Saturday, July 26 | 10 am - 4 pm
Webb Barn, Old Wethersfield
Demonstrations, workshops, and family-friendly activities
Step into the world of master craftspeople and discover the time-honored skills that built America. On Saturday, July 26th from 10 am to 4 pm, Webb Deane Stevens Museum opens its doors to showcase the traditional trades that keep our historic treasures alive.
Watch skilled artisans demonstrate traditional building techniques like masonry, woodworking, and limeslacking on WDS preservation projects, including the major roof replacement currently underway on the historic Webb House. Browse our vendor market, watch weaving demonstrations on our newly restored loom, and get tips for your own restoration projects. Food, Colonial games, and live demonstrations all day.
- Witness centuries-old trades still in practice today
- Discover professional preservation techniques
- Learn from master artisans using traditional methods
- Get insider tips for your own historic home restoration
- Play Colonial games and get hands-on learning
- Live Q+As about ongoing restoration projects at WDS
This hands-on day welcomes everyone—whether you're a preservation enthusiast, restoring your own historic home, or simply fascinated by traditional craftsmanship. Bring the whole family to witness skills passed down through generations, where visual beauty and uncompromising quality were not just ideals, but the standard.
Limeslacking | Masonry | Timber Framing | Loom Weaving | Colonial Textiles | Wool Carding | Window Glazing | Children’s Games | Local Vendor Market
Experience the dedication and artistry that preservation requires, and discover why these traditional trades remain essential to protecting our architectural heritage.
Made possible with the generous support of the Richard Hampton Jenrette Foundation.