This small, building has been part of the park since 1973. It originally served as Shades of Earth Pottery, run by Hershel Cannon. The park acquired the property in 1979 and turned it into a working candle shop to help keep an important historical craft alive.

Before modern-day electricity, artificial light was essential to a person's life. Families had to make or buy candles, and dipping, molding, or pouring wax was time-consuming but necessary. By keeping this tradition alive, we offer visitors a hands-on way to connect with the earlier people of Washington and better appreciate the efforts required to light homes before the flip of a switch.

Candle-making is also a story of innovation. Early settlers used whatever materials they could find, tallow from animals, beeswax from hives, or spermaceti from whales, to produce light. By the 19th century, industries made candles cheaper and more available by refining petroleum into paraffin wax. The invention of the plaited wick in the late 18th century made candles burn more efficiently with less smoke and trimming. Just like today’s advances in energy and technology, these improvements were driven by the need to make life easier.

Even now, candle-making is still relevant. Many people are turning back to traditional skills and sustainable practices, choosing handmade over mass-produced goods. Our Candle Shop helps bridge that gap between history and today by showing how early Washington residents relied on craftsmanship and resourcefulness.

Visit the Candle Shop, watch live demonstrations, and experience history hands-on. Before you leave, take home a handcrafted candle as a reminder that history is something to learn about, connect with and carry forward.