Home to the Shakers from 1785 to 1947 who are known for strict celibate communal living, this village was the "Center of Union" because all the other villages based their villages on Mount Lebanon and allowed Mount Lebanon to have the final say in any dispute. Started in 1785, it was, at its apex, home to 600 Shakers in 100 buildings on 6,000 acres. The last Shakers left the village in 1947. Twenty-six buildings survive, several of which are are open to the public.
