Hancock Shaker Village is one of America’s finest and most authentic living-history museums and Shaker sites. Set on 750 acres of preserved farm, meadow and woodland in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the museum’s 20 historic buildings, including the iconic Round Stone Barn, are located within a walkable 10-acre Village setting. HSV houses an impressive collection of original Shaker furniture, art, objects, tools, textiles and other artifacts. The Center for Shaker Studies, a research facility, is located in the modern Visitor Center, along with conference and exhibit space, a Café, Museum Store, and adjacent event deck.

Mission

Hancock Shaker Village brings the Shaker story to life and preserves it for future generations.  By telling the Shaker story, with a particular focus on the Hancock community, we’re able to appreciate and share the aesthetics, beliefs, achievements and controversies that have defined the Shaker experience in America.  We do this by preserving, interpreting, collecting and acquiring historic structures and sites, artifacts, and documentary material pertaining to Shaker life as we present a multi-themed Village experience and a broad menu of educational programs.

Hancock Shaker Village is a center for reflection on living a principled life, as the values that the Shakers embraced resonate with us today more than ever. Shaker values include equality, pacifism, community, sustainability, responsible land stewardship, innovation, simplicity and quality work.

Our Village

  • Served as a Shaker community from 1790 to 1960.
  • The most authentic and comprehensive Shaker site in the United States.
  • Called The City of Peace, it was the third of 19 Shaker communities founded from Maine to Kentucky.
  • Comprised of 20 buildings, including 18 original historic structures, on 750 acres of farm, field, woodland, watershed and hiking trails.
  • Founded as a Museum (and incorporated as a not-for-profit organization) in 1960 by a group lead by Amy Bess Miller.

Our Museum Collections

  • Over 22,000 original artifacts, including the premier collection of Shaker “Gift Drawings,” objects and structures in America.
  • An extensive research library, including more than 2,000 original photographs, maps, diaries and sheet music.

Our Honors and Awards

  • Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968.
  • Accredited by the American Association of Museums in 1980.
  • Rated three-stars by the Michelin Guide.
  • Included in One Thousand Places to See Before You Die (USA).
  • Editor’s pick – Yankee Magazine’s Travel Guide to New England.
  • Best of the Road – Rand McNally.
  • Excellent Ratings on Trip Advisor since 2012.

Operations

  • Hancock Shaker Village is governed by a 24-member Board of Trustees and further supported and advised by a Council of Overseers.
  • The Village operating budget of $1.8-million is derived from earned revenue from admission receipts, Village Store, Café, licensing agreements, program revenue and fundraising.
  • Our 9 full-time staff, 30 part-time and seasonal staff and more than 75 volunteers keep the Village operating.