Some of the early pioneer plants have been propagated and preserved at the museum.
The Shakers were an offshoot of the Quakers. But, there was an air of fervent evangelicalism in their songs and hymns. Often this ferver would manifest itself into fits of trancelike shaking and loud praising . . . hence the name the Shakers.
At the height of the colony, some 200 men, women, and children lived here.
The Shakers believed in strict abstainance and the rigid separation of the sexes. Rooms were separated into male and female sides. Doors were for males or females. Orphans were taken in. They were free to leave when they reached the age of majority for that time period. People who joined had to take vows of chastity. This went not only for single people, but for married people as well. No children were born into the colony. No wonder the faith died out. But, there was complete equality of the sexes in the colony, which was very enlightened for the late 1800s.
The farm is a working farm. Teams of oxen are trained and used to do the work.
There was a saw mill, school, milkhouse, greenhouse, woodworking shop, meetinghouse to name a few of the buildings on site. Almost all of these buildings were origional on site buildings. One or two were brought here from other Shaker colonies.
The Shakers ran a lot of their manufacturing operations using water which was piped down from the hill overlooking the colony. This was a clean and efficient method of energy.
The Shakers were innovative in many ways. Unlike many of the sects of the period, the Shakers would accept new methods and technologies. They would then adapt them to fit the particular needs of the colony.
All in all, I would highly recommend this museum to anyone staying in the Berkshires.