Preparing for the end of the world? The Shakers made doomsday look good

Charles Nordhoff’s 1875 report on Shakerism highlighted the ascetic lifestyle of the Shakers, exemplified by the Mount Lebanon village’s tranquility, which foreshadowed their decline from 6,000 members pre-Civil War to just two remaining in Maine today. The new exhibition, The Shakers: A World in the Making, showcases their unique blend of simplicity, gender equality, and foresight into sustainability, encouraging reflections on their relevance in contemporary society.