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preserving 200 years of
Shaker life in Canterbury.
Today, the museum at
Canterbury interprets its
Shaker life through its
exhibits, 30 historic buildings,
extensive gardens, network
of nature trails, programs,
and tours. It is also a unique
resource for learning about
early Shaker community
planning and design as well
as the many periods of
Shaker life.
The Canterbury Shaker
Village archives consist of
materials generated, received, or purchased by the Canterbury Shakers
over their 200-year history. Archival holdings include approximately
10,000 photographic images and 35,000 manuscript items. The
museum also has an enviable collection of Shaker objects, manuscripts,
and photographs along with surviving architecture from all periods of
its history. In 1923, after 130 years of farming, manufacturing, and productive
The postcard-perfect setting hosts tens of thousands of visitors each
year, making it one of New Hampshire’s most popular cultural existence, declining membership forced the Shakers to close their
community and put it up for sale, with the remaining members moving
attractions. The Village offers both indoor and outdoor guided tours to the Canterbury community. In 1927, the Shakers sold the site to the
seven days a week. Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette, an order of Catholic priests,
ensuring the continued tradition of spiritual, communal life on the site.
In 1985, the property changed hands again when the remaining
ENFIELD SHAKER MUSEUM: buildings and grounds were purchased by a group of private investors
“CHOSEN VALE” in a move to restore the community into a living history museum.
Today, the Enfield Shaker Museum is a nonprofit, membership
Enfield, NH organization dedicated to interpreting and preserving the complex

history of the Enfield, NH Shaker village. In 1979, Enfield Shaker
www.shakermuseum.org
Village was added to the National Register of Historic Places as a
Founded in 1793, the village in Enfield, New Hampshire, known as Historic District.
“Chosen Vale,” was the ninth of 18 Shaker communities to be Over the decades and through the efforts and support of hundreds
established in this country. At its peak in the mid-19th century, the of volunteers, the Museum has purchased a number of the Village’s
community was home to three “Families” of Shakers. Here, Brothers, original historic structures, acres of its farmland and pastures, and an
Sisters, and children lived, worked, and worshiped. They practiced extensive collection of Shaker artifacts, all to preserve and share the
equality of the sexes and races, celibacy, pacifism, and communal story of the extraordinary people who once lived and worked in the
ownership of property. To support themselves, the Enfield Shakers made Enfield Shaker community.
brooms, buckets, spinning wheels, tubs, dry measures, and shirts. They Visitors can participate in a full schedule of individual and family
also made and sold applesauce, maple syrup, herbs, medicines, and seeds. events, workshops, tours, exhibitions, and craft demonstrations, as well
Striving to create a heaven on earth, the Enfield Shakers built more as enjoy the gardens’ many sights and smells, watch skilled artisans
than 100 buildings and farmed over 3,000 acres of fertile land. Its most demonstrate their traditional crafts, learn the story of the Enfield
noted structure was the Great Stone Dwelling, the largest-ever Shaker Shakers through exhibitions of their furniture, tools, clothing, and
edifice and largest residential building north of Boston at the time historic photographs, and browse through the Shaker Store.
it was completed in 1841 for the Church Family. It had four
full stories and a total of six stories. Men and women lived
in the building but entered doors specific for their gender to
separate quarters.

28 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles