November 12, 2026 Speaker, Paul Zelesnikar

Paul Zelesnikar has worked in living history museums

since the age of 19, taking on a variety of roles that have

included working aboard square-rigged ships, farming

tobacco, and portraying soldiers from both the 17th and

18th centuries.

His career in woodworking began as a pit sawyer before

progressing to traditional carpentry. In early 2002, he began

a six-year apprenticeship at the Wheelwright Shop at

Colonial Williamsburg. Upon completing his

apprenticeship, Paul went on to build and maintain historic

vehicles and rolling stock for Colonial Williamsburg and

other notable institutions, including Mount Vernon, Fort

Ticonderoga, and the Smithsonian National Museum of

American History.

In recognition of his expertise and contributions to the

craft, Paul holds the distinction of Yeoman and has been

granted the Honorary Freedom of the Worshipful Company

of Wheelwrights of the City of London.