Mapping the Shakers: a living portrait of 200 years at Canterbury Shaker Village

CANTERBURY HISTORY TOUR FIELD GUIDE

Mapping the Shakers: a living portrait of 200 years at Canterbury Shaker Village

An hour-long public presentation and discussion introducing the Village’s digital “deep mapping” project—what it reveals about 2,300+ Shakers and how the community’s built environment evolved.

Mapping the Shakers: a living portrait of 200 years at Canterbury Shaker Village.

Duration
1 hour
Location
Canterbury
Operator
Canterbury Shaker Village
Category
History Tour
Robert Eric Crews
Founder & Editor, The Adventure Collective
Published Verified

Join Canterbury Shaker Village for an engaging exploration of its 200-year history through a unique digital “deep mapping” project. The program traces the lives of more than 2,300 individuals who lived, worked, and worshiped in this small southern New Hampshire settlement and looks at how the Shakers remodeled their built environment to meet changing needs.

Highlights

Outing Highlights

THE HISTORY

Two centuries and 2,300 lives

The project assembles vital records to illuminate the full population of the Village — not just leaders — revealing patterns of work, worship, and daily life across 200 years.

THE PROJECT

A digital ‘deep mapping’ of people and place

Learn how the Village is charting individual life data alongside changes in the built environment to form a layered, searchable portrait of community adaptation and priorities.

THE GATHERING

Presentation, conversation, and light refreshments

The hour-long session introduces the mapping effort, invites questions and comments from attendees, and includes light refreshments as part of the public program.

What the day feels like

What the hour feels like

Expect a focused, curator-led introduction to the Village’s digital mapping initiative: an explanation of methods and goals, a look at preliminary findings about the Shaker population and the community’s changing buildings, followed by an open period for questions, comments, and conversation.

Suitability

Who it's for

Who gets the most from this session — and who might skip it.

1
History BuffsIdeal: the session focuses on 200 years of Shaker history and population data, making it a direct fit for people interested in social history and material culture.
2
Academics & ResearchersStrong fit: researchers will find the discussion of vital records and digital mapping methods useful for genealogical and community studies.
3
Community Volunteers & GenealogistsGood fit: attendees are invited to ask questions and comment, contributing their knowledge as the Village refines the mapping of individual inhabitants.
4
Casual Local VisitorsAppropriate for visitors seeking a concise, interpretive program about the Village’s past; the one-hour format and refreshments make it accessible as a short cultural outing.

Practical planner

Details to review before reserving

Timing & Season

Sunday, May 18, 2:00–3:00 pm; the program runs one hour.

Meeting place

Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Rd., Canterbury, NH 03224.

What to bring

No special gear required; bring questions and any notes or reference materials you want to share. Light refreshments will be provided.

Duration & pace

One-hour presentation and discussion with time for audience participation.

Booking Notice

Review cancellation policies before reserving.

Frequently asked questions

Planning Your Outing

How long is the program?

The session runs one hour.

Where do we meet?

At Canterbury Shaker Village, 288 Shaker Rd., Canterbury, NH 03224.

What is the ‘deep mapping’ project about?

It’s a digital initiative to map vital records and the Village’s built environment to better understand the lives of over 2,300 people and how the community changed over 200 years.

Will there be a chance to ask questions or contribute?

Yes — attendees are invited to ask questions and offer comments as the Village shapes the mapping project.

Are refreshments provided?

Light refreshments will be served as part of the program.

Who is running the program?

The event is offered by Canterbury Shaker Village.