Brian Bixby

About the Author

Brian Bixby

Brian Bixby grew up in New England and never quite managed to leave. He studies nineteenth century American culture, particularly tourism and religion. But he frequently takes time out to impersonate a nineteenth century statesman, teach courses outside of his specialty, and write fiction. Because history should be fun as well as educational.

Author Archive Page
A Little Band of the Faithful Leaving the Shaker Meeting HouseA Little Band of the Faithful Leaving the Shaker Meeting House on the Sabbath in 1916. (Photo: Gleanings from Old Shaker Journals, Internet Archive Book Images flickr)

Winter’s Missionaries: The Shakers Go West

110 years ago, three men set out on a bitter cold January 1 to walk from upstate New York to Virginia, and then over the Appalachians to Kentucky and Ohio. These were Shaker missionaries. Their goal was to spread the Shaker faith to the western United States.