Colonial Williamsburg curator John Watson discusses the considerations curators and preservationists must make in deciding how to conserve, preserve, restore, and display historical artifacts.

Colonial Williamsburg curator Barbara Luck and conservator Pam Young discuss the restoration and preservation of an 1830 watercolor of a young slave girl, done by Mary Custis (who married Robert E. Lee in the same year).

Curator John Davis describes what he looks for when determining if a piece of metalwork is truly colonial in origin.

Medical historian Susan Pryor describes the role of the apothecary in the colonial society, and looks at colonial understanding of disease and treatment.

Naturalist Mark Catesby (1683-1749) studied and made watercolors of the wildlife and plants of colonial America. Interpreter Robb Warren talks about the man and his art.

Architectural historian Carl Lounsbury describes the Bodleian Plate, a copper plate preserving an illustration of Williamsburg in 1747. The Plate has been used as reference in the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg.

To listen to this podcast, select "All 2008 podcasts," and scroll to the August fourth program.

Architectural historian Ed Chappell explains the reconstruction of the Charlton Coffeehouse in Colonial Williamsburg and the function of the coffeehouse when it stood.

Colonial Williamsburg architect Scott Spence discusses some of the research and work that goes into restoring original 18th-century buildings and creating new buildings to 18th-century standards.

Note: this podcast is no longer available. To view a transcript of the original podcast, click here.

Revolutionary-era cannon are artifacts of war technology's evolution. Director of Historic Trades Jay Gaynor and Master Blacksmith Ken Schwarz describe the process of recreating a light infantry three-pounder.

Click here for part one of this podcast.

Revolutionary-era cannon are artifacts of war technology's evolution. Director of Historic Trades Jay Gaynor and Master Blacksmith Ken Schwarz describe the process of recreating a light infantry three-pounder.

Click here for part two of this podcast.