Craftsmanship from the Hills: Furniture Traditions of Arthurdale

Arthurdale Heritage is proud to announce a new exhibition, Craftsmanship from the Hills: Furniture Traditions of Arthurdale. 

This exhibition opens Friday, November 20, 2026, from 6-8pm in Arthurdale’s historic Center Hall. Craftsmanship from the Hills showcases exceptional, hand-crafted Colonial Revival furniture, made by Arthurdale homesteaders in the 1930s and 1940s. This exhibition includes 65 pieces of rare and one-of-a-kind furniture and woodenware alongside homesteader-made pewter, copper, and woven items.

Carpentry has had a place in Arthurdale since it was established in 1933. Along with weaving and metalworking traditions, furniture-making became vital to the nation’s first New Deal community amidst the struggles of the Great Depression. Not only did these handicraft programs impart new skills and provide much-needed employment, but they afforded homesteaders the opportunity to create beautiful–and usable–hand-crafted objects. Although the cooperative furniture operation struggled financially, each piece in this exhibition showcases the handcrafted quality and artistry of Arthurdale furniture. 

Please RSVP to the grand opening by November 13, by clicking here or contacting the office at ahi@arthurdaleheritage.org or 304-864-3959.

After the grand opening celebration, the exhibition will be open to the public until February 5, 2027, from Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm as well as select Saturdays. Check Arthurdale Heritage’s website and Facebook page for special holiday hours. 

This project is supported with financial assistance from the West Virginia Department of Tourism and the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.

Hope to see you there!
Elizabeth Satterfield

Curator & Director of Education, Arthurdale Heritage