James Anderson’s Blacksmith Shop — Local services in Williamsburg

A great place to visit and learn about Colonial America metalsmithing and forging. Colonial Williamsburg is a wonderful place to visit that really brings American history to life. It offers visitors a unique glimpse into 18th-century America with real shops, people dressed in period costumes and buildings maintained as they would be in Colonial times. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, this living history museum spans over 300 acres and includes restored buildings, interactive exhibits, and costumed interpreters. The site is an immersive experience where you can walk along cobblestone streets, interact with blacksmiths, shopkeepers, and even participate in colonial-era activities. I would recommend starting your experience at the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center but you can go directly to the city where there is plenty of parking in parking garages along the outer streets. You can see lots of different working places in the city like the blacksmith shop. It is excellent. It is well marked off the south side of E Duke of Gloucester Street. A ticket that can be purchased at the visitor's center is required for entry. You walk through a courtyard and around the side where a forge is operating and 2 people are working the shop. One spent the entire time we were there answering questions asked by visitors. There were samples of the various items that they have made on the counter as you enter. It was wonderful and both staff did a wonderful job of explaining how they are worked during the colonial era at the shop. They explained what they would and would not be making for the community during that period. It was fascinating and impressive. I would definitely recommend this stop for all the makers out there as well as people interested in the history of the area during colonial...

The Blacksmith Shop of James Anderson is off of the main road, behind some houses, and we almost missed it. The shop is fairly large with several bellow setups to heat metal where it can be beat into shapes. This shop produced more tools and general iron work and very few horse shoes. It is very interesting watching the smiths work the hot metal and seeing the items...

This was hands down my favorite part of colonial Williamsburg! The lady speaking had extensive knowledge and the whole shop was so interesting. At the time we were there they were making a dual purpose sort of tool that was an axe with capability to be a tobacco pipe and I’m not sure the historical accuracy there but it certainly was intriguing to watch...