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 Updated: 8/27/2012 
Mount Lebanon Shaker Village
New Lebanon, New York
Description

The Shaker Museum and Library is committed to interpreting for the public is unparalleled collection and the historic site to tell the vital story of America's Shakers as it prepares to relocate the Museum from Old Chatham to Mount Lebanon Shaker Village. Mount Lebanon was home to the Central Ministry and governing community for America's Shakers from 1787 to 1947.

Mission

The mission of the Shaker Museum and Library is to utilize its unparalleled collection and the historic North Family at Mount Lebanon to educate people about the history, values, and craftsmanship of the United Society of Believers within the wider context of American history.

History

The Shaker Museum and Library was founded in 1950 by John S. Williams, Sr. on the site of his Old Chatham farm, in collaboration with the Shaker leadership then extant at Canterbury Shaker Village, NH, Sabbathday Lake, ME, and Hancock Shaker Village, MA.

The Shaker Museum was the first and, at that time, only public museum dedicated to preserving the life, work, art and religious history of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing, commonly known as the Shakers.

Artifact Collections

The strength and scope of the collection resulted from the relationship that developed between the Museum's founder, John S. Williams, and members of the Shaker leadership at Mount Lebanon, New York, Canterbury, New Hampshire, Sabbathday Lake, Maine, and Hancock, Massachusetts. With his interest in these people and their history, Williams recognized the need to collect and preserve Shaker artifacts and records so that future generations could learn about the Shakers. He collected objects from every facet of Shaker life, including machinery, tools and equipment, household furnishings, textiles, baskets, oval boxes and woodenware, books, and manuscripts materials that document the temporal and spiritual lives of Shakers. His relationship with Shakers resulted in the establishment of the Shaker Museum and Library in 1950, the first institution devoted to Shaker history.

Library

The research library in Old Chatham remains open year-round by appointment.

Access: General Public, Students, Scholars, Members

Appointment required: True

Services
Architecture and Landscapes

Restoring the Historic Mount Lebanon North Family: The imprint of architecture and the landscape is central in understanding the Shakers' intent of creating Utopia. Visit the historic site as we continue restoration. This summer we start work on the Iconic Great Stone Barn to stabilize the walls, the Brethren's Workshop and the Wash House. Walk the Kitchen Gardens, Water Works, then down to the Shaker Pond.

Tours

Guided tours of the New Lebanon, NY North Family Shaker Village. All tours are free unless otherwise noted. Pamphlets are available in the Granary (gift shop) for self-guided tours of the site

Gift Shop
Group Tours
Street Address
.202 Shaker Road New
New Lebanon, NY 12125
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 630
New Lebanon, NY 12125
phone: 518-794-9100
e-mail: contact@shakerml.org
home page: www.shakermuseumandlibrary.org
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Museum Type(s)
Archaeology
Culture
History
Historic House
Historical Society
Staff
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

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March 15 - 18, 2025

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The Inn at Virginia Tech

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Hosted by: Virginia Association of Museums

2025 Conference Theme: Looking Back to the Future For the past several years, many museums have been deeply involved in planning programs and events to observe the 250th birthday of the United States of America. While this is certainly an occasion to celebrate, this anniversary also forces us as a society to reckon with ongoing inequities and challenges within the US that go back to its inception. As museums ask their audiences to look to the past to understand the present and shape a better future, perhaps now is a good moment in time for Virginia’s museum community to take pause and look back at its own history. We are excited to see you in Blacksburg in March 2025 as we take a moment in our hectic schedules to take pause and visit our diverse pasts. Let’s uncover and share our histories to build a more resilient Virginia museum community.

Ohio Museum Asociation 2025 Annual Conference - Athens

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Saturday, March 29 - Monday, March 31, 2025

TBA

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Hosted by: Ohio Museums Association

"Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential

The heart of innovation is transformation – shaking up our established way of doing things by introducing new methods, new ideas, and new approaches to both obstacles and opportunities

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Join us in Athens, March 29-31 as we explore these topics and more at the 2025 Ohio Museums Association’s Annual Conference: Innovation: Museums and Reaching our Potential.

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By facilitating discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities, the conference will empower current and future museum professionals and to expand their impact, embrace new challenges, and create meaningful connections with their audiences and communities.

Arkansas Museums Association 2025 Conference

March 31 - April 3, 2025

Washington, Arkansas

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Monday, March 31 - Thursday, April 3, 2025

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"From the Ground Up: Cultivating Essential Skills in Museums

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For more information, please email arkansasmuseums@gmail.com.

New York Museum Association 2025 Conference in Ithaca, NY

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Saturday, April 5 - Tuesday, April 8, 2025

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MANY’s annual conference helps museum professionals build a network to share perspectives, tools, and skills that develop excellence across the field. Our goal is to nurture a community of practice, advance institutional change, and create an inclusive and expansive New York team of collaborators who learn together.

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