Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

Program/preservation: Shaker Village maintains and preserves 34 original historic structures and 3,000 acres of land that was settled in 1805 by members of the united society of believers in christ's second appearing, the group more commonly known as the shakers. The site is the largest such site in america and is one of the most extensive intact examples possessing a high degree of integrity even to this day. The buildings that have been preserved are considered to be exquisite examples of the harmonious relationship between functional architecture and a beautiful rolling landscape. This is especially important considering the fact that the buildings were all designed and built by uneducated yet very skilled craftsmen using rudimentary, handmade tools. Shaker Village conducts a variety of activities and programs designed to help educate the public on the lives of the individuals who settled this community with a focus on the impact their contributions made to the development of the american frontier. The site is considered one of the country's finest historic outdoor educational sites because of the interpretation program that is focused on the social, entrepreneurial and familial relationships that made this community important to america's development.

Lodging: guests at Shaker Village may also take advantage of a unique opportunity to lodge within the historic buildings. Rooms have been decorated in a minimalist fashion to feature shaker-designed furniture and to offer the same peaceful atmosphere that many of the original Shaker journals document. Our goal is to provide experiences to our guests that help them fully understand the Shaker life and the relevancy that experience still holds today.

Dining services: Shaker Village features a dining experience that is well known for friendly service and shaker-inspired recipes. Dining on the property is considered to be a vital component of the educational experience of our guests. Featured dishes include locally grown vegetables, fruits, and meats. The dining service maintains and interprets a large garden located just outside of the dining facility. The garden produce is used to create many of the dishes featured in the dining room. Through this activity Shaker Village is better able to interpret the sustainability aspects of the Shaker lifestyle.

Craft sales: traditional crafts are an important component to the experience at Shaker Village. Guests may engage with interpreters to make boxes, brooms, barrels, and baskets as well as rugs, intricate weavings, and other fiber arts items. This is important to our educational initiatives but we have also been able to offer the guests the opportunity to purchase these items through our craft stores. In addition, the stores offer a variety of traditional Kentucky craft items along with a fine selection of books on Shaker, american, and Kentucky history. The sale of these items supports the Village's on-going educational programs and is an important avenue for deepening the understanding of our guests to the history of site and the Shaker community.