Learn More About Weathervanes

During the 1300's in Britain, two families of weathervanes emerged: the rooster (ancestor to the representational vane) and heraldic vanes (depictions of coats-of-arms, ancestors to the ornamental vane). From these two families came all types of weathervane ornaments.

Colonists brought the tradition of weathervane-making to the colonies and carved their first vanes from wood. By 1740, vanes of copper and other metals appeared in the Boston area. New England remains the heart of coppersmithing in America.

Today, you can read wind speed and direction with an analog instrument or an electronic gauge. We've come a long way in our ability to measure the wind.