Trades

Historic Trade: Apothecary

What was it like to be sick or injured in colonial times? Meet the apothecaries and learn how medicine, wellness, …

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 …

Trades

Historic Trade: Bookbinder

Today we might take books for granted, but in colonial America only the rich could afford a large library. Binding …

Trades

Historic Trade: Brickmaker

During the summer, brickmakers mold and dry thousands of bricks. In the autumn, the bricks bake in a giant wood-fired …

Trades

Historic Trade: Cabinetmaker & Harpsichord Maker

Cabinetmakers made fashionable furniture like tables, chairs, desks, and chests of drawers. Watch expert woodworkers fashion the intricate details of …

Trades

Historic Trade: Carpenter

Carpentry was one of the most common trades in Williamsburg. From one end of town to another, houses, shops, sheds, …

Trades

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 …

Trades

Historic Trade: Cooper & Wheelwright

Wheelwrights and coopers created many of the items that colonists used every day. Wheelwrights made wheels for vehicles such as …

Trades

Historic Trade: Engraver

Engraving a silver or gold object would not only create a beautiful design, but would add security in the 18th …

Trades

Historic Trade: Farmer

Engage with our farmers as they work throughout the year to grow food for the community and to prepare the …

Trades

Historic Trade: Founder

Visit the founders on the site of the Geddy family home. See skilled hands at work crafting bronze, brass, silver, …

Trades

Historic Trade: Gardener

Watch the historic gardeners use 18th-century tools and techniques to grow herbs, vegetables, and decorative flora. Plots within the garden …

Trades

Historic Trade: Gunsmith

See how our gunsmiths make rifles, pistols, and fowling pieces using the tools and techniques of their 18th-century predecessors and …

Trades

Historic Trade: Joiner

Joiners were woodworkers who produced the finish work for buildings including doors, windows, shutters, fireplace surrounds, and built-in cupboards. Watch …

Trades

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 …

Trades

Historic Trade: Milliner and Mantua-Maker

Fancy yourself an 18th-century customer as you shop for the latest ornaments and accessories. Consult with the mantua-maker about updating …

Trades

Historic Trade: Printer

In an age before TV, radio, and the internet, the printed word was the primary means of long-distance mass communication. …

Trades

Historic Trade: Silversmith

Watch as silversmiths transform coins and outdated silverware into fashionable pieces for the dining room, parlour, and personal adornment. Silver …

Trades

Historic Trade: Tailor

View a variety of fabrics and garments that clothed colonial Americans, from elegant suits in the latest London styles to …

Trades

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 …

Trades

Historic Trade: Weaver

When English imports were cut off by the Revolution, local weavers came forward to fill the need for everyday items. …

Trades

Historic Trade: Wigmaker

Routinely wearing a wig may seem strange to us, especially for men, but it communicated the wearer's elegance, his station …