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See the Buildings

The Structures Built by the Shakers

Get to know the architecture

The Shakers transformed swamps into productive farmland. They built a series of structures to accommodate their growing membership. The four “Family” sites of the Watervliet community included dozens of buildings: a meeting house for worship, dwelling houses, shops and industry structures, barns, grist mills, and accommodations for non-Shaker visitors and workers.

Building Typology

Get to know 63 existing and demolished buildings used by the Shakers at the Church Family. Sort them by function or view them chronologically by the date of construction. The renders of the 3D models are part of the virtual reconstruction of the Shaker settlement.

Explore

Historic photographs taken during the Shaker era

Then & Now

Recent views of the Church Family surviving buildings