Artifact Repository: Shaker Museum
The Shaker Museum in Chatham, NY, is set to undergo a significant transformation with the construction of a new permanent home. The museum, currently housing the extensive Shaker collection in storage, will serve as the permanent home for this unique collection of American history.
## Construction and Opening Date
The museum's new $18 million building is set to rise at 5 Austerlitz Street in Chatham, NY. While renderings of the structure have been unveiled, specific details about the construction timeline or an exact opening date remain undisclosed in recent updates [1]. The plans for the new museum have garnered positive feedback from local planners [1].
## Significance of the Collection
The Shaker Museum's collection offers a comprehensive insight into the United Society of Believers, commonly known as the Shakers, and their unique communal lifestyle, contributions to American crafts and architecture, and religious practices. The Shakers were renowned for their innovative designs and craftsmanship, which continue to influence contemporary design.
By preserving and showcasing these artifacts, the museum aims to educate visitors about the Shakers' history and cultural contributions, underscoring their significance in American history and design.
## Additional Context
The Shaker Museum's collection, which has been physically out of public view for over a decade, is available to view online at https://www.shakermuseum.us/collection [2]. The collection continued to expand due to the networking efforts of Eldress Emma B. King, who reached out to various Shaker villages to determine whether pieces being sold or disposed of would make useful additions to the Museum.
John Stanton Williams, the founder of the Shaker Museum, began collecting items directly from the Shakers in the 1920s and 30s. In 2004, the Shaker Museum became the owner and steward of the North Family site at Mount Lebanon Shaker Village, consisting of 11 Shaker buildings on 91 acres.
A significant item in the Shaker Museum's collection is a piece of fabric believed to have been worn by Shaker Founder Mother Ann Lee during her voyage from England to America in 1774. Although the authenticity of the fabric is of little importance, the Shakers believed it to be real and treated it as such.
The Shaker Museum's mission is to elevate Shaker material culture to animate Shaker values and beliefs and inspire individuals and communities to deepen bonds and seek meaningful approaches to social, economic, environmental, and spiritual issues.
References: [1] Shaker Museum | Mount Lebanon. (n.d.). New Shaker Museum Building. Retrieved May 16, 2023, from https://www.shakermuseum.org/new-shaker-museum-building [2] Shaker Museum | Mount Lebanon. (n.d.). Collection. Retrieved May 16, 2023, from https://www.shakermuseum.us/collection
With the construction of a new $18 million building at 5 Austerlitz Street, the Shaker Museum's unique collection from home-and-garden to lifestyle artifacts will be displayed in a permanent home. The museum's extensive collection of Shaker artifacts not only provides insights into their communal lifestyle but also showcases the influences of their innovative designs on contemporary home-and-garden design.
