Book a tour of a working blacksmith studio in Lexington Mass.
Watch and Learn: Traditional Skill of Blacksmithing in a Colonial Town
It used to be that every town had a blacksmith - they were the most essential tradesmen, a one-stop shop for metal items including pots, hammers, nails, axes, even toasters.
In this engaging tour you will meet a working blacksmith who helps keep this age-old craft alive. Visit his small backyard shed and learn how the artist’s hammer helps to meld and bend metal into recognizable objects. Discover how hand-made tools were made and used and handed down for generations and the process of converting coal to coke in the forge.
Blacksmithing is a craft that combines material science, the technical knowledge of how to manipulate metal, skilled hand-eye coordination, malleability, chemical reactions, and destructive distillations.
You'll watch forging and hammer work and see tools that have been handed down for generations. Learn what drives us to continue this ancient craft and a blacksmith's role in society both past and present.
Please note: Forge may or may not be operating, depending on weather conditions and timing of visit. Limit of four people.
Blacksmith visit: 1-2 hours
Cost: Donation requested; suggested minimum donation $35 a person to cover materials, prep time, labor, etc.
To book, call 617-458-1809 or email Keenesax@gmail.com. Tours are private and offered on demand.