Bringing the Church Family Back to Life
Learn about the impact of the digital reconstruction
The Virtual Watervliet project was designed to cultivate an interest in Shaker history while increasing awareness of the historic site of America’s first Shaker settlement and support for its preservation. It supports Shaker Heritage Society’s (SHS) mission to enrich the Capital Region by engaging the community with the founding home and enduring values of the Shakers.
The project includes a digital reconstruction of the publically accessible portion of the Watervliet Shaker National Historic District, which is known as the Church Family. A mobile web application and multiple online opportunities to interact and learn from historical images, photos, music, and 3D digital models are also available. With a couple clicks, the evolution of the historic site becomes visually accessible to people who participate in the Society’s education programs, to local residents and to virtual visitors around the world. Users can explore this resource at will, gaining a deeper understanding of the historic site and greater perspective on its part in history.
The Shakers occupied the site from 1776 thorough 1925, when Albany County purchased the Church Family property. The County granted SHS its first long term lease in 2010, enabling SHS to apply for capital improvement grants. SHS developed a detailed Site Master Plan to guide the revitalization effort. The Plan calls for a mixed use facility that includes commercial, recreational and educational opportunities.
SHS is a small but ambitious organization that is dedicated to transforming the historic site into a unique gateway to New York State’s Capital Region. SHS provides a wide variety of education programs, concerts and other events. Please visit our website for additional information about programs and ways to join the effort to preserve this fascinating and important aspect of American history.
In 2013 'Virtual Watervliet' was the recipient of four awards recognizing the application of web and mobile technologies to interpret a historical site.
Award of Merit in the category of Innovation in Interpretation.
Honorable Mention in the category of 'Outstanding Public History Project Award.' According to the NCPH, the award recognizes projects that "contribute to a broader public reflection and appreciation of the past or that serves as a model of professional public history practice."
2013 Leadership in History Award.
2013 History in Progress Award (HIP Award). According to the AASLH, "the HIP Award is an additional award for a Leadership in History Award winner whose nomination is highly inspirational, exhibits exceptional scholarship, and/or is exceedingly entrepreneurial in terms of funding, partnerships, or collaborations, creative problem solving, or unusual project design and inclusiveness." Only five HIP Awards were presented in 2013.
The views and conclusions contained in this document are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Shaker Heritage Society
Johanna Batman - Executive Director
Lorraine Weiss - Education Coordinator
Starlyn D’Angelo – fmr. Executive Director
Samantha Hall – fmr. Education Programs
Albany Institute of History and Art
Albany International Airport
Google Earth
Hamilton College
Library of the Congress
New York Public Library
New York State Museum
Shaker Heritage Society
Virtual Grounds Interactive
Albany Hall of Records
Argus Architecture & Preservation
Elmore Design Collaborative
Albany Pro Musica
Christian Goodwillie – Hamilton College
Virtual Grounds Interactive