Building Typology

Selection of buildings from the Church Family

The typology tool helps illustrate the lives of the Shakers at the Church Family with a selection of buildings built between 1783-1925, digitally recreated for the Virtual Watervliet project in 2012. Some of the structures appear with their probable original design and also their configuration at the end of the Shaker presence on the site in 1925.

63 Models

Renders of Shaker buildings both existing and demolished

9 Types

Specific purposes to support worship, living, and entrepreneurship

9 Extant

Surviving Shaker structures currently remaining at the Church Family

Select buildings by type

3d model of second dwelling

Second Dwelling

1783

3d model of north barn

North Barn

1788

3d model of second meeting house

Meeting House

1791

3d model of meeting house shed

Meeting House Shed

1791

3d model of Long Shop

Long Shop

1793

3d model of tan house

Tan House

1794

3d model of office

Old Office

1795

3d model of wagon house

Wagon House

1795

3d model of first school

School House

1796

3d model of south barn

South Barn

1798

3d model of wash house

Wash House

1809

3d model of old office barn

Old Office Barn

1810

3d model of sheep barn

Sheep Barn

1811

3d model of grist and saw mill

Grist & Saw Mill

1812

3d model of blacksmith shop

Blacksmith Shop

1815

3d model of dwelling woodhouse

Dwelling Woodhouse

1816

3d model of bell house

Dwelling (Bell) House

1816

3d model of brethren's shop

Brethren's Shop

1822

3d model of second school

School House

1823

3d model of ministry workshop

Ministry Workshop

1825

3d model of hog pen

Hog Pen

1825

3d model of seed house

Seed House

1826

3d model of trustees woodshed

Trustees' Woodshed

1830

3d model of trustees office

Trustees' Office

1830

3d model of office barn

Office Barn

1835

3d model of animal shed

Animal Shed

1838

3d model of smoke and ash house

Smoke & Ash House

1838

3d model of dwelling house shed

Dwelling House Shed

1838

3d model of blacksmith shed

Blacksmith Shed

1838

3d model of cart house

Cart House

1838

3d model of cider house

Cider House

1838

3d model of corn crib

Corn Crib

1838

3d model of drying house

Drying House

1838

3d model of shed and dye house

Shed & Dye House

1838

3d model of farmers' shop

Farmer's Shop

1838

3d model of infirmary

Infirmary (Second Dwelling)

1838

3d model of hen house

Dwelling Hen House

1838

3d model of seed shop

Seed Shop

1838

3d model of sisters shop

Sisters' Shop

1838

3d model of store house

Store House

1838

3d model of herb shop shed

Herb Shop Shed

1838

3d model of herb shop

Herb (Yellow) Shop

1838

lumber shop

Lumber (Hay) Shop

1838

3d model of the second grist and saw mill

Grist & Saw Mill

1842

3d model of 1848 meeting house

Meeting House

1848

3d model of 1848 meeting house shed

Meeting House Shed (Red Shed)

1849

3d model of the school house

School House

1850

3d model of seed and garden shop

Seed & Garden Shop

1852

3d model of ministry workshop in 1852

Ministry Workshop

1852

3d model of drying and hen house

Drying & Hen House

1856

3d model of sisters shop shed

Sisters' Shop Shed

1856

3d model of wash house and cannery

Wash House & Cannery

1858

3d model of hired men house

Hired Men House

1859

3d model of ice house and barn

Ice House & Barn

1863

3d model of third grist and saw mill

Grist & Saw Mill

1888

3d model of 1915 barn

Barn

1915

3d model of garage

Garage

1920

3d model of trustees office in 1925

Trustees' Office

1925

3d model of 1925 sisters shop in 1925

Sisters' Shop

1925

3d model of hog pen and corn crib in 1925

Hog Pen & Corn Shed

1925

3d model of infirmary in 1925

Infirmary (Second Dwelling)

1925

3d model of Brethrens shop in 1925

Brethren's Shop

1925

3d model of the bell house in 1925

Dwelling (Bell) House

1925

The Watervliet Shakers shipped a wide variety of goods to the east and mid-west via railroads and the Erie Canal.

Religious leaders, social reformers, politicians, and celebrities met with the Shakers to learn about their successful Utopian community.