It's not terribly fascinating to watch most people do their day jobs. But most people aren't blacksmiths. Assignment #194 in the 365 Things to Do in Memphis is to watch metalworkers at work in the National Ornamental Metal Museum's smithy.

Becuase the Metal Museum serves as both a gallery and  a live / work space for blacksmiths, you can watch artists at work just about every day that the musuem grounds are open.

They work in the smithy, a small brick workshop that's usually got its doors wide open. When you walk in, there's a narrow space where you can stand out of the way of flying sparks and watch the artists at work.

(Side note - when they're not working on their own projects, the Metal Museum's artists work on commissions and repairs for the public.)

The Metal Museum grounds are free whenever the museum is open. If the smithy door is open, feel free to walk in, just stick to the space assigned to visitors.

Go there:

National Ornamental Metal Museum

374 Metal Museum Dr
Memphis, TN 38106-1514
(901) 774-6380