Old Economy Village
Explore preserved homes, workshops, and garden of the Harmony Society.
Artwork inspired by Violet Oakley
The Harmony Society established Economy in 1824 as its third and final communal town. Members shared property, organized skilled labor, and built a profitable agricultural and manufacturing operation while practicing a distinctive religious discipline. The surviving houses, workshops, church, and garden show how an ambitious utopian community functioned materially rather than only in theory.
Begin with the orientation film at the visitor center, then walk two blocks to the Feast Hall ticket desk at the historic village. Some rooms are guided while others are self-guided. Leave time for the garden and George Rapp House, but look beyond their picturesque surfaces: textile production and trade helped sustain the community. The site operates seasonally, so check the calendar before traveling.
- Founded
- 1824
- Community
- Harmony Society
- Season
- April–December
Quick guide
- Begin with the film
- Orient to the Harmonists before walking to the village.
- Find the Feast Hall
- Buy admission there and ask which rooms require a docent.
Know before you go
- Begin with the film
- Orient to the Harmonists before walking to the village.
- Find the Feast Hall
- Buy admission there and ask which rooms require a docent.
- Look closer
- Connect great garden with the site's history.
- Plan around
- Check current tours, special hours, and access before traveling.
Good to know
Two-block route and uneven historic surfaces; contact staff for building-specific access. Free visitor-center parking at 270 16th Street; village entrance about two blocks away at 1401 Church Street.
Notice these
- George Rapp House
- Great Garden
- Harmony Society workshops