Guided Tours of the Village
Canterbury Shaker Village is a National Historic Landmark and museum nestled among the rolling hills of wooded central New Hampshire. With a distinctive campus of 25 original and 4 reconstructed Shaker buildings, as well as nearly 700 acres of forests, open fields bordered by stone walls, well-tended gardens and picturesque mill ponds, Canterbury Shaker Village is a must-see for anyone touring the region.
Come take a tour, explore the stories of the Canterbury Shakers, and discover the core values that shaped their collective communities. The Shakers are known for their impact on agriculture, technology, modern architecture, and design.
Guided Tours | Tickets Available Now
For all questions regarding tours, please contact Kyle Sandler at 603-783-9511 x 202 or email ksandler@shakers.org.
GUIDED TOUR SCHEDULE
The Village grounds are free to explore daily from dawn to dusk.
Guided Tours are offered Monday – Sunday:
11 AM (Daily) | Shaker Stories: History & Legacy
12 PM (Daily) | Shaker Express Tour
1 PM (Daily) | Shaker Stories: History & Legacy
2:30 PM (Weekdays) | Shaker Stories: History & Legacy
2:30 PM (Weekends) | Shaker Specialty Tours
GUIDED TOUR PRICING
Admittance to the grounds is always free.
Guided Tours | $25
Express Tour | $20
Group Tours | $20, minimum of 12 guests
School Tours | $15 per student, $18 per adult
Private Tours | $50 | Offered by appointment. Please call Kyle Sandler at 603-783-9511 x 202 or email ksandler@shakers.org. Private tours must be requested 5 to 7 days in advance.
Visitors age 25 and under are free, except for school tours.
Members receive free admission for all Guided Tours. To check your membership status or for more information, please contact Kathleen Cavalaro at 603-783-9511 x 205, or email kcavalaro@shakers.org.
GUIDED TOUR DESCRIPTIONS
Shaker Stories: History & Legacy explores how the Shakers journeyed from being a misunderstood and persecuted people to becoming one of the most intriguing and successful religious communities in our nation’s history. Learn how their vision of “Heaven on Earth” reflects communal life, religious practices, gender equality, pacifism, simplicity, and innovative contributions to American history and culture. Get inside access to the Meeting House (1792), Dwelling House (1793), Laundry (1816), and Schoolhouse (1823).
Innovations & Inventions: Shaker Ingenuity showcases the Shakers as pioneers in developing seeds, medicines, furniture, textiles, and labor-saving inventions, and their innovations as playing an integral part in their daily life. The Shakers’ approach to experimenting, failing, and trying all over again influenced their dedication to quality, autonomy, shared knowledge, and community values. See how their countless innovations are relevant today as you tour the Grounds Overlooking Mill Pond, Laundry, Dwelling House, School House, and Blinn’s Arboretum.
Hale & Hearty: Shaker Health is especially relevant today, as the COVID-19 pandemic has substantially affected our daily lives as well as our physical and emotional well-being. Discover how the Shakers built and sustained resiliency through worship, societal structure, connection with nature, medicinal innovation, and mindfulness. And uncover how to incorporate aspects of Shaker well-being into our individual and collective resilience today through informational, insightful, and inspirational visits to the Infirmary, Ministry Shop, and Syrup Shop .
Please note:
The safety of our visitors, staff, and volunteers is the Village’s most important priority, so indoor tours are limited to 24 people and masks are requested for unvaccinated guests while inside; optional outdoors.
Tickets are required for all tours. Visitors age 25 and under, whose admission is complimentary, must also reserve a ticket to ensure that each tour does not exceed capacity.
Each tour is one hour and fifteen minutes in length.
Although the Village does not offer food service, the Village Store carries light snacks and beverages — and all are welcome to bring a picnic lunch to enjoy on the scenic grounds.
YOUR TOUR GUIDES
After Your Tour …
… grab a Trail Map and enjoy a nature walk. Or peruse the Shaker-inspired merchandise in the Museum Store and take home a memento of your visit. Better yet, do both!
Schools and Groups | The Village offers Group Tours for 12 or more guests as well as School Field Trips at reduced rates. For more information and pricing, please click here. To make a reservation, please call Kyle Sandler at 603-783-9511 x 202 or email ksandler@shakers.org.
The Village Store
The Village Store is open Saturdays & Sundays from 10 am to 4 pm.
Discover an exceptional assortment of baskets, brooms, oval boxes, carriers, and other traditional Shaker-style objects, plus books, music, jewelry, candles, cards, and much more.
Dining
Due to Covid-19, dining at the Village is currently unavailable.
Average Visit
2 ½ to 3 hours.
Fees and Payment
Group Tours are available by reservation. For more information, email Jill Lessard at jlessard@shakers.org.
Demonstrations
In many of the historic buildings, you can watch and talk to traditional artisans as they demonstrate crafts that were part of everyday life for both the Shakers and their “Worldly” counterparts. Admission staff will provide the demonstration schedule when you arrive.
Traditional crafts-demonstrations include:
- Broom making
- Letterpress printing
- Oval box making
- Woodworking and chair taping
- Spinning
- Weaving
- Rug braiding
- Rug hooking
- Sewing