Discover the art of taping a Shaker chair seat with expert guidance at Canterbury Shaker Village. Perfect for craft enthusiasts wanting a hands-on experience, bring your chair or help retape one onsite.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
Hang tight — photos are loading
This usually takes just a second.
Difficulty
easy
Duration
3–4 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for individuals with basic hand-eye coordination and the ability to sit and focus for several hours.
Wildlife
History
Canterbury Shaker Village preserves one of the best examples of Shaker craftsmanship and community life, dating back to the early 1800s.
Conservation
The village implements sustainable practices to protect its historic buildings and natural surroundings, promoting responsible tourism and preservation.
Canterbury Shaker Village
Discover the art of taping a Shaker chair seat with expert guidance at Canterbury Shaker Village. Perfect for craft enthusiasts wanting a hands-on experience, bring your chair or help retape one onsite.
Canterbury Shaker Village is a historic Shaker community and living history museum located in Canterbury, New Hampshire. The Village offers guided tours, special exhibitions, community readings, concerts, hands-on workshops, and seasonal events that interpret Shaker life, craft, and communal practices.
Educational programs highlight primary sources and personal narratives, including special tours inspired by Nicolas Briggs’s memoir Forty Years a Shaker and guided walks led by the Village’s education staff such as Director of Education Kyle Sandler. Visitors can attend readings in the 1792 Meeting House, music on the green, antique and vintage car shows set among fall foliage, and exhibition openings that honor the Shakers’ legacy.
Workshops and demonstrations teach traditional Shaker skills; examples include a cherry oval box workshop led by instructor Dick Bennett and farm-to-table dinners paired with historic tours at community gatherings like Simply Shaker. Members and preview events bring curators and historians together to contextualize artifacts, as seen in the Keeping Faith exhibition talks with curators Renée Fox, Kyle Sandler, and Shirley Wajda.
Canterbury Shaker Village maintains credibility through documented artifacts, named curators and educators, and a range of public programs that connect visitors directly to Shaker material culture. The Village’s calendar of events and combination of tours, exhibitions, and hands-on learning provide reliable opportunities for visitors to explore early American religious life and Shaker craftsmanship. Public programs often include live music, community readings, vintage car exhibitions, curator talks, and light refreshments during exhibition openings to deepen visitor engagement with Shaker history and authentic material culture.
Location
Canterbury, NH
Historic village campus in New Hampshire
Historic Site
1792 Meeting House
Early American Shaker landmark
Tours & Events
11 offerings
Guided tours, workshops, concerts
Special Programs
Exhibitions & Events
Exhibition openings, readings, car show
Discover Shaker history through guided tours, workshops, concerts, and special exhibitions—check event listings and ticketing for upcoming dates.
Bring Your Own Chair Frame
If you want a fully personalized experience, bring your own Shaker chair frame to work on during the session.
Wear Comfortable Clothing
Dress in layers and wear clothes that you don’t mind getting a little dusty, as chair taping involves close hands-on work.
Arrive Early to Settle In
Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes before the workshop starts to settle in and get comfortable with your workspace.
Prepare for Fine Motor Skill Use
This workshop requires patience and hand dexterity—bring reading glasses if needed for close work.
Comfortable Seating Cushions
Helps maintain comfort during the extended seated workshop sessions.
Reading or Craft Glasses
Assists with detail work during the taping process.
Layered Clothing
Allows you to adjust to changing temperatures inside and outside the workshop.
spring
Personal Chair Frame
Bringing your own chair allows you to complete a chair important to you.