| Amana Home Attractions Recreation Restaurants/Hotels/ Bed & Breakfast  |
Amana Colonies __________________
Driving Directions
From Quincy, take Broadway west across the river on US 24 for 6 miles to US 61. Follow US 61 north for 30 miles. Go north on US 136 for 8 miles to State Route 394. Continue on State Route 394 for 11 miles then take US 218 north for 77 miles. Take the I-80 West exit and follow I-80 for 14 miles to I-80 Exit 225. Take US 151 north for 6 miles to US 6. Go west on US 6 for 3 miles to South Amana. Approximately 153 miles.
Calendar of Events
Check out this
site for an Amana Colonies Calendar of Events.
History
The Amana Colonies’ origins date back to 1714 and The Community
of True Inspiration in Germany. By 1842 the Inspirationalists, under persecution,
left Germany for a new start on the United States. Inspirationalists numbering
800 established “Ebenezer,” a 5,000 acre commune in New York.
Just 12 years later, Ebenezer had outgrown its area. The surrounding
land was selling for a premium so a committee was formed to travel west
and look for a new, larger area for the community. The committee discovered
a lush river valley in Iowa and purchased a large tract of land. Amana was
established in 1855 and within seven years the villages of Homestead, Middle
Amana, High Amana, West Amana, South Amana, and East Amana were established.
Each village had its own bakery, church, dairy, general store, post office,
and school. Families were assigned living quarters and jobs. The colonists
made their own books, bricks, clocks, fabrics, furniture, and wines. The
population peaked in the early 1880s with more than 1,800 residents in all
seven villages. The Inspirationalists offered a pure and simple way of life
with all property held in common and religion being the foundation of the
community. In 1932 members of the community voted to abandon the communal
system and became a profit-sharing corporation. Today the Amana Society,
with nearly 900 members, manages more than 26,000 acres of land.
In 1965 the Amana Colonies were designated as a National Historic Landmark with more than 475 historic buildings and sites. Each year one and a half million tourists visit the colonies making them the most visited tourist attraction in Iowa. Visitors have a bounty of places to see from museums to gift shops as well as fine restaurants and bed & breakfasts. The Amana Colonies have a distinct culture and a rich history that are sure to enlighten and entertain all who visit. For additional information about the history of the colonies, contact the Amana Colonies Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 579-2294.