Day 5 - The Shaker Heritage Society
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the ever-changing herb garden
Tucked away close by to Albany airport sits an extraordinary part of history: the world’s very first Shaker settlement. Established in 1776, the Watervliet Shaker Historic District was once home to 350 members of this Christian sect who were characterized by their ingenuity, hard work, celibacy, and energetic form of worship. Now it is managed and maintained by the equally resolute Shaker Heritage who work tirelessly to keep the story of the Shakers alive, whilst preserving the architecture and grounds for visitors to continue to experience and enjoy.
the shaker Meeting house
History
The Shakers (known more officially as The United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing) were founded in 18th century in England. Believing that Christ would be reborn as a woman, from 1758 they were led by the beloved Mother Ann Lee. After a religious revelation she decided the Christian sect should escape the persecution in their home country and move to the new world. Their very first settlement? Modern day Colonie.
The Shaker believed spiritual ties to be far more important than blood, as such they created their own ‘families’ which lived communally in separate, self-sufficient homes. The families would come together regularly at the Meeting House to worship, sing, and dance - often watched by ‘the world’ (non-shakers) who wanted to know more about this unique group. The Shaker were renowned for their industrious, economical and inventive nature, growing, selling, and canning their own food and seeds, as well as producing their own clothes, tools, and machinery (including the flat broom which is alleged to have been invented at this very site!). The Shaker religion spread across New England and beyond, at one point having between 2000-4000 members in 18 different communities, however at the turn of the 20th Century their population began to decline, leaving only a handful of communities, and later individuals, remaining.
The Shaker Heritage Site in Albany was listed on the National Register in 1973 and is open to the public from March to December, with the organization offering a variety of educational programming, from baskets weaving to foraging for edible plants. For more information visit their website here >>
Ann Lee pond (photo credit all trails)
Things to Do
Head to the grounds for a self-guided tour: visit the Meeting House, take some photos of the surrounding architecture, stroll around the beautiful herb garden and see some heritage animal breeds.
Want more information? Take a guided tour by emailing educator@shakerheritage.org
Hike the Ann Lee Pond & Nature Preserve trail and see what wild nature you can spot
Visit the Shaker Cemetery to see the final resting place of the Shaker’s spiritual leader, Mother Ann
Attend the wonderful Harvest Craft Fair (masks required) and pick up some one-of-a-kind goodies from over 50 vendors
Looking for an events venue? Consider the shabby chic of the Hay Barn or the acoustic wonder that is the Meeting House….
Hungry? Stop by Mazada for the perfect mix of Afghan cuisine and Mediterranean cuisine
The Shaker Heritage Site is open from dawn till dusk daily
Want more information about the Shaker Heritage Site? Check out our bitesize video series, #ShakerSaturdays >>
