Founded in 1977, the Shaker Heritage Society is a non-profit historic preservation group which runs interpretive educational programming about the Shakers and their influence on the region; it is also actively concerned with preserving the integrity of the Watervliet Shaker Historic District, America's First Shaker Settlement.
The Church Family site, where the Society's offices are located, is the heart of the 770 acre historic district; eight remaining buildings, fields, apple orchard, Ann Lee Pond and nature preserve, and the Shaker cemetery comprise an intact, contiguous site.
The society is renovating the 1848 Shaker Meeting House, to serve as headquarters for its educational activities. It offers special group tours of the building and historic district, craft courses, workshops, lectures, and several annual events throughout the year.
The
is the symbol used by the Shaker Heritage Society as its logo. It represents
both the Shaker's spiritual name, Wisdom's Valley, and Watervliet, the name of
this area in the 19th century before it was changed to the town of Colonie in
1895.
Daily Features include: Exhibits, Tour of Meeting House, Self-Guided Walking Tour, Museum Shop. Special Features include: Saturday Guided Tours (June - October at 11:30 am, 1:30 pm.), Other Guided Tours by appointment, Shaker Learning Fair, Workshops, Festivals and Special Events.
Museum hours: 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday
$3.00 per person donation
Children under 12 Free
$1.00
Self-guided Walking Tour Brochure
From Exit 4 off the Northway (I-87) go west 1.3 miles on Albany Shaker Road. Go straight at the STOP sign onto the grounds of Ann Lee Home. The second building on your right is the Shaker Meeting House
SHAKER HERITAGE SOCIETY
1848 Shaker Meeting House
875 Watervliet
Shaker Rd. Suite 2
Albany, NY 12211
Telephone: (518) 456-7890,
Fax: (518) 452-7348
Email: shakerwv@crisny.org
For information on activities and events at the Shaker
Heritage Society, please go the the Calendar of Shaker Events featured
in this web site.
