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October 2024 by Best Vandendungen
Not open as hours on the door
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September 2024 by Maddie Dusseault
I love the grounds of the Shaker Museum! They are so peaceful and there is a lot to do around the area. I love visiting the museum and learning more about the history of the early life in America.
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September 2024 by Robert Chase
I didn't actually tour the Museum; we had a good dinner in the Great Stone Dwelling after my uncle's interment in Hanover. There are a number of Nineteenth-Century Shaker buildings at the site. The room rates are very reasonable, but there is no air conditioning. Dinner was sticky -- then there was contredanse! We were there in early August; the Dwelling would make excellent lodging outside of the dog days.
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August 2024 by Elizabeth Esplin
Really cool history experience, kind people and a spectacular chapel to tour. Do not miss this hidden gem, other buildings were really neat especially the barn and schoolhouse but the chapel was by far the best part. Highly recommend coming here!
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July 2024 by Jaya Wen
Very cool and unique place to stay. Enjoyed wandering the museum.
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April 2024 by R K Lee
We honestly knew little about Shakerism previously. The visit to the Enfield Shaker Museum was a spontaneous decision as we were just driving around a small portion of New Hampshire and Vermont. Although we did not have any idea what to expect, we found the Enfield Shaker complex to be a highly interesting and informative historical site. The original Great Stone Dwelling houses the museum's store and was the focal point of our private tour. Our guide was quite knowledgeable but much was left to an introductory video and many sets of old photos posted along the tour route. Unfortunately, the impressive Mary Keane Chapel was not accessible due to a wedding. Unless you have an interest in this Protestant Christian sect which practiced celibacy, pacifism and equality of the sexes and races or just want to expand your worldly knowledge, the Enfield Shaker Museum is probably not a destination attraction.
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November 2023 by F.P. de Beer
This is history to notice
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November 2023 by L C
We were on a road trip… And by happenstance came upon this museum… We just dropped in without planning, and we had a wonderful visit… The guide, who did a tour with us, Mrs. Torres, was incredibly knowledgeable, and was a great tour guide… Very personable and attentive to our questions… What Are most about this place was the structures and the store… Or gift shop… With many products… Very competitive pricing… The staff were very cordial and polite… It’s a wonderful place to visit… It really is an interesting place, because it shows you the great diversity of this great country… For all groups, no matter what… Who came here… To practice their faith… Or just to be free… It’s a wonderful experience… I must say that visiting this place was very insightful… It’s a place that I would definitely come back to you if I ever come this way again. If you visit… Inquire about Mrs. Torres… She’s a great volunteer…
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November 2023 by Bill Kusmit
A lovely place on beautiful Mascoma Lake. It's great just to walk around, especially in autumn.
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October 2023 by Jim W.
We arrived at the Enfield Shaker Museum shortly after 10 a.m., which was its opening time. You park either on the right side (facing the buildings) or possibly around back also. You enter at the front and the tickets are sold in the gift shop immediately on your right. The lady selling the tickets was friendly and chatted with us. She said there was a tour starting at 11 a.m. Another guy wandered in who turned out to be the guide. After a little confusion, he led us through the building to a sunlit room towards the back. Here they had some chairs set up facing a TV. He first discussed a bit of general Shaker background with us and then started the ~ 10-minute video about them. It was interesting. The video ended at about the same time that another group of 3 German tourists was escorted back by the ticket lady. Our guide seemed a bit torn, and asked if we wanted to see the video again. We deferred, figuring that we could wander around outside for a few minutes (it was still only around 10:40 a.m.) before the tour. He then started the video for the new group. We walked around some of the buildings and took a few photos now that the morning fog had burned off. We then went back in and asked the ticket lady about the tour, as it was then around 10:50 a.m. She said that it may have already started, so we walked back to the video room. The guide was indeed discussing a topo map of the site with the Germans. We joined in and the tour then began. This was interesting; he discussed how the building was laid out (mostly to allow separation of the male and female Shakers). He showed us the basement workshops / storage areas as well as the common dining room. An older couple passed us at one point early in the tour and headed inside. A couple of minutes later, the ticket lady led the couple back to the tour group. They had intended to join the 11 a.m. tour (at 11 a.m.) and were somewhat irate that they had missed part of it. The staff tried to be helpful and offered them a refund, but in the end they settled down and just joined the tour. I sympathized with the couple in this case - if you state that you have an 11 a.m. tour, it seems like you should at least designate where to meet (presumably at 11 a.m.). The tour here just seemed to coalesce at some time in the neighborhood of 11 a.m. We continued touring the ground floor and then made our way upstairs to the 2nd floor, where there was an even larger central room for worship services. The way the builders included cabinets in almost every part of the interior walls, and how they arranged shutters for the windows, was quite interesting. Note that one of the 'simple gifts' that the builders were not able to include here was an elevator. Hence, if you have mobility issues, climbing the stairs between floors may be something you should factor in to your planning. The tour then headed next door to a church that the subsequent owners (a Catholic organization) had built. The interior was interesting with plenty of stained glass. Our guide wrapped up the tour with quick stops at a couple of mostly gutted outbuildings. It was about 12:10 p.m. at that point. I thought this was an interesting site. You should just allow some flexibility on tour timings.
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September 2023 by Courtney Jane Brown
Darling and well done festival of Shaker life this last Saturday. The kids enjoyed all the old-timey activities and I really enjoyed the fiber arts tent especially! I really learned a lot from the friendly and knowledgeable volunteers. There was mask making, weaving, vine crown making, candle making, broom making, apple cider making, wagon rides, dinkeys & goats to pet, a sheepdog seminar, too. I'm not even listing it all! Amazing work by the volunteers truly.
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September 2023 by Das E.
Stay overnight, enjoy Shaker architecture and sensibility from the inside. Hike up to Smith Pond, savor fresh cider at the harvest festival. Friendly people, rustic interiors, gratuitous coffee, I'd come again.
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July 2023 by Brian McGarry
I stopped here on a whim with my family as we were traveling. Not knowing what to expect, we were honestly blown away by this experience. The Shaker's are a fascinating group to learn about and their craftsmanship is top notch. The tour lasted 1.5 hours and the guide was genuinely knowledgeable and passionate.This museum is also a Blue Star Museum which means military families are free for entry.
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June 2023 by Otis otis
We were on a road trip… And by happenstance came upon this museum… We just dropped in without planning, and we had a wonderful visit… The guide, who did a tour with us, Mrs. Torres, was incredibly knowledgeable, and was a great tour guide… Very personable and attentive to our questions… What Are most about this place was the structures and the store… Or gift shop… With many products… Very competitive pricing… The staff were very cordial and polite… It’s a wonderful place to visit… It really is an interesting place, because it shows you the great diversity of this great country… For all groups, no matter what… Who came here… To practice their faith… Or just to be free… It’s a wonderful experience… I must say that visiting this place was very insightful… It’s a place that I would definitely come back to you if I ever come this way again. If you visit… Inquire about Mrs. Torres… She’s a great volunteer…
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June 2023 by Jeff Todd
The main building on this property is quite impressive. The tour though long was good. The docent was very willing to answer questions and quite knowledgeable about the history.Price for entry: $14
