Preserving Craft, Inspiring Possibility

Where traditional heritage practices and the visual arts come together

Located in King William County, Virginia, Preservation Labs is a rural learning campus dedicated to teaching traditional craft practices as heritage arts. Using real historic structures as “labs,” we provide immersive, hands-on learning experiences that honor their artistry, cultural history, and material traditions.

Preservation Labs focuses on heritage craft disciplines rooted in the cultural traditions of historic structures, while also embracing visual arts that deepen our understanding of historic environments, including:

  • Window restoration (signature Heritage Trades workshop)

  • Photography (signature Visual Arts workshop)

  • Historic millwork (historic carpentry)

  • Historic masonry

  • Lime-based materials

  • Timber framing

Preservation Labs welcomes:

  • Adults who want to learn traditional heritage crafts

  • Participants who want to explore how visual arts—especially photography— can reveal the stories and aging patterns of historic structures

  • Women 50+ exploring new creative and artistic pathways

  • Experienced creatives exploring classical techniques

  • Stewards of historic buildings who value hands-on understanding

  • Beginners drawn to craftsmanship, heritage, and meaningful making

    No degree or prior experience is required — only curiosity, patience, and a willingness to learn. The campus centers on a late-18th-century mill complex currently under restoration as a living laboratory for hands-on learning in heritage craft.