Amana Colonies is an area of seven villages with a German flair and an intriguing past. It was initially set up by German Pietists known as the Community of True Inspiration who were seeking isolation and refuge. Travel between the tightknit communities for a glimpse into their fascinating history.
Learn about the American dream of the German settlers, whose community flourished in rural Iowa. Take a step back in time, as you stroll through the pleasant streets that are flanked by historic brick homes. Old-fashioned lanterns and vegetable patches evoke images of yesteryear.
Get a comprehensive understanding of this exceptional settlement’s history via the exhibits of the Amana Heritage Museum in Amana village. Watch the 20-minute film and browse the displays in buildings dating back to the initial community.
Visit the Communal Kitchen and Cooper Shop in Middle Amana. Docents describe kitchen practices within the settlement. Make your way to the Homestead village to see the 19th-century Amana Community Church Museum and the Homestead Blacksmith Shop.
Note that the settlement was set up in 1856, after the Community of True Inspiration moved from New York to Iowa. Residents lived a communal and self-sufficient life, secluded from much of the outside world until 1932.
For a change of scenery, play a few rounds at the Amana Colonies Golf Course in the northern outskirts of Middle Amana village. The fairly dry and hot summer afternoons in this region are ideal for golf.
The district occupies a region of 26,000 acres (11,000 hectares) in Iowa County, which is in the eastern part of Iowa. Arrive at Eastern Iowa Airport and drive northeast for 15 miles (24 kilometers) to get here in less than 25 minutes. Get around the villages on foot and travel between them by car.
Amana Colonies is a quaint district with a German culture and a historic independence from the outside world.