Today I am sharing with you another site we visited during my recent trip to Kentucky. If you missed my last post on “Lunch at the Governor’s Mansion”, you can see it HERE.
On this day, we are visiting the historical Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg, Kentucky.
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill is America’s largest restored Shaker Village. The Shakers were nineteenth-century America’s largest and best-known communal society. To learn more about the Shaker Community, click HERE.
SHAKER VILLAGE AT PLEASANT HILL
The village, surrounded by hand-laid rock walls and lantern-lit paths, preserves 34 original buildings on 3,000 acres, countryside once inhabited by a remarkable communal society.
Centre Family Dwelling, once home to over 100 Shakers, was constructed of limestone quarried from the Kentucky River .
The interiors of more than a dozen restored structures can be viewed during your visit.
Wouldn’t you love to have all of this drawer space?
Exhibits are changed throughout the village regularly.
These beautiful quilts created a wonderful display.
One of the preserved buildings was the Farm Deacons Shop. Buildings built by the Shakers were hoped to last 1000 years.
Craft demonstrations can be seen each day.
We were able to enjoy the historical trade today of broom making.
And we were able to watch the intricate process of restringing a 19th century loom.
A quest for simplicity and perfection is reflected in the fine craftsmanship of the Shakers. Today the term Shaker-made is synonymous with excellence. Shaker boxes, furniture and baskets can be found in gift shops around the country.
The Trustees’ Office is home to a wonderful dining room that serves traditional favorites and seasonal dishes using ingredients grown in the historical garden at the Village.
The staircase in the Trustees’ Office offered a wonderful view – looking up ….
…. and looking down
Another preserved building was the East Family Brethren’s Shop
The main road served as the “turnpike” at the height of the Shaker Village.
In 1910, the Pleasant Hill Shaker Village was closed.
The Kentucky Shakers no longer exist, and only one Shaker community is currently active in New England.
In a world where simplicity is often overlooked, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill serves as a reminder of life’s simple life.
I could have spent much more than the hour and a half we had at Shaker Village. I hope to have the chance to make another visit.
If you are in the Lexington area, take time to visit this wonderful site. You can even enjoy a relaxing stay at the Inn at Shaker Village with rooms featuring relaxing rocking chairs, quiet sitting areas and inviting fireplaces. Sounds absolutely wonderful to me!!!
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