I would be lying if I said that my guidance counselor suggested “historic woodworking” to me as a career opportunity. I can’t speak for my …

• Compounding Conserve of Mint

  Conserves are a form of medication compounded in the 18th century by apothecaries. Read to learn about conserve of mint to remedy stomach ailments.

• Compounding Chalk Decoction

  Discover the 18th-century remedy for heartburn. Read more about compounding chalk decoction from natural ingredients such as chalk, nutmeg, and more.

• Compounding Tincture of Cinnamon

  Discover the steps to compound an 18th-century Tincture of Cinnamon used to cure stomach ailments. Read on to learn about the ingredients and instructions.

• Compounding Simple Bitter Infusion

  Learn about compounding a simple bitter infusion to aid digestion in the 18th century. Read to learn about the instructions and natural ingredients.

• Compounding Vinegar of Roses

  Explore the 18th-century formulas and techniques to cure ailments. Read on to learn about compounding Vinegar of Roses used to alleviate headaches.

• To Make Ends Meet: Working Women in the 18th Century

  Explore the life of the working women in the 18th century. Learn how female participation in the workforce enabled America to become an economic superpower.

• Weedkiller

  Weeds affect pant and crop growth by robbing them of nutrients and water. Uncover the 18th-century techniques to killing weeds in horsedrawn plow and more.

• Brickyard Update: We’re Moving!

  The cat is likely out of the bag, at this point: the Colonial Williamsburg brickyard, through the generosity of our lovely donors, is moving from its current location at the bottom of the hill below the cabinetmakers’ shop to the much more scenic and accessible spot behind the carpenters’ yard …

• The Enslaved Men and Women of Margaret Hunter’s Millinery

  In a previous post last July, we introduced the story of Margaret Hunter, one of Williamsburg’s milliners, who made and sold fashionable ornaments to accessorize both wardrobes and lifestyles. As an unmarried woman who owned her own shop, she represents an important example of one of many female entrepreneurs whose …

• Restoring Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery Posts

  In early July of this year, I received an inquiry from Juan, a Boy Scout from Maryland. He was looking for an African American blacksmith working in Maryland to assist with an Eagle Scout project to rehabilitate the Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church cemetery in Glen Arm, Maryland. The …

• Innermost House Frame Project Blog

  For over forty years, I served as Master Carpenter in the Historic Trades Program at Colonial Williamsburg. In many ways, we perform the same work as carpenters did in 18th-century Williamsburg: we raise and cover new buildings, we build onto existing structures through additions, we remove and upgrade woodwork, we …

• Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing, Oh My!

  Lambing season is a sign of a busy time to come in the Weaving, Spinning, and Dyeing shop. We will receive wool from our Coach and Livestock Department that has been shorn from our lambs. The lambs receive their first haircut before their first winter to help them put on …

• Conversations with Master Tradesmen

  Today we’re taking a deep dive into the world of Historic Trades. Colonial Williamsburg is home to 29 different trades and skills, ranging from woodworking to blacksmithing, as well as 18th century practiced skills like our Fife & Drum Corps, and our musicians that perform and play throughout the Historic …

• Educational Conferences Go Virtual

  Discover the preparation for virtual educational conferences at Colonial Williamsburg. Read on to learn about the team effort in materializing the event.

• Poisons, Potions and Panaceas

  Read about the 18th-century plant-based remedies shown in the hit series Outlander and learn about their uses today. Learn more about these treatments.

• Call it Macaroni

  Who knew Macaroni had an association with fashion and cultural history in the 1800s. Read on to discover what the term meant and how it exploded to popularity.

• The Bird Fancyer’s Delight

  New species of birds were discovered, and new vocations and artwork sprang up relating to birds and bird catching. Pet birds were taught to sing.

• Tobacco: My View From Under the Sun

  I remember the moment that the picture above was taken at Great Hopes Plantation over ten years ago.

• Provisioning the Fleet to Fight Contagion and Maintain the Health of the Crew

  Uncover the 18th-century theories about the cause and prevention of diseases of that era. Read on to learn about Dr. Blane's advice on prevention on ships.

• London’s Saint Thomas’s Hospital, A Teaching Hospital for Two Williamsburg Practitioners

  Saint Thomas Hospital in London was a teaching hospital for two Williamsburg practitioners. Learn more about this historical institution of the 18th century.