Mount Lebanon Shaker Society
Why it's listed
Mount Lebanon Shaker village sits on the west side of Mount Lebanon at New Lebanon, New York. Begun in 1785, it grew into five Shaker families, North, Church, Center, Second and South, each with its own dwellings, workshops and barns. Buildings date from 1785 to about 1876, ranging from frame to brick and stone, and follow a plain, functional Shaker style. After a major fire in 1875, brick buildings replaced several frame ones. The village served for roughly 150 years as the principal Shaker community and was home to the central ministry. At its peak it held 600 members and 100 buildings on 6,000 acres. It also holds the first Shaker meetinghouse in America, built in 1785. After the last Mount Lebanon Shaker died in 1947, the village was sold. The Darrow School now uses many of the buildings, including the 1824 second meetinghouse, now its library, while the South Family is occupied by a religious community.
Significance in brief: New Lebanon was the second Shaker settlement and served for about 150 years as the principal Shaker community, where the central ministry resided. The first Shaker building used exclusively for worship was erected here. At its peak it had 600 members and 100 buildings on 6,000 acres, and it set the plan for later Shaker villages.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000511, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | U.S. 20, New Lebanon |
|---|---|
| County | Columbia County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000511 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1786-1947 |
| Architectural style | Shaker style, marked by functionalism and simple form, with Victorian influence in the 1875-76 Main Dwelling House and Ministry House |
| Areas of significance | Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated June 23, 1965 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Most buildings are in use, many by the Darrow School, with others held by private and religious owners; conditions range from excellent to ruined, and a few buildings are unoccupied or deteriorated. The North Family stone barn burned in 1972. |
| Acreage | 270 |
| Coordinates | 42.45704, -73.38102 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000511.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6921801
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.