The Shaker Village in Canterbury, New Hampshire, is one of the few Shaker communities still open to visitors. The Shakers came to America from England in late 1774 and were part of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing.
Today, there are 25 original buildings, four reconstructed, and 694 acres of rolling pastures and gardens available to walk and learn. In 1969, the Shaker Village was established as a non-profit museum, and in 1993 it was declared a National Historic Landmark.
Tours, special events, exhibits, craft demonstrations, and the museum store shopping are a few of the ways you can learn more about the Shakers and enjoy the wonderful views. During the summer season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, there is also a Café at the Horse Barn for lunch, dessert, and snacks.
Several sites, both authentic and modern, are available for rent to hold meetings, weddings, or private parties. This is how I came to be there last weekend because the NH Master Gardeners held a fall meeting there including a tour and a catered luncheon.
Doors? There were so many doors, my head was spinning. Almost every building had two doors because the sisters and brothers each had their own entrance. And for bonus shots – I saw one second floor door with no stairs, and an outhouse with two doors.
In 1850, there was a population of 300 in Canterbury. The only remaining active community now is in Sabbathday, Maine, with two residents, one brother and one sister.
Sabbathday Shaker Village covers 1800 acres, 17 historic structures and hosts special events such as the Maine Festival of American Music, nature hikes, Maine Farm Day, Apple Saturdays, Shaker Christmas Fair, and many Shaker inspired craft workshops throughout the year conducted by local Maine artists.
Shaker Trivia:
- They were first referred to as Quaking Shakers because they trembled during worship services
- They have believed in equality for men and women since the 1700’s
- They preferred rural communal living
- Favored simplicity in dress and speech
- Their largest population of 300 in Canterbury was in 1850
- Shakers were celibate and did not believe in procreation so they adopted children
- They were pacifists
- Canterbury Shakers patented a washing machine in 1876
Linked to Norm Frampton’s Thursday Doors, October 25, 2018
These are great doors, Judy. It must have been fun to wander around. Their simplistic ways led to some great styles of furniture and architecture. The simple, clean lines of these buildings highlights the craftsmanship and a focus on practical vs. decoration.
There was a large community in nearby Somers, CT, but I don’t know what is left that one can visit.
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It would be interesting to know if your CT community is a museum as well.
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I have to check into that.
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Also (I think) Aaron Copland borrowed from them when he wrote “Appalachian Spring.” I know only a little about them, but what little I know is fascinating. As I recall, they had pegs on the walls and hung their chairs on those pegs during the day so it would be easier to clean and so they wouldn’t be distracted from chores with a temptation to sit. I’d never make it as a Shaker! I’d also be very dubious about a double-doored outhouse, especially if it were a one-seater. Thanks so much for this visit to their story.
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I had the same thought about the out-house. Separate doors for brothers and sisters, but arriving at the same spot, after all?
It’s the little details that make these places such fun to visit.
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Two separate stalls for lack of a better word. 🙂
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Agreed! To go back in time is always the wonder of it, but I have my limits, and a crowded outhouse would be one of them!
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Two seater – I should have clarified that. 🙂 You are right on about the cleaning because that was talked about with regard to their stone walks which are still there. Everyone was expected to walk on the stone walk and not the grass so they didn’t track dirt into the house.
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Boy, does that take me back to Catholic school! As I said, I’d never make it as a Shaker.
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These buildings are fantastic. Great doors. I bet you would never have found so much as a smudge on one of those many windows!! 😄
The two doors on the outhouse is intriguing. I’m wondering if it was divided inside for ‘his’ and ‘hers’! 🙄
Thanks for sharing their history. Really interesting. I saw a photo once of a Quaker home with chairs hanging on wall pegs, so Oddment’s explanation may be absolutely correct. Fascinating.
🔹 Ginger 🔹
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Yes, there was a wall between the outhouse doors. The tour guide explained the use of two doors with the sisters going in one and the brothers going in another so I wondered if it was the same thing with the outhouse. I found the use of two doors fascinating right along with the fact that they felt women and men were equal as far back at the 1700’s.
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Male-female equality, so far in history. That’s interesting, indeed. I wonder how that really played out in day-to-day life.
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There were a couple of items discussed including that a woman was in charge when they first came to America, they worshipped God both as a male and a female, and there were always one sister and one brother in charge. Very interesting to read about it.
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How did we, over time, divorce ourselves from this common sense approach to gender. Other cultures have held women in high esteem. Somehow, we’ve almost exclusively turned our backs on that.
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Fascinating! Again, the interesting things I’ve learned from you about places both here and abroad…! “Oddment” reminded me of the chairs on pegs. (But I never knew the reason for hanging them up!) Years ago, I received a catalog from Shaker Village’s gift shop. I don’t think I ever bought anything, but admired the clean simple lines and basic utility of their pieces.
New Hampshire seems to have everything packed into that little sliver of a state! We’ve seen so much of it here, too – out-of-this-world food and beverage, handsome colonial buildings, covered bridges, botanical amazement, Dover police horses, mountains, historical sights……and of course, each and every Thursday – a graceful door to admire, most often from right in your own backyard! This post certainly has something for everyone! Lots to chose from, indeed! If you ever embark on “Wednesday Windows” you could rightfully revisit these pictures!
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People should pay you to read their blogs. 🙂 I’ll be the first to sign up, friend. 🙂
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We’ve never toured this area, so your pictures are quite welcome. So much history and culture rolled into one place.
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I had only been there once before for just a ‘look see’ and had not been on a tour so this was pretty fascinating.
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This post was very interesting to me. We have a Shakertown that closed in 1910 and was opened as a tourist attraction in the 1960s – located in Pleasant Hill, KY (near Lexington). It used to be an annual trip for us but it’s been quite a few years since I’ve been back. Very similar buildings and such an interesting history.
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Glad it brought back fond memories, Lillian, and their history is certainly interesting as we compare it to our technology driven society today.
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Wow. Thank you so much for sharing a few insights into Shaker culture and architecture. I love the his and hers entrances and agree with everyone else about the two doors on the outhouse, which seems rather fraught. As an Australian, this really was such a lovely, novel experience. Many thanks.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Glad you had time to stop and found it interesting. Before last weekend, when I thought ‘Shaker,’ I thought really good furniture. But, there is a lot of history there as well. 🙂 Hope you are enjoying your spring as we are heading toward winter.
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Judy: Thanks for these photos and facts. I did not know most of this about the Shakers.
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You’re welcome, and I didn’t know most of this either. 🙂
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What a neat place to have toured. The doors are neat, and I liked the trivia.
I thought they were extinct in this country. Thanks for setting me straight on that score.
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Almost extinct. 🙂
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Wonderful shots Judy. This must have been a fun visit. I’m wondering if they had any workshops you could visit? I find myself fascinated with the tools and techniques they used for building things and making furniture.
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I did not see a workshop or tools, but I sure would have liked to. 🙂
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Celibacy? No procreation? Small wonder they aren’t a “world power” religion 😉
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Thank you for the chuckle.:-) That part of their belief sure does make you shake your head.
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I know! Seriously. Did they think people were going to flock to join them?!
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I have been to the Shaker Village in Kentucky and the furniture and pretty wooden details they created by hand in the woodwork and furniture fascinated me. I was saddened by their exclusivity since Faith to me means reaching outward. I did feel their history was interesting. Your photos were beautiful, Judy! 🙂
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Glad the post evoked good memories. Hope all your family is doing well. 🙂
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I was wondering why there were so few Shakers left and then I read the part about celibacy. That’s kind of defeating the purpose isn’t it? You really found an abundance of doors this week, Judy. My favourite is the one in the yellow building with the gable roof over it. It looks very welcoming.
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You certainly have it right. It’s hard to sustain a community without traditional families to keep it going. It sure is an interesting philosophy compared to today’s society.
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Very interesting! I have never heard of this religious group. They seem to have invented quite a few useful tools for society and it is a so good that places like this can be kept for future generations to visit..👏👏
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Yes, it is great that one can visit and learn from past generations. It’s always good to see a different side to things.
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Equality is great most place, but not in the outhouse (at least at the same time!) 🙂 Looks like a great place to visit and thanks for giving me a glimpse of it. I just wondered what sort of snacks there were at the Horse Barn: haystacks, pellets, grain? 🙂
janet
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Good question. It would be fun to see what’s available. 🙂
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You must have been in door heaven. A little sad when a group ceases to be. Their time has passed, I guess.
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Yes, applause for equality but too bad an entire community has disappeared.
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You had me at Shaker and seized me with doors, but then you said celibate and lost me. LOL Good mercy. I had no idea. None. And lady, I know a lot about a lot of religions — this escaped me completely!
Love the door to nowhere upstairs. Glad they preserved this for our education. It’s a lovely place.
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Definitely interesting but not self-sustaining. 🙂
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Wonderful photos and lots of doors for you. I was amazed when I toured just how advanced their infirmary and surgery was for that period…and the kitchen equipment! Wow!
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How interesting! I guess it was nice that they adopted children (hopefully they brought in kids who were in great need of a loving home) but a religion based on celibacy? Yikes!
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I’m guessing that’s why they are basically extinct today. 🙂
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There are a LOT of doors there. An amazing number of doors.
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Doors and more. Interesting post Judy.
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I learned something today. Thanks for this awesome blog and the facts at the end!
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Did you happen to see any Quaker quilting? I know our Mennonite ladies are avid seamstresses by the clothing they wear. And the Amish are world reknown quilters. Just curious. Would love to tour that site!
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I did not see any quilts, but that sure would have been a plus. 🙂
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I’ve always found Shakers an interesting sect. I love the simple lines of their furniture and buildings. I wonder what the second floor door was for? Punishment? 😉
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🙂 The tour guide mentioned that in some of the residences, the brothers slept on the first floor, and the sisters slept on the second floor. The door to the second floor was on the outside so that if you climbed the stairs you could be seen. That drew a few chuckles.
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Oh, I’ve been to the Shaker village in NH! It’s so lovely and peaceful and, yes, full of doors!
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Great doors and interesting post! Love the door with no stairs. =)
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I didn’t go inside that building, but sure hope there is a good lock on that door. 🙂
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Loved your post Judy, my husband and I found the Shaker Village to be very interesting on our visit when we were living in Danville. At that time The Creamery was a very good restaurant that you had to make reservations for. I understand that they have since built the larger cafe.
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I think I’ll need a return trip and plan to have lunch. 🙂
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