Group Tours
Schedule your group with us
Museum Group Tours
Group Tour of the Shaker Museum can be arranged in advance by filling in the request form here or by calling (207) 926-4597 or emailing info@maineshakers.com
We love having groups of all ages visit Shaker Village! Whether you are a school group, homeschool group, family reunion, or bus tour, we’d love to hear from you.
Our guided group tours last one hour and we recommend allowing one hour afterwards for the self-guided exhibits and stores.
We recommend booking your tour to begin at 10am, so that your group is in the Museum before the general public. If you need a different time, please email.
Please note that this is a historic site and, as such, the 1-hour tour is not handicap accessible. There are many stairs and inclines and it is a full walking tour. We are happy to offer our self-guided special exhibit (handicap accessible) to part or all of your group if they can not do the walking/stairs.
Our booking and day-of group tour info is below:
- 50% deposit is required at time of booking confirmation based on estimated group size. Balance to be paid upon arrival, please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your tour start time to allow ample time for the transaction before your tour. *Scholarships available for youth school groups; as we do not want you to have any barriers to education.
- Cancellations up to 3-days prior to your tour are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations within 3-days and no-call/no-shows will forfeit deposit.
- Your group will have a 1-hour guided tour that begins promptly at your scheduled time. Tour times will not be extended for late arrival, you will only have that 1-hour time block. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour to unload your group, use the facilities, and pay your balance.
- Please note that this is a historic site and, as such, the 1-hour tour is not handicap accessible. There are many stairs and inclines and it is a full walking tour. We are happy to offer our self-guided special exhibit (handicap accessible) as an alternative to folks that can not do the walking/stairs.
- Please unload your group in front of the Visitors’ Center and have your leader check-in at the desk inside. Small vehicles may park in visitor parking areas, large vehicles may park roadside in front of the Shaker Store.
- Allow time after your guided tour to take the self-guided tour through our Special Exhibits, visit the Shaker Store (at roadside), and the Museum Shop in the Visitors’ Center. We recommend allowing at least an extra hour. Including your early arrival time, your tour and time for shopping and exploring we advise a total of a two hour block.
- There are no dining facilities at Shaker Village but we do have large grassy areas and picnic tables. You are welcome to bring a bagged lunch and enjoy the scenery. If you’d like a nearby restaurant, we recommend Poland Provisions or Nonesuch River Brewing.
For any further questions or to book your group visit, please call (207) 926-4597 or email info@maineshakers.com
Hands to Work Group Garden Experience
Group Tour & Work in the Shaker Garden.
Open to all ages and abilities.
2-hour experience from 9:30am-11:30am. Monday through Thursday, one group per week limit.
Size: Groups of 10 (minimum) to 20 (max).
Cost: $15 per person –Scholarships available for school groups, non-profit programs, and service groups- indicate need on booking form
What you will do: Tour the Shaker Herb Garden with our Head Gardener, Tyler Credit, who will guide you in tasting, smelling, and learning about the herbs we are currently growing. Then put your hands to work harvesting & bundling a select row of herbs to bring up to our Herb Attic for drying. Here you’ll learn from experience what the Shaker communal work model is all about! Your group experience will end with a fun make & take-away activity.
We will confirm your booking via email, collect payment, & also contact you about setting up a rain date, ideally during the same week.
