Senator Hassan Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Designate Canterbury Shaker Village as National Heritage Area

CANTERBURY – U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) are introducing legislation to begin the process of designating Shaker Village in Canterbury as a National Heritage Area. Canterbury Shaker Village is an historic site that preserves the heritage of the Shakers, a Christian sect organized in the United States in the 1780s, that espoused egalitarian ideals.

“Canterbury Shaker Village provides visitors with an immersive experience, teaching people about the history of the Shakers and their unique way of life,” said Senator Hassan. “I am pleased to reintroduce this bill, now with bipartisan support, that takes the first steps towards designating the Shaker Village in Canterbury as a National Heritage Area so that their history can continue to be shared for generations to come.”

Senator Hassan’s bill would direct the National Park Service to conduct a study on designating New Hampshire’s Canterbury Shaker Village as a National Heritage Area, which is the first step toward a potential designation. The selection of Canterbury Shaker Village as a National Heritage Area would make it eligible to receive up to $1 million annually in federal funds to support its operations.

Senator Hassan has previously worked to preserve historic sites in New Hampshire. In 2019, Senator Hassan’s bill to re-designate Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site as a National Historical Park was signed into law.

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