Haute Cuisine of the Open Hearth  |   Jewish Cooking Traditions  |   The Art of Pottery  |   Sheep to Mittens  |   Frontier Blacksmithing

Interactive Adult Classes


What skills were needed on the frontier from 1840 to 1910? Dallas Heritage Village's interactive adult classes provide a hands-on experience rarely available anywhere else. Want to learn to cook on an open-hearth or cast iron stove? How about throw your own piece of pottery? Maybe you've always wanted to knit a pair of mittens with wool recently sheared from the sheep at the 1860s Farmstead. Or perhaps you've always wanted to know how to use blacksmithing tools to make your own nails?

Dallas Heritage Village members receive a $5 discount on each pottery, knitting or Historical Cooking class. Members receive a deeper discount for the blacksmithing classes. Click here for additional information about becoming a member of Dallas Heritage Village.


Adult classes are an ideal outing with friends, family and co-workers.

Adult classes are private and must be arranged in advance. To allow for one-on-one instruction, there is a maximum number of students allowed to participate in any class.

To schedule your class or for additional information, please call Melissa Prycer at 214-413-3671 or email Melissa Prycer.
Full payment is due when booking (excludes blacksmithing classes).
Classes are held rain or shine at the Village.


Is there a class you would be more interested in attending that is not currently offered? We want to hear from you! Click here to share your ideas.

Haute Cuisine of the Open Hearth



Explore and discuss what foods were common in the American South, what period cookbooks were available and a wide range of open hearth cooking techniques. Prepare a full meal using period recipes and historic techniques in the 1860s Farmstead open-hearth log kitchen. An instructional hand out and bibliography will be provided. (Ages 16 and older only.)

Because of the heat in the kitchen and our Texas weather, this class is offered seasonally from September to December and February to March. Classes are only held Tuesday to Friday or Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Class Limit: minimum 3; maximum 6 students
Includes all supplies.

Cost per Student: $50 for non-members; $45 for members

For additional information and to sign up for your class, please email Melissa Prycer or call 214-413-3671.

Jewish Cooking Traditions



Make bread in the nineteenth century Jewish Tradition! You'll learn how bread preparation evolved and the folk traditions surrounding it. Prepare challah using period recipes and cooking techniques on a cast iron, wood-burning stove. Churn butter for your bread while it rises. You even get to take home your bread and butter. An instructional hand out and bibliography will be provided. (Ages 12 and older only.)

Because of the heat of the stove and our Texas weather, this class is offered seasonally from September to December and February to March. Classes are only held Tuesday to Friday or Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Class Limit: minimum 2; maximum 4 students
Includes all supplies.

Cost per Student (includes kosher box lunch): $45 for non-members; $40 for members

For additional information and to sign up for your class, please email Melissa Prycer or call 214-413-3671.

The Art of Pottery



Get your hands dirty in the Potter's Shed. Learn the basics of pottery, including wheel throwing. the class is approximately 4 hours and includes a pottery tool kit. (Also available as a family class.)

Class Limit: minimum 2; maximum 4 students
Includes all supplies.

Cost per Student: $60 for non-members; $55 for members

For additional information and to sign up for your class, please email Melissa Prycer or call 214-413-3671.

Sheep to Mittens



Explore the history of textiles by learning the techniques of how they prepared wool over 100 years ago. You'll start by cleaning and carding the wool generously provided by the Village's own flock of sheep from the 1860s Farmstead. Take a turn on the spinning wheel or learn how to use a drop spindle. You'll even discover knitting techniques and basic weaving on the 1860s Farmstead loom. The class takes approximately 4 hours and includes knitting needles and drop spindle. (Also available as a family class.)

Class Limit: minimum 2; maximum 8 students
Includes all supplies.

Cost per Student: $40 for non-members; $35 for members

For additional information and to sign up for your class, please email Melissa Prycer or call 214-413-3671.

Frontier Blacksmithing



Learn the basics of blacksmithing during this two-day, four hours per day, class. You'll begin by building a coal fire and discovering the difference between iron, mild and tool steel. You'll blacksmith without modern tools to make nails, nail headers and a pair of tongs. Classes are small so you can have maximum anvil time and one-on-one instruction with an experienced blacksmith. Price includes two days (four hours per day), the textbook A Blacksmithing Primer and all supplies. (Also available as a family class.)

Father/son blacksmithing for teens between ages 15 and 17 also available.

Please wear a long sleeve, 100% cotton shirt and 100% cotton long pants.

Because of our Texas weather, this class is not offered in January, July or August.

Class Time: Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and/or Sundays, Noon to 4 p.m.

Class Limit: no minimum; maximum 3 students
Includes all supplies.

Cost per Student:
Adults: $175 for non-members; $160 for members
Teens (15 to 17, with adult): $125 for non-members; $115 for members

All classes are private and require a reservation at least four weeks in advance of your preferred date. There is a $50 non-refundable deposit due when booking a blacksmithing class. The balance is due one week prior to the first class day. For additional information and to sign up for your class, please email Melissa Prycer or call 214-413-3671.