In the heart of Virginia, the rhythmic sounds of Colonial Williamsburg—hammers on anvils, clacking looms, and hand saws cutting wood—fill the air. These sounds represent the heartbeat of the Historic Trades Program, where nearly 100 masters, journeymen, apprentices, and interpreters practice 18th-century trades across 300 acres—one of the world’s most comprehensive efforts to preserve pre-industrial crafts.
What began as tourist demonstrations evolved into a vital repository of vanishing knowledge. Colonial Williamsburg increasingly relies on historical research, archaeological findings, and technical exactness rather than folklore to ensure authenticity.
“The foundation recognized that these skills weren’t merely quaint demonstrations but represented irreplaceable cultural heritage that needed preservation,” says Ted Boscana, Colonial Williamsburg’s director of historic trades.
Through a structured apprentice system mirroring 18th-century practice, craftspeople use period-appropriate tools and techniques while working toward mastery. This ensures knowledge transfers from generation to generation, as it would have in Colonial times.
The breadth of preserved crafts is remarkable. Visitors witness metalworking trades, including blacksmiths, gunsmiths, and silversmiths; textile trades with weavers; woodworking trades, such as wheelwrights and cabinetmakers; and food-related trades with historic cooking and farming practices.
Research shows historic trades interpretation connects more effectively with audiences than traditional exhibits. According to the National Training Laboratory, learning through demonstration can be 90 percent more effective than reading.
Colonial Williamsburg’s commitment represents a vital bridge between past and present, ensuring that the knowledge, skills, and craftsmanship that built early America remain living traditions. Boscana says, “As we face an increasingly automated world, these tangible connections to our handcrafted heritage become ever more precious cultural treasures.”
Craft & Forge
Where 18th-century soul meets 21st-century style.
Step into a world where history lives and breathes through every carefully crafted piece. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s Craft & Forge brand celebrates the soul of early American craftsmanship and reimagines it for today’s consumers.
This isn’t your typical heritage brand playing dress-up with nostalgia. Craft & Forge represents something far more important: a passionate commitment to the timeless art of crafting with a purpose. Every piece emerges from the same spirit that drove Colonial artisans to perfect their trades—a commitment to excellence where function meets beauty, and quality trumps quantity every time.
The brand’s philosophy pulses through its products and its values statement: “An appreciation of craftsmanship and community, a mindset that embraces tradition.” Each product carries the DNA of centuries-old traditions while serving the practical needs of contemporary living.
What sets Craft & Forge apart is its unprecedented access to living history. Picture master craftsmen and journeymen practicing over 20 different trades within Colonial Williamsburg’s 300 acres, their expertise flowing directly into modern product development. It’s a collaboration that transcends time itself.
Taylor Linens’ collaboration with Craft & Forge for their Dotted Vine bedding. Photo by Brannan Blascak Photography
Karen Clancy, a Colonial Williamsburg weaver, at the loom making a checked fabric. She’s using a temple that acts as a stretcher by applying tension to the fabric to keep the width consistent with the warp spread in the reed. Photo courtesy of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
“Craft & Forge celebrates the rich history of American craftsmanship, creating beautiful products inspired by the legacy of artisanship found at Colonial Williamsburg,” explains Kiri Franco, director of brand licensing for Craft & Forge and Williamsburg brands. “The historic trades and skills community at Colonial Williamsburg offers our brand partners the chance to draw upon the expertise of these masters and journeymen in more than 20 different trades found on-site. It’s an incredible opportunity that allows for meaningful collaboration on the pieces being designed.”
The magic happens when historical authenticity meets contemporary sophistication. Each partner brand embraces clean lines and purposeful design, selecting materials built to last generations rather than seasons. The result? Products that whisper stories of America’s artisanal past while seamlessly fitting into modern homes and lifestyles.
The Craft & Forge universe spans experiences that touch every corner of daily life. Bedding from Taylor Linens, where block-printed designs on premium cotton percale are enhanced by intricate pin tucks that speak to generations of textile masters; Mission Mercantile’s leather goods that blend vintage charm with modern minimalism, directly inspired from 18th-century treasures in Colonial Williamsburg’s archives; specialty coffee blends from Mobjack Coffee Roasters, small-batch roasted at their Yorktown headquarters; Harney & Sons Yaupon and Chai tea blends honoring America’s indigenous brewing traditions; handmade woven pillows from Divine Home in a nod to traditional craftsmanship; and sustainable woven rugs from Entryways.
As Craft & Forge continues expanding its reach, it offers something increasingly rare: products with purpose, stories with substance, and the profound satisfaction that comes from owning pieces built to last lifetimes. This is more than shopping—it’s participating in the preservation of America’s artisanal soul and ensuring future generations will inherit these timeless traditions.
In a world racing toward tomorrow, Craft & Forge reminds us that the best way forward sometimes means honoring where we’ve been.
Visit CraftAndForge.com for more information.
Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters in nearby Yorktown partnered with Craft & Forge on roasted coffees. Photo by Brannan Blascak Photography
Charleston Forge, a Craft & Forge collaborator, honors the designs and techniques of the past while producing furniture with a modern vibe. Photo by Brannan Blascak Photography
Craft & Forge x Mission Mercantile leather wallet. Photo by Brannan Blascak Photography
Featured image courtesy of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. This article originally appeared in the August 2025 issue.
