Moravian Tile Works in Doylestown PA: Step Back in Time to an Artisanal Wonderland
Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in Doylestown PA offers a unique experience to travel to a bygone era of American artistry and craftsmanship. Stepping into this historic tile-making site, you can watch craftsmen transform local Bucks County clay into exquisite Mercer tiles, walk the decorative halls, and roll up your sleeves and give it a go in one of the many workshops.
Tileworks Tour at Moravian Tile Works
Henry Chapman Mercer was a visionary American archaeologist, tile-maker, and designer known for creating iconic concrete masterpieces like Fonthill Castle, Moravian Pottery and Tile Works, and the Mercer Museum. At the Tileworks Tour at Moravian Tile Works in Doylestown PA you can see firsthand how Bucks County clay is hand-pressed into intricate molds, meticulously glazed, and fired in kilns, following the same traditional methods Mercer pioneered.
Tour with Experience: Make Your Own Tile at Moravian Museum
For a hands-on experience, consider the Tour with Experience (check schedule for dates and times) where visitors can craft their own 3"x3" Moravian Tile. Guided by experienced artisans, you’ll shape your tile using Mercer’s authentic glazes and techniques. No prior experience is needed to create your original piece of art, which will be fired and ready for pick-up in about four weeks (shipping options are available for an additional fee). It’s an exciting opportunity to take a piece of Mercer’s craftsmanship home with you and connect more personally with the artistry of Moravian tiles.
Steam Engine Tour at Bucks’ County Moravian Tile Works Museum
A unique feature of the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works Museum in Pennsylvania is the Steam Engine Tour where, if you time your trip accordingly, you can see the Metropolitan Steam Engine in action. The steam engine is a powerful piece of history integral to Mercer’s original production process and the tours are held occasionally. The next one is on January 31st 2025. This tour includes an in-depth look at the important role of this steam engine and other historic machinery used in tile production, offering a rare glimpse into the technology that powered American tile-making a century ago.
Specialty Workshops at Moravian Tile in PA
In addition to the tile workshops, Moravian Tile Works offers several fun and interesting workshops that aren’t necessarily tile focused but incorporate an element of craftsmanship and earthiness. For example, a recent Art+Yoga series offered an exploration of the elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) in relation to Yoga, everyday life and creative expression and was available as a series or individual classes, which offered travelers an opportunity to partake on the days they were in town. View the full Moravian Tile event schedule.
With its immersive tours, intricate tiles, and hands-on activities, Moravian Tile Works in Doylestown PA provides an unforgettable exploration into Pennsylvania’s rich artistic past. Whether you’re watching artisans at work, making your own tile, or admiring the historic steam engine, each experience here brings you closer to the timeless beauty of Mercer’s legacy and provides an original souvenir of your time in Bucks County.
Moravian Tile Works is located at 130 E Swamp Rd in Doylestown, PA, about a 25-minute drive from the Inn at Bowman’s Hill. View the driving directions.
