Labor of Thine Hands: Trades in Early Texas

Ponder for a moment all the skillsand trades practiced by others that you rely upon each day. Could you survive without them? Just as you require the skills of others, so did early Texans. Blacksmiths repaired their plows and wagons; potters turned vessels for storing their water and food; and carpenters built their homes and filled them with furniture. While often viewed as self-sufficient, urban and rural communities were linked together by the goods and services each offered. As you explore the Washington Townsite, we encourage you to visit with the various tradesmen and women to discover more about the work they are doing and how their skills were needed by the community. For more information, please contact Ben Baumgartner at baumgartner@thc.texas.gov, or 936-878-2214 ext. 248