This is a really interesting living museum and a good place to bring the kids. The round barn is very interesting. It feels like a carousel when you first walk in. A docent by the entrance is there to tell you about it's construction and answer questions. We headed to the annex to see the animals: baby goats, lambs, piglets and chicks! The Discovery Barn is the place to be for the kids. They have a 'cow' mock-up that you can 'milk'. There are plenty of arts and craft projects there and a staff member to answer any questions. Although not a kid, I did give the cow a try and the staff member answered a bunch of questions about the museum and the local area. The Brick Dwelling has *so much* information! you could spend a lot of time in there reading about the lives of the Quakers. They also have a broom making shop, butter making shop, furniture shop, blacksmith, dorms for non-Quaker workers and so much more. We were given a map of the property with our admission and a list of events happening on site during the day of our visit. Definitely make a plan to see the demonstrations. A very interesting day. read more

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Lovely and fascinating place, marred only by a bad cafe. Either I didn't understand the menu or they were basically out of everything on a weekday afternoon. BLT, nope. Soup, nope. Ice cream, nope. I bought a candy bar in the gift shop. I wouldn't make a big deal out of this, except the place is so big that you need 3-4 hours to see all of it, and so you want to rest your feet and have a snack. Anyway, don't miss the round barn ( heavily rebuilt in the modern era), the meetinghouse and numerous very interesting buildings where they did industrial work. The artifacts and crafts items are real, the farm is bucolic, and the volunteers are knowledgeable and friendly. And you learn a ton about how radical the Shakers were. read more

Very interesting place lots of buildings to explore. My granddaughter loved the children s building and all my grandchildren loved the animals! read more

Do visit the vast 750 acre well-preserved Shaker Farm Village in Hancock. Beautiful buildings, each well maintained and served a purpose in the past. Heritage farm animals abound - (some you can pet!) - we saw Goats, Sheep, Cattle, Hens, Donkeys and Piggies... ** $20 admission ** ** Tour Guides available ** *** Gift Shop & Café *** Thank you! read more

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This Shaker Village is so well preserved with multiple buildings you can tour and beautiful grounds. The highlight here is the circular stone barn, and the multi story brick dwelling is very impressive as well. I really enjoyed all of the signs that provided information about various aspects of Shaker life. We visited during the fall festival, and the vendors and other activities were great as well. Be sure to check out the meeting house and school house across the street. Hancock Shaker Village is well worth a visit! read more

Hancock Shaker Village - Sign - Museums Near Me - Pittsfield, Massachusetts

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We had an amazing time here. Our group of 16 (bachelorette party) organized a private tour, and it was so worth it. They had some really fun interactive activities (weaving, butter churning, etc.) and some specialist craftsmen (e.g. blacksmiths, box makers). Our tour guides, Ruth and Julie, were super knowledgeable and fun. Also the animals were adorable! read more

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Great place to go to check out baby animals, see and learn some history and spend time with family. Expensive but definitely worth it! read more

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The Hancock Village is a beautiful place for families, couples , and anyone looking to have a good time. The site is educational, fun, and immersive. It was almost as if I was walking around in a real functioning village. It's a great place to go if you want an escape from the real world for a while. There was a stop where you could purchase snacks and hot drinks, a stop where you could spend time with the animals, a stop where you could spend time watching a blacksmith "in action" there was also a stop where you could see what a house would have looked like. There were cool light based art pieces along the way and in between stops. The animals available to pet and snuggle with were farm animals including goats, sheep, cows, and maybe horses? I had SO much fun and I really enjoyed visiting. The gift shop was pretty great too! read more

So enjoyable to visit with the baby animals as well as the historic Shaker Village. Beautiful gift shop on the way out. read more

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So the Shaker Village is an interesting stop and the goats and sheep are exceptionally sweet. However, this rating is for the cafe. After departing the farm and the store, I expected either basic burgers or Shaker inspired food (there's recipe books in the store.) What I was not sure expecting was BB's Hotspot offering Caribbean inspired meals. Their jerk chicken sandwich was pulled chicken, but amazingly seasoned... and the fact they had Ting in the fridge was an amazing find in the middle of the Berkshires. The food was brought out quickly and it all hit the spot. Not what I was expecting- but a complete win in my book! read more

Hancock Shaker Village - Ting and Jerk Chicken Sandwich - Museums Near Me - Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Went on a beautiful autumn day. Learned so much about the Shaker Community I never knew about! There were exciting factoids everywhere - from their Shaker boxes with arrowheads to the fact they sold the first paper seed packets - and more! I had a wonderful time. The young gentleman at the cafe was very kind and had great manners. I enjoyed the Shaker box demonstration. read more

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I am in awe of this place. We had an amazing time interacting with the animals in the various barns, and the staff was patient and generous. I was astounded by the architecture of the circular barn and could not stop staring all around. It was a beautiful day and I can't wait to come back again and again and see how it is in different seasons. One kindly gentleman asked if I had any questions and I barely formed a response. The only thing I'd mention is that the cafe doesn't seem to be in keeping with the rest of the village. However our meal was fine. read more

Hancock Shaker Village is a living history museum committed to bringing the Shaker story to life and preserving it for future generations. Called the "City of Peace" by the Shakers who lived here for 179 years until 1960, this community was the third of 19 major Shaker Villages located in New York, New England, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. There are 20 historic buildings on this site. The values that the Shakers embraced -- equality, pacifism, community, sustainability, responsible land stewardship, innovation, simplicity and quality in work -- still resonate here. The working farm is the oldest in the Berkshires. Visit the gardens and animals, meet the interpreters, see demonstrations, hike the trails, immerse yourself in unique art exhibitions, and explore. A farm-to-table cafe is on site. read more

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Visiting the Hancock Shaker Village is a highlight of just about any trip around the Berkshires. It offers an engaging peep into the past that is accessible to everyone and affords a glimpse of how the Shakers lived in the last century and before. There are structures and farm animals and plants and flowers that seek to keep the history alive along with a number of young guides who are informed and happy to talk about the village and answer questions. There are easy walking paths and lots of buildings, among them an unusual four-bay stone garage housing a 1923 Reo. Most notable is the striking round stone barn, the only one of its kind constructed by the Shakers and quite large. We had fun with the animals (donkeys, chickens, goats, pigs), all of whom seemed to us to be healthy and happy. There's also a gift shop and a small cafe with surprisingly good sandwiches, soups and salads. The ice cream is good, too, but beware it's nearly $6 for a mere four ounces. Way overpriced. Admission to the village is $20 for adults. read more

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A great place to learn about this historic group from their beginning, their rise in popularity and their current existence. The 750 acres are a working community and staff us knowledgeable and very pleasant. A fun and educational visit. The best time to visit would be spring or fall / not summer.. A nice outdoor museum / historical site. Nice historic farm on beautiful property. The round stone barn is a very cool structure. Farm still used for some crops and raising animals. Love seeing cows, chickens and pigs up close. Blacksmith demonstration was great... read more

We decided to take a ride to the Hancock Shaker Village on Labor Day. We both love history and we're excited to go check this out. It has beautiful grounds to walk around. Everybody was very nice and informative. And it was the perfect social distancing activity because we got there early when there wasn't a lot of people and most of what you could do was outside. However the things that were inside they were taking good precautions with having hand sanitizer at the door and only letting one family in at a time. It was a great afternoon and we are looking forward to going back at some point. read more

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Presentation was top rate, cannot say enough about the historic surroundings, very pleasant staff, salad and dessert delicious, entree below average. read more

More than a landmark or tourist attraction, this vestige of the Shaker sect displays its appealing designs and often local artisans demonstrate. There is a serenity to the Round Barn and existing buildings tucked into the rolling hills. The cafe serves tasty sandwiches with a smile and a pickle! Nice touch. As you're outdoors most of the time, you can feel safe from Covid's reach. Docents are available but not aggressive. read more

My family and I went on a crisp fall day as out first stop on our trip to the Berkshires. We had lunch at the on site restaurant. We had some excellent sandwiches with tasty cheese, fresh bread and arugula. The restaurant has plenty of high chairs for little ones. The village itself was not too busy, and we were able to hear some of the speakers talk about village life in small groups. We listened to the tour of the gardens and the barn, and then self explored the main living quarters, and other side shops like blacksmithing, woodworking etc. the main living quarters are divided down the center and is a symmetrical building, for men to eat, sleep on one side and women on the other. My husband has his PhD in American history and found the exhibits well curated. Spending some time here makes you really think about how life was back then. read more

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The Shaker Museum in Hancock was one of the many highlights of visiting the Berkshires over the years. It was a terrific educational experience that gave me an awareness of the Shaker community. Shaker Village, established by 100 Believers around 1780, reached its peak in the mid-1800s: over 300 people lived in this communal village. By the late 1950s, the population of the village dwindled: the Shakers practiced life-long celibacy, and, at the same time, it was becoming increasingly difficult to convert new Believers. The Shakers, known for their religious beliefs, pacifism, simplicity, hard-working lifestyle, and honesty, also made significant contributions in the field of design, innovation, and craftsmanship. They were very prolific at metalsmithing, furniture, tools, basketry, weaving, and broom making. The quality of the items made by the Shakers was always exceptional. I purchased a straw Shaker hat from the Museum Shop. It happens to be my all-time favorite summer hat. read more

Hancock Shaker Village - Shaker Round Stone Barn - Museums Near Me - Pittsfield, Massachusetts

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Loved our visit to the Hancock Shaker Village! We started with lunch at the cafe (variety of freshly made sandwiches and salads) and then hit the road. The buildings were very interesting and some were staffed with knowledgeable individuals. There are some farm animals as well as an activity center (for kids and adults alike). Most impressed with the gentleman at the Meeting House who gave a lecture about the spirituality and history of the Shakers. read more

Great museum! Great experience. We stayed for 3 hours, including lunch and that's about all my 4 year old could handle. Everything is beautiful and kept nicely preserved. We loved seeing the new baby animals in the round barn. The day was muddy so we were glad to have on all weather boots...some people wore flip flops and they got stuck. The restrooms were clean!!! Will return if ever in the area again. read more

Hancock Shaker Village - Pet, don't chase the chickens - Museums Near Me - Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Great museum. Highly recommend if you are driving by on route 20! Or if you are generally into architecture, horticulture, innovation, agriculture, history, nature or theology. This museum really has something for everybody - one of the best In New England Bottom Line: Highly Recommend read more

Excellent historical museum. Great for families and a lot of stuff for adults. The animals are always a big hit.

Hancock Shaker village is not for everybody the smell of the old building and the lack of things to do makes it a quick visit. Somewhere to go to kill some time read more

A wonderful place for children and children inside. Anytime we come in the Berkshire we return to the Shaker Village. It is a large complex with multiple buildings where the Shakers lived and worked. For children, the major attractions are the multiple farm animals which live on site. Pigs, piglets, hens, lambs, turkeys, donkeys and so on. There are also nice walks in the woods for those looking for more wilderness. There a cute gift shop and a delicious small cafeteria where to buy heathy and flavorful meals. A great activity for children. read more

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I'm a historical tourism nerd, so I knew that I would like this place. I still was not prepared for how completely awesome it was. I grew up in the Midwest, and I've heard of the Shakers--mostly with regard to furniture. I knew a little about their philosophy, but mostly just knew that they made nice chairs and don't have sex. This was an eye-opening, fascinating and fun way to learn about a different culture and spend some time playing with baby animals. I mean, seriously, who are you to resist? First off, Hancock Shaker Village gets high marks for customer service. Every single employee I interacted with was friendly, welcoming and went above and beyond. We ran into a young girl (probably about 12) who worked at the village and was baby-sitting three tiny chicks (chickens, not girls). She encouraged us to play with the chicks, pick them up, then one of the other employees got us some grain to feed them. Possibly the most fun I've had this year--and the cutest way you can spend part of a Saturday. Frankly, all of the animals at the village were exceptionally cute--I don't know how they do it, but good stuff. Secondly, we caught the tour/talk in the brick building, which was absolutely fascinating. Our historical interpreter covered everything from the origins of the Shaker religion to the style and design aesthetic of the building. A room of people sat in rapt attention for about 45 minutes--she knew her stuff and was clearly passionate about her subject. Just fascinating, and learning all we did about the way the Shakers did things, just opened up the rest of the village to us and made it that much cooler. Thirdly, the village is beautiful. The buildings are well-maintained, simply but practically designed and just really cool to look at. Like one other yelper said--"we thought 1-2 hours tops", I assumed that I'd maybe spend two hours here, but we really only left because they were closing. I'm already planning a return visit. I can't recommend this place highly enough, and I can't wait to go back. read more

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This was highly recommended by a friend, and after reading the short description card, we thought "OK, 1-2 hours tops"... ...5+ hours later, we were still there having fun. The round barn* featured a number of baby animals including goats, ducks and chicks; it was nice that you were able to go into many of the areas and pet the animals. A second floor had mostly different types of chickens, their cages nicely laid out on various farm tractors/machines. We discovered the adult animals later at an extension of the barn. There is a Discovery Room for kids with toys and activities along with dress-up clothes from the era. Other cool stuff: a small bee display* and a chick incubator* where the kids were able to pet and hold baby chicks. The many buildings were interesting and had short, understandable descriptions of Shaker life, my seven year old enjoyed learning about the different "devices" they used. My little one had a ball running around in the wide open space, he was also able to go on his first pony ride. The staff were friendly and helpful, though we only saw one dressed in Shaker garb. I loved the swallow-tail oval boxes*, which were a Shaker specialty, they were quite costly in the gift shop, though it seems the price matched their quality. We weren't able to check out the Cafe, as it had already closed. This was a great way to expose the kids to a time in America that they might just read a paragraph or two about in a history book. My husband and I also gained an appreciation for the history of this utopia-aspiring society. All in all, an educational and entertaining experience enhanced by a beautiful, cool, sunny day. NOTE: children under 12 are free. photo* read more

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Uhm, so the girlfriends and I had a lovely little weekend trip to the Berkshires, and our last touristy stop was the Shaker Village. We were quiet curious and quite excited! We don't have children, but us adults do not mind being kids at heart when the opportunity arises. We thoroughly enjoyed the baby animals, the small barn with the baby chicks, beehive, and Shaker costumes, and going to the main house and seeing the architecture and learning about the Shaker lifestyle - they invented the modern broom! I wish the weather was warmer, because we would have wandered the grounds a bit more. Ah well. Anyways, it was a fantastic time! Us adults had a ball! read more

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ANIMAL ABUSE. DO NOT SUPPORT THIS PLACE. As a historical park to look at buildings and learn about the shakers, they did an ok job (still not worth the 20$ entry) but as soon as you enter the barn you realize that this is a hell-hole for the farm animals. The chickens are in a wire enclosure off the ground thats so small they can barely turn around. The pigs are SCREAMING at the top of their lungs, attacking each other, again, in enclosures too small that they can't get away from the attacks. Did I mention NONE of the animals had water? I questioned the staff and they stated that as soon as they put water in, the animals knock it over. Ok...well you have enough money to put up solar power because you claim the Shakers believed in technology advancements and efficiency...how about you buy a 100$ non-tip trough off Amazon?! Or stick the water bowl in a tire ? I've worked on farms for years so don't try to act like any of this is normal Farm treatment or activity. I mucked 80 stalls a day for years and still give my farm animals the proper enclosures and water as a single woman of one income. DONT HAVE ANIMALS IF YOU CANT TAKE CARE OF THEM. The tourists won't care If there aren't live animals. If you want to claim any kind of covid "short staffing" then this again would be more efficient to have the proper sized enclosures and waterers so you can attend to your animals less. BUT today It's 86 degrees outside and none of your animals have water. I checked over the course of 2 hours and even after complaining to their Staff, they never refilled the waters but continued to brush me off like it didn't matter. You will be reported to the authorities. read more

Love this place. Everything seems as it should be. They keep everything old-school. They have heirloom livestock and vegetables. All the buildings (and there are many) are restored and well kept. They've even restored some of the rooms in the meeting house to their original shocking yellow color. You can even go for traditional Shaker suppers on some nights! The round barn is something to behold. What that thing looks like inside, man, you've never seen anything like it. The employees, and I want to call them workers because they work the land and machines in same way the Shakers did, are very knowledgeable and all really friendly. The machine shop demonstration was great, where a replica of an 1858 water turbine powers the woodworking equipment. It's amazing to see how it works, all those belts and gears flying above your head. The price might seem steep at $15, especially since it's so out of the way, but we were able to get free passes from our library, and at that price you can't pass it up. We went on a weekend in August and there weren't many people there. It was just a really relaxing, nice place to be. read more

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Shaker Life on Display--Celibacy, Communal Living, Hard Work, and Inventive Industriousness Fascinating look at a lifestyle that surely had to die off: Believers did not give birth to children since they were celibate. The Believers also practiced a lifestyle of communal living, pacifism, and equality of the sexes. They are also known for their simple living, architecture and furniture. Socialism doesn't generally work...even with best of intentions...due to the incentive to slack. But Believers' economic model was a success due to innovation in agriculture, demand for their dairy products and furniture, and a strong community value of industriousness/hard work. Still a working farm. Audio headsets are also available For $18 ($16 with AAA), it's an enjoyable and informative afternoon about something I knew little about. Several in-character demonstrations and events throughout the afternoon. Allow 2+ hours. read more

For years I have wanted to visit this village and planned a trip there. I checked their website regularly to make sure they were not shut down due to a covid case, including a couple of days before my trip on Thursday. I figured I was good, as they are closed Monday through Wednesday, so any changes would have been noted before their weekend. Imagine my shock after driving over 2 hours to get there to see a sign up "Closed for private event". This should have been noted on their website at least a week in advance. Now I see why they don't do advance ticketing. They want to be able to shut doen on short notice for moviemakers, who we observed in the distance, or other celebrities. We will not return. read more

I'm torn leaving this review. The grounds were beautiful, the signage was pretty good, and the historical aspect of it was outstanding. The folks leading the tours and working at the site were clearly in their element and loved their jobs. It was a pleasure speaking with them, there wasn't a question that they were not able to answer. What was terrible/confusing/unfortunate is that for reasons no one in our group could understand, the historical significance was contaminated by an 'art' installation that was intertwined with the historical artifacts. Perhaps most unfortunate of all of this is that the Shaker lifestyle was one of abstinence and the 'art' that was haphazardly sprinkled throughout the historical artifacts was shaped like breasts. Worst yet, there was a broom exhibit that had modern-day brooms mixed in (zero historical significance, or any significance for that matter). There wasn't any explanation as to why this 'art' was placed within the setting of the historical artifacts. The Shaker church was also contaminated with this inappropriate and gross art, where dirty balls of yarn were peppered through this historic church, and patrons were asked to 'throw' the yarn balls around. This yarn made it impossible to see and appreciate the historical site we paid to visit. Whoever is in charge here obviously does not respect the Shaker community and clearly does not understand the Shaker lifestyle. Please remove this horrific 'art' and let history be as is. read more

The drive up here is beautiful and the whole place is a wonder to see. This is great for the kids with the animals and hands on learning and the adults get a great history lesson. This place is well maintained and has a lot to see. We were here 4 hours and didn't see everything. The Shaker Cafe was excellent, the food and service was really good and they have gluten free bread. read more

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It's worth seeing, especially if it's a nice day. I can see how it might not be for everyone, but hear me out a little. First, they have a series of different buildings spread out over a small farm and a trail through the forest. There is a cafe and gift shop. It would also be a great place for a picnic. I had lunch at the cafe. The salad was about $10, and it was a $10 salad as opposed to overpriced "food" served at other museums. I really didn't know that much about the Shakers (all the more reason to go, so that you'll learn something). They were founded in England, kind of an offshoot of the Quakers. They endured persecution and came to the colonies, where they endured more derision. Why? People are fearful and small minded. Not much has changed over the years. The village is something of a "self-supporting monastery without bars." They grew their own food and made their own furniture and clothes. At their peak there were several thousand Shakers and about 17 villages. Today there are fewer than 10 and one village left in Maine. This village in Hancock was closed around 1960 and fortunately preserved. In their simplicity, they are beautiful and they have a style and influence that endures. First you'll be struck by the buildings, clean and elegant. You could walk around the enormous round, stone barn at the center of the village several times and admire the stonework. The main house has many examples of Shaker woodwork and furniture. There are several presentations throughout the day by guides in period garb. For example, see how workers used equipment that might seem quaint today, but was very modern at the time. For example water turbines (that still work) to power wood working tools. Do not miss the presentation on Shaker music. It's not as dour as you might think; you'll be clapping and stomping for different songs. A presentation on Shaker food might have been interesting to see, or maybe they didn't have it when I was there. There is an center for children where they can put on period clothes, see a beehive, draw, etc. I have to wonder what the village would be like today if several hundred Shakers still lived and worked there and the influence that they might have. Perhaps not for everyone, but a thoughtful way to spend several hours. Admission is about $17. Not cheap, but I learned a lot, and maybe helped to preserve it. read more

Well worth the money. Children under 6 are free and you get a $2 discount per ticket if you show your AAA card. Bring your own lunch and you can spend the entire day there. The best time to go is in the spring when you can see all the baby animals. There is also a great little discovery barn for kids with coloring and toys in case they need a break from walking. There are also period shaker clothes so they can play dress-up and few people teaching crafting. read more

Very interesting place to learn the history and culture of the Shakers on that part of America. Very impressive display of tools from their farms. This was a self sustained city/ farm and seeing it really teaches you about the country history. Beautiful grounds too. Good for kids , teenagers and families. Good place to spend a couple hours while we were in Pittsfield, MA. read more

A terrific day out. Lots to interest adults and children, from a historical, cultural and artistic standpoint. Their fall events can't be beat. read more

My husband and I visited on a cool day in April and had a wonderful time! It was incredibly busy with lots of kids since it was baby animal season, but we still enjoyed it. The staff was informative and helpful. The whole village helped us learn about a culture we knew nothing about. Definitely worth a vist for adults, and it looked like the kids had fun, too! read more