Department 56 Quality and Authenticity Since 1976, Department 56 has captured the imaginations of families with the tradition of displaying lighted Village buildings throughout the home. For truly inspired decorating, be sure you're starting with genuine Department 56 buildings and accessories. You'll find our name embossed on the bottom of each handcrafted piece. a. Attachments such as chimneys and church towers are sculpted separately, then skillfully added at a later stage of production. b. Door and window openings are hand-cut with extreme precision. Each opening requires four to six individual hand-cuts. c. Many buildings include custom, die-cast metal trim and details. Some lighted Village buildings include motion or sound, while others can be personalized or decorated for all seasons