Shaker Museum and Library at Mount Lebanon Shaker Village

Historic Buildings

The Shaker Museum and Library holds the premiere collection of Shaker materials in the world, with more than 80% of the collection coming originally from the Shakers at Mount Lebanon. Please visit www.shakermuseumandlibrary.org to learn more about the collection.

The North Family site at Mount Lebanon includes ten buildings that formerly housed the Shakers and their activities. The Second Meeting House, one of the most architecturally significant buildings in New York State, is located in the Church Family complex of buildings.

Stone Barn 1859

One of four agricultural buildings that remain at the North Family, this stone dairy barn, the largest in America, is the most significant reminder of the Shakers’ agricultural prowess, and physically demonstrates their economic stability, confidence, and vision. It was designed and built by Shaker Brothers and hired masons from Lenox, MA at a cost of $20,000. It is 196' by 50', five stories high, and originally had three, two-story wooden wings on the south side.

Wagon Shed c. 1860

A variety of wagons were kept in the open bays while closed rooms provided storage space. A wooden ramp connected the 1st and 2nd floors and could be lowered to move sleighs and wagons for off-season storage.

Hen House/Plant Nursery c. 1860/1889

In 1889, the Shakers converted their lower hen house into a plant nursery for starting seedlings. Today this building, near a contemporary herb garden, interprets aspects of Shakers’ gardening and herbal industries.

Granary 1838

This three-story timber frame building was constructed to store and mix grains. Grain was lifted to bins on the upper floors with the “elevator” on the front of the building.

Sisters’ Shop c. 1852

Shaker Sisters worked in this building at spinning, weaving, bonnet-making, and knitting. It also contained a room that served as a store for sales to non-Shakers.

Wash House c. 1854

This is a striking example of the Shakers’ adaptation of a traditional building type that was designed to house specific programs. It was first used for wood storage and drying, and in the late 1870s was converted to house the laundry and areas for seed packaging. In 1880, a pipe was laid from the boiler to the Stone Barn to provide warm water for the cows.

Second Dwelling House c. 1835

This is the only surviving communal residence in the North Family site. The North Family was the gathering order, housing new converts who had not yet completed their separation from the world. This second dwelling was constructed to accommodate the Family’s growing membership.

Farm Deacon’s Shop c. 1840

Like many other Shaker buildings, this shop served multiple uses. Built originally as the Farm Deacon’s office and shop, transactions with non-Shakers in dairy-related business took place here. Later, when the Shakers used this building to house hired laborers who worked with them, it was called Hireling’s.

Brethren’s Workshop 1829

Shaker workshops often served many functions. This building was the principal shop for the North Family Brethren, housing a waterwheel that powered a variety of woodworking tools, the basement laundry, and even the trip hammer in the forge next door. In the 1880s, some of the upper floor rooms were used for the North Family school.

The Forge c. 1849

The Forge is a prime example of buildings that evolved to faciliate Mount Lebanon’s successful industries. The building was originally used for wood storage, to make soap and dye, and to store garden seeds. About 1879, when laundry activity moved from the Brethren’s Shop to the Wash House, wood storage was no longer needed here. At that time, the south end of the first floor was converted into a blacksmith’s shop. The Forge’s trip hammer was powered by the waterwheel in the Brethren’s Workshop.

Second Meetinghouse 1824

With a distinguished but restrained form, an ingenious structural system, and high quality construction and materials, this building symbolizes the Shakers’ spiritual and physical reality. It represents the basic tenets and achievements upon which Shaker religion, society, and aesthetics were founded: worship, order, function, and an appreciation of beauty. The vast meeting room (78'4" by 63' with a 25' ceiling) has no interior supports. The south entrance wing contained the living and work quarters for the Ministry. The trio of doors admitted Brethren on the right, Sisters on the left, and the Ministry through the center door. Visitors who came to weekly public services entered through the streetside doors.