Behind the Scenes at the Museum
Five workshops in 2024
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill preserves more than 5,000 artifacts associated with the Pleasant Hill Shakers. Go behind the scenes with Shaker Village’s curator in this series of workshops to explore highlights from this unique collection.
Baskets
Saturday, February 17 | 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
The Shakers produced thousands of baskets, both for sale to worldly consumers and for use within their communities. Learn about some of the types of baskets produced at specific Shaker communities - from large laundry baskets to miniature "fancywork" baskets - and view unique examples from the Pleasant Hill collection.
Workshop Price:
Annual Passholder: $15
General Admission: $25
Planes & Woodworking
Saturday, March 2 | 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Shaker Village's collection includes more than 30 woodworking planes, used by the Shakers for everything from "trueing" floorboards to adding delicate moldings on furniture. We will explore this extensive collection, along with some other key tools that would have been found in a nineteenth-century Shaker brother's toolchest. Then, participants will take a guided walk through some of Shaker Village's exhibit spaces, where we'll take an informed look at some of the furniture on display.
Workshop Price:
Annual Passholder: $15
General Admission: $25
Boxes
Saturday, March 23 | 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Today, oval boxes are one of the most iconic items associated with the Shakers. Learn about their manufacture at specific Shaker communities and view unique examples from the Pleasant Hill collection. The Pleasant Hill Shakers also produced a number of other types of wooden boxes for the community's use, which will also be explored as part of this program.
Workshop Price:
Annual Passholder: $15
General Admission: $25
Chairs
Saturday, April 27 | 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
The Shakers are often best known for their furniture, particularly their elegant, ladderback chairs. Explore the design of Shaker chairs, looking at pieces made both at Pleasant Hill and at other Shaker communities. Learn the unique stories behind some of Shaker Village’s chairs, including their varied histories after leaving Pleasant Hill in the early 20th century and some of the strange modifications and adaptions that were later made to them.
Workshop Price:
Annual Passholder: $15
General Admission: $25
Fashion
Saturday, May 18 | 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Despite the Shakers' reputation for plainness and simplicity, Shaker sisters (and brethren) often took special care in their dressing and deportment. Some sisters owned elegant silk slippers and boldly colored neckerchiefs, while others trimmed bonnets in delicately rouched silk or knit wristlets with decorative patterns. We'll explore some of the myths about Shaker simplicity of dress while looking at items of personal adornment once owned by individual Shakers and considering the world of "Shaker fashion."
Workshop Price:
Annual Passholder: $15
General Admission: $25
This program is for ages 16 and up. Those under age 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult. Guests will not be allowed to bring food, drink, pens or any bags/purses into the program (cameras/phones and pencils/paper are okay). This program will feature a curated selection of artifacts from the Shaker Village collection that are not otherwise on display, and guests will have the opportunity to view/photograph the items at close range. Due to occupancy limits and space restraints in our collections storage facility, the program will be held in one of Shaker Village’s historic buildings.
Program fee includes one complimentary admission to Shaker Village and one voucher for 20% off dining at the Trustees’ Table (excluding alcoholic beverages). Dining reservation recommended: call 859.734.5411. All tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Shaker Village is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For additional questions please call 859.734.5411.
