Woodard's history stretches back further than almost any furniture brand still operating today. It started as a general furniture maker in a small Michigan town, long before "outdoor furniture" was even a category.
A Company That Predates the Civil War's End by One Year
Woodard's roots trace to 1866 in Owosso, Michigan. For its first several decades, the company made general household furniture, not the wrought iron patio pieces it's known for today. That changed in 1936, when Lee Woodard's sons, Joseph, Russell, and Lyman II, introduced the company's first wrought iron patio furniture. It was a genuine turning point, launching a tradition the brand still builds on nearly a century later.
A Place in American History, Literally
Woodard's outdoor furniture has ended up in some remarkable places over the decades. It's furnished the White House Rose Garden, and pieces from the brand have earned a place in the Smithsonian's collection. That kind of institutional recognition doesn't happen for furniture makers who cut corners. It happens for a brand that's spent generations refining the same craft.
Nearly 160 Years, Still Evolving
What's kept Woodard relevant across nearly 160 years is a willingness to work in more than one material. The brand's wrought iron heritage remains, but its modern lineup spans aluminum, all-weather wicker, and NexTeak, a wood-alternative material used in collections like Sierra. Lines like River Run and Cane bring distinctive texture to the catalog, while the Latitude collection takes a completely different approach with an open steel wire frame.
That range is really the throughline of Woodard's whole story. A company doesn't last a century and a half by making one thing one way forever. It lasts by adapting the same underlying craftsmanship to whatever materials and styles each generation wants.
Explore the full Woodard collection to see nearly 160 years of American furniture-making for yourself.
Common Questions
When was Woodard founded?
Woodard's roots trace back to 1866 in Owosso, Michigan, making it one of the oldest furniture makers still operating today.
What is Woodard best known for?
Woodard is best known for introducing wrought iron patio furniture in 1936, a tradition that's furnished the White House Rose Garden and earned the brand a place in the Smithsonian's collection.
Does Woodard only make wrought iron furniture?
No. While wrought iron is Woodard's heritage, the modern lineup spans aluminum, all-weather wicker, and NexTeak, a wood-alternative material, across collections like Sierra, River Run, and Cane.
Is Woodard furniture made in the USA?
Woodard has a long American manufacturing history dating back to its 1866 founding in Owosso, Michigan.