West Virginia’s handcraft tradition began with early settlers in the 1700s and 1800s, who made essential items by hand using natural materials like wood, leather, and metal. Practicality was key, but craftspeople often added decorative touches. Blacksmiths, tinsmiths, and leathersmiths made tools and goods, while women used needlework to turn quilts and other everyday items into art.

They also made soap, candles, baskets, and barrels. While many crafts faded by the late 1800s, West Virginia’s isolation helped preserve these traditions longer than in other regions.