Discover the story of American craftsmanship in Handmade: The Crafting of America. From practical beginnings to bold, modern expressions, this exhibition traces the evolution of craft and celebrates human creativity. Each artifact — some shown publicly for the first time — reveals a narrative of resilience, resourcefulness and entrepreneurial spirit. Explore why we make, how we innovate and the people we create for. Handmade: The Crafting of America is divided into four key areas: Folk Art and Craft Stories of community, entrepreneurship, cultural identity and individual eccentricity are told through the diversity of American craft. The Shakers An example of a uniquely American community, the Shakers were a 19th-century religious group who believed in prayer through work. This belief resulted in exquisite crafts made in a variety of materials. The Arts and Crafts Movement The Arts and Crafts movement sought to revive handcraft as a reaction to the Industrial Revolution, which completely transformed America during the middle of the 19th century. The movement raised the importance of high-quality, handcrafted items and a return to traditional craftsmanship. Modern Craft in the 20th and 21st centuries Craft persists as a creative endeavor through the industrial reality of the past 120 years, reflecting the values and concerns of society.