Jamestown

18. Glasshouse

Williamsburg, VA

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The early Jamestown colonists opened a glass factory in 1608, soon after they arrived from England. The original site is located at Glasshouse Point, a mile from the Historic Jamestown Visitor Center. There was a large demand for glass in England and Virginia had the natural resources to create glass products, but unfortunately, very few of the English colonists in Jamestown had any skill or experience at making glass. They attempted to recruit glassworkers from Poland, and Germany, as well as skilled workers from England.  The early attempts seemed encouraging, but quickly fell flat. A second attempt at glassmaking was established in 1621 under the guidance of Captain William Norton, who recruited glassworkers from Italy. Unfortunately, the second attempt seemed ill-fated from the beginning. The English and Italians had a great deal of difficulty getting along with one another. The glasshouse building blew down that same year, followed by a devastating Indian attack in 1622. The Italians became ill and Captain Norton died. George Sandys, resident treasurer for the Virginia Company, tried once more, but gave up the effort in the spring of 1624. The reconstructed glasshouse is built to resemble how a 17th century glass factory would have looked. Handmade glass items are sold at the glasshouse.