Weathervanes are considered to be a form of folk art. I'd like to write more about them in the future, but in the meantime, here are a few places that love their weathervanes and cupolas. If you know of any other towns that feature a lot of them, please contact me so that I can add them to my research. 📧
Above: The Marina at Kings Mill, Williamsburg, Virginia, US, beside the James River.
UPCOMING: The hummingbird weathervane is mine, and the cupola was made by an Amish company in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, US.
I saw this beauty at an antique shop in Southport, North Carolina, US. I don't think I've ever seen another seahorse weathervane. People living near beaches often have weathervane art with a connection to the water--things like boats, fish, mermaids, etc. Though I could easily see this in my living room!
Alexandria, VA, US
- See this 🚧article
Ashland, Virginia, US
- See this 🏗️article
Monticello, Charlottesville, VA
Embassy Row, District of Columbia, US
- See this upcoming article 🚧
Fredericksburg, VA (2024_11_04)
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, US (2023)
- See the photo above. Horses and carriages play heavily in weathervane art for the Lancaster market.
Montpelier and Farrington, Virginia, US
Mount Vernon, Virginia, US
- See this article
Piney River to Rockfish Gap, Virginia, US (2024_11_07)
Richmond, Virginia, US
- I have many photographed and need to pull them together.
Southport & Supply, North Carolina, US
Swansboro, North Carolina, US
- I have many photographed and need to pull them together.
Williamsburg, Virginia, US
- Weathervanes in Colonial Williamsburg Virginia
- Weathervanes at Abby Aldridge Rockefeller Folk Art Museum
- The Winds of Change
- I have many photographs and need to pull them together. But until I do, here are some from Abby Aldridge Rockefeller Folk Art Museum: Arrow, Butterfly, Cockeral, Grasshopper (temporarily)🦗, Horse Trotting, Locomotive and Tender 🚂, Massasoit, Pigeon, Rooster
This is a fascinating story came from Horsehints:
The gilded grasshopper weather vane on top of the building was created by Shem Drowne, in 1742...Gilded with gold leaf, the copper weather vane weighs eighty pounds and is four feet long. The weather vane is believed to be modeled after the grasshopper weather vane on the London Royal Exchange, based upon the family crest of Thomas Gresham. The weather vane was first, accidentally, brought and placed atop the Wren Building at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.
After 3 months, designers realized that they had actually ordered a butterfly weather vane which was mistakenly shipped to Charlestown, SC (renamed Charleston in 1783). Six weeks later, order was restored as Faneuil Hall received its grasshopper, William and Mary got its butterfly, and Charlestown Town Hall was left with no weather vane at all.
Wilson, North Carolina, US (2024_08)
- This is a very classical or maybe 19th century arrow motif (left & top). Bottom right is on the brand new Royal Farms (which is known for its fried chicken).
- Kangaroo Express, another NC gas station and fast food marts chain, has kangaroo weathervanes (blessedly, they are not known for fried kangaroo).
- BONUS! The unique Whirligig Park & Festival in Wilson, https://whirligigfestivalnc.org/ andhttps://girleatsworld.curious-notions.net/whirligig-festival/
All photographs ©️2014 to present, Valutivity. All rights reserved.