Hancock Shaker Village

Laundry and Machine Shop

Hancock Shaker Village is located in Pittsfield, MA. It was founded in the late 1780's, and Shakers resided there until 1959 when the last Shaker passed away. Now you might wonder what Shakers are? Well, that is really the nickname given to a group of individuals who belonged to the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing. This was a communal religious group originally founded in Manchester, England. They migrated to America in 1774 and began to convert individuals to their group and live in what we would call a commune now, but was a communal group. Oh, and the reason why they are called Shakers - well, that is because of the way they move during their religious ceremonies.

Upon arrival in America, they embraced the tenets we hold dear, such as religious freedom and racial and gender equality. They were celibate, so for the group to continue, they needed to constantly recruit new members, so their leader at the time, Mother Ann, went out on missionary trips. That would continue under subsequent leaders.

There were nineteen communities in all, but this one in Pittsfield is the one I visited about 20 years ago. By the time of my visit, it had been turned into a museum that taught us about the Shakers' way of life. There are so many places to visit in the village, such as the herb garden pictured below and the laundry and machine shop pictured above.

Herb Garden - Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield, MA

You can even see how the Shakers lived - in a very simple way. That was their goal - hard work, simplicity, and freedom, all while worshiping in their own way.

Shaker House Bedroom

Check out their website for more information: Home - Hancock Shaker Village, and plan your visit to this historic village. The peace you will encounter as you tour the village and see how this unique religious group lived will be an experience unlike anything else you have done.