Scroll Top

Visiting the Amana Colonies

Amana Heritage Museum in the Amana Colonies in Amana, Iowa

While there are technically seven villages that make up the Amana Colonies, we stuck to exploring Main Amana and taking in the Prelude to Christmas festivities for this trip.

Albeit being the most touristy of the villages, Amana is especially fun to explore this time of year. We explored the Tannenbaum Forest, ducked in and out of shops (fair warning: you’ll likely run into a hefty amount of tchotchkes here) and learned a bit more about Iowa’s long-standing communal society.

Tannenbaum Forest at the Amana Colonies in Amana, Iowa
Horse head hitching post at the Amana Colonies in Amana, Iowa
All Rights Reserved Megan Bannister

According to the Amana Heritage Society‘s website, the “Amana religion has its roots in the movement of Pietism and Mysticism which flourished in Germany in the early 1700s.” In 1842, members from one sect of the Amana religion, known as the Community of True Inspiration, sailed for America. At first, they settled on land near what is now Buffalo, New York.

In the coming years, more than 800 Inspirationalists came to America. They too settled in the communal society that had come to be known as Ebenezer. The community quickly outgrew the land and decided to go west in search of a new home. In 1855, the first village of Amana was settled along the Iowa River. By 1863, there were six more villages.

Until the 1920s, the citizens of the Amana Colonies lived a communal lifestyle, largely removed from the influences of the outside world. However, largely influenced by innovations to communication and transportation as well as the Great Depression, the Amana Society voted to abandon its former way of life in 1932.

Visit the Amana Heritage Museum

Entrance of Amana Heritage Museum at the Amana Colonies in Amana, Iowa

We were lucky enough to visit on a day where the Amana Heritage Society Museum was offering free admission — typically tickets are $8 for adults and free for kids. Stop in to watch a video about Amana’s history in the schoolhouse’s old knitting room where generations of students made garments to keep the communal society’s residents warm through the winter.

The museum also currently has an exhibit commemorating the Amana Church’s 300th anniversary, which is pretty incredible. Overall there were a ton of really well-preserved artifacts—like the original passport of Christian Metz, who led the Amana people to Iowa—and some great information if you’re a bit of a history nerd.

Amana Heritage Society Museum, 705 44th Avenue in Amana, Iowa

Planning Your Visit to the Amana Colonies

All Rights Reserved Megan Bannister

If you’re unfamiliar with the Amana Colonies, a great place to start is the Amana Colonies Convention and Visitors Bureau. This is where you’ll find helpful information and a slew of maps to help you navigate the seven villages.

While a lot of the local shops sell similar touristy tchotchkes, hit up the General Store for a collection of Amana-produced goods and swing by the Christmas Room for a heaping dose of holiday cheer.

For more information about visiting the Amana Colonies, visit the Amana Heritage Society and Amana Colonies Tourism websites.

Amana Colonies Convention and Visitors Bureau, 622 46th Avenue in Amana, Iowa

Share Your Thoughts

I would love to hear from you! Have you visited the Amana Colonies? What is your favorite thing to do in this Iowa destination?

Related Posts

Comments (1)

[…] few new states off my bucket list. I’ve marveled at new giant, roadside oddities and learned more about Iowa’s history. I’ve put a few too many miles on my already tired car and traveled to both ends of the […]

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.