Our Mission
Canterbury Shaker Village preserves and interprets the legacy of the Canterbury Shakers, providing a place for learning, reflection, and renewal of the human spirit.
Vision
Canterbury Shaker Village actively engages people of all ages, fostering the Shaker values of community, simplicity, and innovation.
Values
The Canterbury Shakers transformed their inheritance into a museum for the benefit of all. Therefore, we have a duty of stewardship. These values are powerful tools for fulfilling that duty.
- Community grounds us in basic kindness and respect for all, welcoming and celebrating divergent beliefs and traditions.
“We make you kindly welcome.”
- Simplicity keeps us focused on what is most essential, with an overriding spirit of humility in all we do.
“‘Tis the gift to be simple, ‘tis the gift to be free.”
- Innovation guides creative problem solving and continuous improvement in our stewardship of the Village and our service to others.
“Do all your work as if you had a thousand years to live and as if you knew you must die tomorrow.”
What is Canterbury Shaker Village?
Canterbury Shaker Village, Inc., is an internationally-known non-profit museum founded in 1969 to preserve the heritage of the Canterbury Shakers. Designated as a National Historic Landmark for its architectural integrity and significance, the Village has 25 restored original Shaker buildings, 4 reconstructed Shaker buildings, and 694 acres of forests, fields, gardens, nature trails, and mill ponds under permanent conservation easement. Tours, programs, exhibits, and events help visitors chart their own journey of simplicity, caring, and community.