12/29/2010
For those in the know the Shakers were a communal sect that flourished briefly during the nineteenth century and are now essentially extinct. Nonetheless, a few of their communes are preserved for historic reasons – the largest and most complete is Pleasant Hill just outside of Harrodsburg.
There’s basically a main street lined with Shaker buildings, a few of them containing costumed interpreters doing Shaker things – which means making little wooden crafts with traditional tools. I’ll be honest: As a general rule I’m not a big fan of costumed interpreters, but thankfully these people just dressed like Shakers and didn’t try to talk like them. None of that “Yon cell phone doth distracteth” stuff.
Interesting look into a footnote in American history. I think most people have heard of the Shakers but don’t really know who they were. I now have some great Shaker trivia next time they come up in casual conversation. Did you know that the Shakers were the first to sell seeds in those little paper envelopes? I do. I learned that at the Shaker Village. Ain’t I special?
Here’s another piece of trivia: Admission is half off in the winter months.
I went here with my mom many years ago. The Shaker idea was quite interesting and simple. My favorite thing was the wonderful lemon pie in the restaurant. Bought the cookbook, but never made it.
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