Artisan Workshop Weekend

October 4-5, 2025

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Workshop pre-registration is required.

Learn a unique skill and craft lifelong memories. Work alongside one of Fort William Historical Park’s heritage artisans in a small group setting to create your very own 19th century inspired items.

Available workshops:

Candle luminary
Fire steel forging
Mukuk (birch bark basket)
Nail and hook forging
Wooden stool
Wool spinning and dyeing

Participants must be 16 years of age or older. No previous experience in the artisan skills is necessary to participate in these workshops. All workshops include instruction, tools, materials, and a historic-themed lunch.

Candle Luminaires

Tinsmith Artisan Workshop

In this beginner-friendly workshop, participants will produce a contemporary, pierced tin candle shade. Participants will learn and develop basic tinsmithing skills, such as cutting, punching, bending, and seaming tinned plate.

This workshop will take place in indoors in the modern tinsmith shop.

Availability: Sunday only, 10 a.m.

Duration: 5 hours

Capacity: 2 participants

Age requirement: 16+

Experience level: No previous experience required

Cost (+HST): $200 per participant

Participants are required to bring the following required safety equipment for use during the workshop:

Full coverage, comfortable shoes
Full-length pants

FWHP will provide participants with following optional safety equipment for use during the workshop:

Safety glasses
Ear plugs
Cut resistant gloves

Fire Steel Forging

Blacksmith Artisan Workshop

Participants will learn basic forging skills and techniques of this age-old profession to create a hand forged fire steel.

If time allows participants will get a chance to experiment with more advanced work. The workshop will take place either in the historic Armourer Shop or modern Blacksmith Shop. The historic Armourer Shop is a minimally heated building. Please bring layers and dress according to the outdoor temperatures.

Availability: Saturday or Sunday, 10 a.m.

Duration: 2 hours

Capacity: 2 participants

Age requirement: 16+

Experience level: No previous experience required

Cost (+HST): $100 per participant

Participants are required to bring the following required safety equipment for use during the workshop:

CSA approved steel toe boots
Non synthetic clothing, such as cotton, silk and wool
Full-length pants
Weather appropriate clothing, the workshop may take place outdoors
Prescription safety glass (If participants don’t own their own, FWHP will provide over glasses eye protection)

FWHP will provide participants with following required safety equipment for use during the workshop:

Safety glasses
Ear plugs
Leather gloves
Leather apron

Mukuk (Birch Bark Basket)

Indigenous Skills Artisan Workshop

Participants will learn basic techniques of basket-making using birch bark and spruce roots. The Anishinaabe (Ojibwa) mukuk is both beautiful and versatile, and ideal for storage, display, or as a distinctive gift.

This workshop will take place in a modern facility on the historic site.

Availability: Saturday or Sunday, 10 a.m.

Duration: 5 hours

Capacity: 6 participants

Age requirement: 16+

Experience level: No previous experience required

Cost (+HST): $200 per participant

FWHP will provide participants with following optional safety equipment for use during the workshop:

Cut resistant gloves

Nail and Hook Forging

Blacksmith Artisan Workshop

Participants will learn basic forging skills and techniques of this age-old profession to forge square nails in the same fashion as blacksmiths during 1815. Once participants grasp nail forging, they will move on to hooks.

If time allows participants will get a chance to experiment with more advanced work. The workshop will take place either in the Historic Armourer Shop or Modern Blacksmith Shop. The Historic Armourer shop is a minimally heated building. Please bring layers and dress according to the outdoor temperatures.

Availability: Saturday or Sunday, 2 p.m.

Duration: 3 hours

Capacity: 2 participants

Age requirement: 16+

Experience level: No previous experience required

Cost (+HST): $150 per participant

Participants are required to bring the following required safety equipment for use during the workshop:

CSA approved steel toe boots
Non synthetic clothing, such as cotton, silk and wool
Full-length pants
Weather appropriate clothing, the workshop may take place outdoors
Prescription safety glass (If participants don’t own their own, FWHP will provide over glasses eye protection)

FWHP will provide participants with following required safety equipment for use during the workshop:

Safety glasses
Ear plugs
Leather gloves
Leather apron

Wooden Stool

Carpentry Artisan Workshop

In this beginner-friendly workshop, participants will learn the basics of staked furniture design and construction to create their own wooden stool. A simple stool offers infinite options for customization and is a great way for beginners to learn the foundations of traditional furniture making. Participants will use a combination of traditional and modern tools, such as hand saws, drawknives and auger bits, to create their one-of-a-kind piece of furniture.

The workshop will take place either in the historic Carpenter Shop or historic Cooperage. Both buildings are minimally heated. Please bring layers and dress according to the outdoor temperatures.

Availability: Saturday or Sunday, 10 a.m.

Duration: 5 hours

Capacity: 2 participants

Age requirement: 16+

Experience level: No previous experience required

Cost (+HST): $160 per participant

Participants are required to bring the following required safety equipment for use during the workshop:

Full coverage, comfortable shoes
Full-length pants

FWHP will provide participants with following optional safety equipment for use during the workshop:

Safety glasses
Ear plugs
Cut resistant gloves

Wool Spinning and Dyeing

Heritage Fibre Arts Workshop

Participants will spin pre-carded wool from Fort William Historical Park’s heritage sheep flock, turning it into beautiful, functional fibre, using wooden drop spindles. Afterwards, participants will learn how to dye wool using plants from the local environment and receive a pre-spun mini skein of yarn simmered in dye pots to take home. Participants will also learn about the steps to turn raw sheep fleece into usable fibre, the science of wool fibre, a brief history on the domestication of sheep, and the global cultural significance of our reliance on animal fibres through the ages.

This workshop will take place in a modern facility on the historic site.

Availability: Saturday only, 10 a.m.

Duration: 3 hours

Capacity: 6 participants

Age requirement: 12+

Experience level: No previous experience required

Cost (+HST): $85 per participant

Visitor Information

Workshop Registration

Pre-registration for workshops is required.
Spaces are limited per workshop.
Participants will be required to sign a waiver at the start of the workshop.

What to Bring

Safety Equipment: Refer to the required safety equipment outlined in the associated workshop description.

Cash: There are no ATMs available on site.

Lunch: All workshops include a historic-themed lunch provided by Fort William Historical Park.

Getting Here

Car: Fort William Historical Park is located at 1350 King Road, Thunder Bay. Parking is free.

Bicycle: Cyclists are welcome. Bike racks are available to use free of charge.

Thunder Bay Transit: Fort William Historical Park is accessible by the 4 Neebing bus route. Please visit the City of Thunder Bay Transit website for specific bus route information.

Boats & River Access: Boats cannot dock at events. There is no admissions entrance via the Kaministiquia River.

RVs: Camping is permitted at our campground with a reservation. RVs are not permitted in the parking lot for overnight stays.