Old Economy Village, Historical museum in Beaver County, United States.
Old Economy Village is a settlement of 17 preserved historic buildings from the early 1800s situated along the Ohio River. The site includes homes, workshops, storage buildings, and gardens that together illustrate how a religious community was organized and operated.
The community was founded in 1825 by followers of George Rapp, a German-born religious leader who established communal societies based on shared faith and labor. This was the third location where the group settled after leaving earlier communities they had built in other states.
The layout and buildings reveal how members of the Harmony Society organized their daily work and spiritual life together. Walking through the rooms and workshops shows how religious belief shaped everything from family structures to craftwork.
The village is best explored on foot, with both self-guided and guided tours available to learn about the community's history and daily life. Wearing comfortable walking shoes is recommended since you will move between different buildings and spend time indoors viewing furnished rooms and workshops.
The site preserves an extensive library and archives holding original records and correspondence of the Harmony Society that cannot be found elsewhere. These collections allow visitors to view handwritten letters and documents that tell the personal stories of community members in their own words.
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