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Basket weaving is one of many traditional crafts demonstrated in the Amana Colonies today. The Amana Colony Artisans Studio Tour, held mid-September each year, invites visitors into the studios and workplaces of several Amana Colony artisans. Basket picture (969K) |
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In the Amana Colonies legendary restaurants hearty and delicious old-world German recipes are served family-style as they were in the days of the communal kitchens. Food picture (726K) |
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The historical Amana Colonies circa 1900. Historical picture (883K) |
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The interesting architecture of the Amana Colonies reveals many unique features including 9-over-6 pane windows, return gables, grape trellises and locally-made brick and hand-quarried sandstone. Implement picture (944K) |
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Looms in Iowa's only operating woolen mill weave many of the products sold at the Amana Woolen Mill. Woolen Mill looms picture (743K) |
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The bell seen here in this tower calls church members, dressed in traditional Amana church attire, to the Middle Amana Church each Sunday morning. Bell tower/architecture picture (990K) |
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The Millrace, built in the 1860s, powered the Woolen Mill in Amana until the 1920s when the shaft drives were replaced with an electrical generator. Millrace picture(1.03 Mb) |
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Smoked meats and other quality Amana food products are offered at the Amana Meat Shops in Amana and Homestead. Meat picture (437K) |
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The 3.1-mile hard surface recreational trail is conveniently linked to many low traffic roads for over 20 miles of biking. Bring your bikes, roller blades or walking shoes! Bikes picture (1.0 Mb) |
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The Amana Colonies are well-known for their many beautiful gardens. Take a tour of 10 of these beautiful gardens during God's Grand Garden Walk on the second Saturday of June each year. Flowers picture (1.42 Mb) |
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Accordion player Frank Lundak entertains Amana Colonies visitors at Oktoberfest, one of the many festivals and events held in the Amana Colonies each year. Accordion player picture (590K) |
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Broom making, a traditional Amana Colonies craft, is demonstrated at the Broom & Basket Shop in West Amana. Broommaker picture (741K) |
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A beautiful view of the Iowa River Valley located in the heart of the Amana Colonies. Iowa River picture (1.36Mb) |
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The Amana Colonies Golf Course has been masterfully designed to preserve the natural features of the land. This 18-hole championship golf course winds through 300 acres of stately white oak trees and forests. Golf picture (1.12Mb) |
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Agriculture has always been a significant industry in the Amana Colonies. The settlers began working the fields when they arrived in 1855 and Amana Farms, Inc. continues to work those same fields today. Amana Farms, the largest contiguous farm in Iowa, plants 7,000 acres of row crop, maintains 7,000 acres of hardwood forests and operates a 3,500 head one-time capacity feedlot and a 2,500 head cow herd on 7,000 acres of pasture. Cowboy and Horse picture (467K) |
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Many of the original, sturdy barns of the Amana Colonies remain standing even today. This barn, located in West Amana, now houses Opa’s Tractor Barn Museum. Barn Architecture picture (827K) |
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Opa’s Tractor Barn Museum, a new attraction in the Colonies, is located in West Amana and houses antique Minneapolis-Moline tractors. Tractor Museum picture (832K) |
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The renowned Amana Colonies Oktoberfest takes place each year on the first weekend of October and offers great German food, beer and music. A parade, arts and crafts demonstrations and children’s activities round out the festival. Oktoberfest Couple picture (882K) |
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Amana Church Society members are buried in one of seven cemeteries (one in each village) in the order of death rather than in family plots because all are brothers and sisters in God’s family. Identical, simple white stone markers indicate that all are equal in God’s eyes. Cemetery picture (1.23Mb) |
Photography paid for in part by a grant from the Eastern
Iowa Tourism Association, 1-800-891-3482.