Mark your calendars! On Wednesday May 22nd the long awaited Shaker Herb House project will begin! Come watch as work crews expertly raise the 40’ by 80’ timber frame structure 12’ into the air, where it will be held on cribbing for many months ahead while preparations are made for its new foundation and future home of new incubator spaces, classrooms, and studios.

Join us for this historic event!
The lift will start between 7am and 8am. Early birds are welcome to attend. Refreshments, pastries, and hot and cold beverages will be served at 9am.
All are welcome to attend the activities and gathering to watch throughout the course of the entire day.

A livestream will be available on our homepage or by clicking here.

The Shakers among 20 sites pioneered the commercial production of herbal medicine in America during the first half of the 1800s. Westward expansion and widespread competition of the late 1800s caused the Shakers to shutter their factory like Herb House and eventually all were torn down except for the one at Sabbathday Lake. This year, the Shakers mark the bicentennial of the Herb House by breaking ground on its complete rehabilitation. Over the next several years, the derelict building will be transformed into the new Herb House Cultural Center. It will be the headquarters of the Shaker Herb Business, traditional arts workshops, culinary arts classroom, and Shaker Villages first year round community development hub for production, education, and community partnerships.

This $4.4 million project is supported with a $750,000 challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Shakers’ campaign continues to re-open this national landmark structure with a $2 million fundraising goal.

The building lift on Wednesday, May 22nd is open to all. Come celebrate with the Shakers and staff this milestone in the restoration of the Shaker Herb House. Rain or shine. It’s a great opportunity for time-lapse photography!

Please note: Crews will be onsite the two days beforehand to prepare the complex rigging necessary for the lift. If all rigging goes according to plans, the building will be lifted on schedule on Wednesday May 22. Any change in this schedule will be immediately posted and updated by Shaker Village. Shaker Village will issue a public confirmation of the lift date with a follow-up email announcement closer to the date.

Support this important project at maineshakers.com/donate