Museum
In 1960, the Shaker Central Ministry closed the Hancock community, and sold its buildings and land. Purchasers formed the not-for-profit Hancock Shaker Village, Inc. to preserve the historic site. The museum opened on July 1, 1961, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1968. The museum's mission statement is "to bring the Shaker story to life and preserve it for future generations."
Today, the museum welcomes over 60,000 visitors a year between April and October. Guests have the opportunity to tour 20 historic buildings, extensive gardens, a working farm, hiking trails, and view craft demonstrations. Exhibitions and period room settings highlight the renowned collection of over 22,000 artifacts. Several special celebrations take place throughout the season, including Baby Animals on the Shaker Farm in the spring and Country Fair in the fall. Families enjoy the hands-on Discovery Room and our farm animals. Museum store and café on site.
Hancock Shaker Village was featured in Bob Vila's A&E Network productionGuide to Historic Homes of America. On May 4, 2012,The Berkshire Eagle reported that Hancock Shaker Village was one of several local sites chosen for shooting in a low-budget thriller film. The movie, entitled The Secret Village, features its climax at Hancock Village, and the film crew shot scenes onsite on May 3, 2012.
Read more about this topic: Hancock Shaker Village
Famous quotes containing the word museum:
“Soaked by the sparkling waters of America.”
—Hawaiian saying no. 2740, ‘lelo No’Eau, collected, translated, and annotated by Mary Kawena Pukui, Bishop Museum Press, Hawaii (1983)
“[A] Dada exhibition. Another one! What’s the matter with everyone wanting to make a museum piece out of Dada? Dada was a bomb ... can you imagine anyone, around half a century after a bomb explodes, wanting to collect the pieces, sticking it together and displaying it?”
—Max Ernst (1891–1976)
“A Museum of fetishes would give special attention to the history of underwear.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)