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Artifact of the Month - Pie Safe
Before refrigeration, keeping food fresh was one of the greatest challenges in the kitchen. A pie safe is a ventilated cupboard designed to protect baked goods, butter, cheese, and other foods from insects, rodents, and dust while allowing air to circulate through decorative punched-tin panels. Despite its name, a pie safe stored much more than pies and was an essential piece of furniture in many American homes during the 19th century.
In addition to preserving food, pie safes often served as general kitchen cupboards, holding dishes, serving ware, cutlery, linens, and other household necessities. Many were handcrafted by local cabinetmakers or built at home, with the punched-tin panels featuring unique decorative patterns that reflected the maker's skill. As refrigeration became common in the early 20th century, pie safes were frequently repurposed as storage cabinets, a role many continue to serve today.
The pie safe can be found in the Walton-Smith Log Cabin.
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