Historic Zoar Village is one of America's most successful communal settlements. This National Historic Landmark was established in 1817 by German immigrants escaping religious persecution in their homeland and searching for their safe haven. In 1819, the villagers formed the Society of Separatists of Zoar, choosing to live communally until the Society's dissolution in 1898. Today, Historic Zoar Village maintains much of its original historic appearance and immerses visitors in what it was like to live in the 19th century.