Hancock Shaker Village
National Historic Landmark

Hancock Shaker Village

Hancock, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Listed
November 23, 1968
Type
District
Period
Colonial
Ref No.
68000037

About this property

Hancock Shaker Village is a former Shaker commune in Hancock and Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It emerged in the towns of Hancock, Pittsfield, and Richmond in the 1780s, organized in 1790, and was active until 1960. It was the third of nineteen major Shaker villages established between 1774 and 1836 in New York, New England, Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. From 1790 until 1893, Hancock was the seat of the Hancock Bishopric, which oversaw two additional Shaker communes in Tyringham, Massachusetts, and Enfield, Connecticut. The village was closed by the Shakers in 1960, and sold to a local group who formed an independent non-profit. This organization now operates the property as an open-air museum. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places and declared a National Historic Landmark District in 1968.

Location

Hancock, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
42.43127, -73.33534

Categories

SOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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Conflict & War
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The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
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Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
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Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Nearby Historic Sites

Nichols-Sterner House
Industrial
1.8 mi
Northeast School
Industrial
2.2 mi
South Mountain Concert Hall
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2.5 mi
Goodwood
Industrial
2.5 mi
Kenmore
Industrial
3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Hancock Shaker Village listed on the National Register?

Hancock Shaker Village was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 23, 1968.

What type of historic resource is Hancock Shaker Village?

Hancock Shaker Village is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Hancock Shaker Village a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Hancock Shaker Village has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Hancock Shaker Village?

The period of significance for Hancock Shaker Village is recorded as the colonial era, specifically around 1774.

Can I research the history near Hancock Shaker Village?

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