Virginia Metalcrafters Historic District

The Virginia Metalcrafters Historic District is a complex of brick factory buildings and outbuildings in Waynesboro that once specialized in metal reproduction and casting. Today, these renovated industrial spaces house a brewery, winery, and other local businesses operating within the historic structures.

The site began in 1890 as a stove manufacturing operation before transforming into a metalcrafts facility in 1925 that focused on sand-cast reproductions. The factory closed in 2006 after decades of supplying metal pieces to museums and historic sites.

The metalwork produced here served major American institutions like Colonial Williamsburg and Monticello, showing how this place supplied objects that are now part of the nation's heritage. The factory techniques shaped the identity of the district and remain visible in how the spaces are now used.

The district is located along East Main Street and easy to find with clear signage marking the historic complex. You can walk through the outdoor areas and peek into the renovated spaces where shops and restaurants are currently operating.

Craftspeople here worked with multiple metals including bronze, iron, aluminum, brass, and pewter, creating objects that ended up in museum collections across America. This versatility in materials and techniques made the operation noteworthy among regional manufacturing facilities.