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October 2023 by Ed Van Cise
At the museum entrance and gift shop you can buy tickets for a guided tour of the site. The folks there said the tour takes 1.5 to 2 hours. It’s the only way to see inside the buildings (you need to have a guide with you). Unfortunately, we didn’t have that much time. We got a map of the grounds and wandered around (free of charge, donations welcome) with the little bit of time we had. We’ll be back in the future for the actual tour.
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October 2023 by Rebecca M.
Excellent tour by Bill. Highly recommend this tour . Well worth a day trip if you are in the area. So glad we decided to do tour. Bill was very informative, fun and detailed about history of village.
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September 2023 by Ron & Brenda DeSantis
Oh boy was this different from reasonable expectations! This is NOT a nationally owned property with knowledgeable National Park Rangers providing tours! That's surprising since it's touted as a historic property, first of all. Our tour guide was slow to speak, and kept interjecting for his own entertainment pointless information, while we all stood outside in the sun being bitten by insects, to start with. It took nearly an hour to even have the opportunity to enter one of the buildings, and I should mention that he made a point of asking if anyone in the group was especially knowledgeable about Shakers and Shaker communities and then admitted he asked this because of the possibility of inconsistency of facts or information. What?! I cannot be sure of this was another of his ridiculous way of entertaining himself, or whether I should take everything he said with a grain of salt then.There are trustees who take care of this property and this might be a "for profit" business. Regardless it's not an informative and insightful day-out for those looking to learn something and get a little insight into another way of life.However, I CAN recommend taking the Robert Frost house tour since those tours are given by knowledgeable National Park Rangers, as well as taking the Mt Kearsarge Indian Museum tour.By giving this review I'm simply trying to help those looking for something interesting to do, to avoid wasting their time and money. The gift shop was nice, but best of luck for those willing to take a chance on visiting this place and taking a tour.
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September 2023 by Rusty Gage
We took two busloads of senior citizens to experience Canterbury Shaker Village on a perfectly beautiful cloudless day with the first hint of fall in the breeze. They thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the grounds, the simplicity of the furnishings, the ingenuity of the people who'd lived on the grounds in an earlier day, and most of all, our informative, entertaining, and engaging tour guide Bill. He brought the entire place alive for all of us. We also thank Kyle for helping us to get the day properly booked. His friendliness, thoroughness and efficiency were greatly appreciated.
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August 2023 by Manuela Colombino
Great experience, a village with an amazing history, super well preserved. We did not have the time to do the guided tour so we walked around in a self-guided mode. The museum is very interestingI’m glad we stopped by for a quick visit, we learnt something new about the Shaker culture!
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August 2023 by Vic Deadly
Shaker Village in Canterbury, NH, is a tranquil haven preserving the legacy of the Shaker community. Nestled in picturesque surroundings, this living museum captures the essence of Shaker life through restored buildings and immersive exhibits. The minimalist aesthetic and functional design of their architecture resonate profoundly. Guided tours provide insight into the Shakers' unique way of life, emphasizing simplicity, craftsmanship, and communal values. The serene atmosphere and stunning landscapes offer a peaceful escape. While limited dining and accommodation options exist, the authenticity and historical significance make Shaker Village a must-visit for those seeking a glimpse into a distinctive chapter of American history.
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July 2023 by Kendra Mcburney
Definitely recommend the tour. Not as much fun walking around without a guide. It's free to walk around unguided.The staff were VERY helpful and knowledgeable.
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April 2023 by Per Sveen
We visited in winter so everything was shut down, but the grounds are still open to walk around. They don’t really shovel the paths so snow boots are recommended. The village itself is beautiful and serene, especially when you are the only ones there. We will definitely be back in the summer to visit the museum and gift shop.
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November 2022 by Linda A
Our tour guide Bill was funny and very knowledgeable. I learned so much about the Shakers. He was pleasing to listen to and didn't just talk at us. He was interactive and a great teacher. It is a beautiful village, and I hope to visit again someday to hike the property and take one of their other tours when the weather is warmer. They had free hot chocolate in the gift shop, which was perfect on such a cold day, and after the tour, he gave us little soaps.
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October 2022 by Murf64
Beautiful area with some interesting history. Incredible fall colors for a hike.
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October 2022 by Kathleen Murphy
My heart is overflowing with this beautiful place. Fall colors with the wonderful homestead is perfection.
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September 2022 by J G.
Quite the historical place. It's nice how they've preserved the buildings. When we were there the cafe was not open. Thought $20 was a tad much for a guided tour, so we just walked the grounds. You cannot access the buildings without a guided tour. Would be nice if there was an option for self-guided tour. I didn't go inside the museum, but others in the group did and found it informative.
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July 2022 by Sue Laprise
Kids are free! 25 and under ? $25 per adult. This is a fascinating place and you can wander around for free but need a tour to go inside. We also learned a song and dance on our health and wellness tour. Thanks for a wonderful learning opportunity
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July 2022 by Karen Bentley
Do yourself a favor and don’t miss the Canterbury Shaker Village guided tours. It’s like stepping back in time 100 years or so and indulging in what it what it was like to create a slice of “heaven on earth.” I took the Shaker innovation tour and was astounded to learn so many modern conveniences were developed by the highly efficient, proficient Shakers who had a collective aversion to waste. Our tour guide Kevin knew all, shared all and patiently answered every curious question. He gave a crowd pleasing kind of tour to people of all ages, all backgrounds and from far away states. It was a thoroughly enjoyable educational, historical and delightful experience. Would give 10 stars if I could❤️❤️❤️
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July 2022 by Viraj Patel
This place is a must visit if you're into architecture and/or cultural history. The Shakers were a fascinating people and I look forward to reading more about them. It's free to roam around outside and be sure to pop in the admissions center to watch their free 9 minute video which is a very well done overview of the Shakers. My next visit I hope to do the 1pm tour which let's you look at the interiors of the buildings.
