Few people are aware that there’s a place in Iowa, just outside Iowa City, that is home to a cluster of villages where communal living shaped generations. Known as the Amana Colonies, it anchors the eastern end of the Iowa Valley Scenic Byway, serving as a living testament to the enduring spirit of the German immigrants who lived there. Today, the Amana Colonies is a National Historic Landmark that draws visitors with a unique blend of history, artisan shops, and mouthwatering German cuisine.
Discover why this historic gem should be added to your travel bucket list as we explore the fascinating history and inviting atmosphere that will make the Amana Colonies a memorable destination for your next adventure. 
A Ford Model A cruises by the historic Schwalbe Kitchen and Conquest Home as Iowa Model A Day concludes. Amana hosts this car show annually on the third Saturday in August.
The Schwalbe Kitchen and Conquest Home was constructed in 1861. The one-and-a-half-story sandstone section of this building was the home for the kitchen supervisor and her family. Meals for around forty people were prepared and served in the central kitchen and dining area. In 1884, a brick extension was constructed to create more living space during the communal period. Today, the structure functions as a private residence. The History of the Amana Colonies
In 2025, the Amana Colonies marked 170 years since their founding, yet their origins trace back to 18th-century Germany, a time shaped by the religious revival known as Pietism.
During this era, Eberhard L. Gruber, a Lutheran pastor, and Johann F. Rock, a harness maker, formed a partnership. Along with their companions, they believed that a life centered on prayerful meditation brought one closer to God. They emphasized modesty and devoutness, favoring simple forms of worship. Central to their faith was the conviction that God could speak directly to believers through inspired individuals, much like the prophets of the Bible. These chosen people, referred to as Werkzeuge (meaning "instruments"), were seen as vehicles for God’s message and guidance.
In 1714, Rock, Gruber, Gruber’s son, and several others started gathering in small groups. Their network of connected fellowships throughout Germany and Switzerland became known as the Community of True Inspirations. The Inspirationists faced persecution because they promoted freedom of speech and religious practice, and they refused to enroll their children in schools operated by the church. To avoid fines and jail time, the group moved to Germany’s Wetterau region, where authorities were more tolerant.
Against the backdrop of the historic 1857 Christian Metz Home, a Ford Model A makes its way along Amana’s main street, marking the conclusion of Iowa Model A Day in the Amana Colonies.
Christian Metz, the leader of the Inspirationists who arrived in Iowa in 1855, built this house. It now serves as a private home with a business in the back.
There, the Inspirationists established themselves on various estates near Budingen, including Ronneburg Castle. Over time, ongoing persecution, high rents, and economic hardship compelled the community, by then under the leadership of Werkzeug Christian Metz, to seek a new beginning in America.
In 1842, Metz and three others from his community purchased 7,000 acres of land near Buffalo, New York, calling the new settlement Ebenezer. Metz suggested adopting a lasting constitution that would formalize a communal lifestyle. Under this system, the Inspirationists collectively owned all their mills, shops, and farmland. The community took care of every member’s needs, with everyone sharing both the benefits and the risks. This communal arrangement, based on a deep sense of community and shared responsibility, endured for 89 years. 
Constructed in 1890, this charming small white structure originally served as the office for the Middle Amana Farm Manager, where workers would gather each day to get their work orders. In about 1980, the building was relocated to South Amana, where it stood for almost four decades. Today, it can be found along Amana’s main street downtown.
As the population grew to around 1,400, the need for additional farmland became pressing. Community leaders dispatched scouts, first to Kansas, then to Iowa, in search of new land. In Iowa, they finally found what they were looking for.
In 1855, the group established its initial settlement in Iowa. Following a moving message that urged them to name their village “Bleib treu,” meaning “remain faithful,” the community’s leaders instead selected the name Amana, inspired by its mention in Song of Solomon 4:8. The word Amana also conveys the idea of remaining steadfast. In addition to the original settlement, five new villages, West Amana, South Amana, High Amana, East Amana, and Middle Amana, were founded. Later on, a sixth village called Homestead was acquired from the railroad to secure access to the rail line. Altogether, these communities encompassed around 26,000 acres of land. By 1880, Amana had become the largest communal settlement in the United States. 
A Ford Model A cruises past the Ronneburg Restaurant at the end of the Iowa Model A Car Show.
Built in 1860, this historic structure originally served as one of 52 communal kitchens and homes within the Amana Colonies. After the communal period concluded, it was transformed into a restaurant, eventually opening as the Ronneburg Restaurant in 1950.
While agriculture was the mainstay of the community’s livelihood, a variety of industries were developed to supply residents’ needs and generate income from external markets. These included a calico factory, two woolen mills, craft workshops, flour mills, lumber yards, and brick works. Together with the general stores found in each village, these businesses formed the economic backbone of the seven Amana villages.
The Greenwood Barn, now better known as the Market Barn, was initially constructed to serve the communal needs of the Amana Society. Its sturdy timber frame and spacious interior accommodated both livestock and grain storage. Over time, the barn became a central hub where community members gathered not only to work but also to exchange news and maintain social bonds.
Today, the Market Barn remains a cherished landmark, hosting farmers’ markets and community events that celebrate both its rich heritage and ongoing vitality. Its weathered beams and sunlit lofts echo with stories of hard work, cooperation, and resilience, connecting past generations with those who continue to find meaning within its walls.
Daily routines centered on religious practice, family life, work responsibilities, and education. Children attended school year-round, six days a week. The Amana Colonies also had their own physicians, dentists, and pharmacists to care for the health of community members. Residents’ necessities, from soap to firewood, were provided by the community itself.
Meals were cooked in local communal kitchens, each operated by women. Across the seven villages, over 50 of these kitchens served food to 1,600 residents, along with guests and workers from the community. Every village had a meat shop, smokehouse, ice house, bakery, and bee keeping area, while extensive gardens and orchards supplied much of the necessary produce. Villagers made their own wine, and two shared breweries produced beer for everyone.
homes, and start private businesses for the first time. In the wake of these changes,Amana opened a high school and saw the emergence of several new enterprises, most notably Amana Appliances, which is now a part of Whirlpool.
The community also runs a variety of retail establishments, such as the Amana Woolen Mill, Warped and Woven, the Amana General Store, the Amana Furniture and Clock Shop, and the Amana Meat Shop and Smokehouse, with products available both locally and through their online store at AmanaShops.com.
A few blocks off Amana’s main street, the historic Amana Meat Shop & Smokehouse continues to operate in its original 1858 building, despite numerous modern updates over the years.
Traditionally, most of the butchering occurred during the colder months, with meat being smoked to ensure it would keep. The settlers of the Amana Society, originally from Westphalia in Germany, a region renowned for its expertise in smoking and curing meats, brought their methods and recipes with them. These time-honored techniques have been carefully preserved and passed down through generations, lending a unique and highly prized flavor to Amana’s signature Westphalia hams. In its early days, the meat shop supplied only the community kitchens with hams and other meat products. However, when the Amana Colonies ended their communal lifestyle in the 1930s and welcomed outsiders, they quickly became a popular spot for visitors. The shop began by offering seven different gift boxes featuring their specialty meats. Today, their selection includes not only smoked meats but also regional cheeses, Midwest-raised beef, and a variety of local accompaniments such as horseradish and mustard. If you’re planning a visit, consider bringing a cooler, but if not, they ship their products, too. For those interested in its history, the staff is happy to give tours of the original smokehouse upon request. The rich scent of hickory smoke and the sight of blackened walls, evidence of more than a century’s worth of fires, are a testament to Amana’s enduring tradition of ham-making. Amana Architecture
Constructed in 1858, the Amana General Store is a significant historic landmark in the village of Amana. Between its establishment and 1932, the store supplied residents with goods and necessities not otherwise offered by the communal society. But the General Store was more than just a place to shop; it was a vibrant social hub for locals and residents from neighboring communities alike.
Today, the General Store still provides a selection of goods from distant regions, as well as numerous products crafted in Amana and across Iowa. Inside, you'll find two unique sections: the Amana Coffee & Tea Co., known for its signature whole bean coffee blends and assortment of loose-leaf teas, and the International Christmas Market, where the festive spirit is celebrated all year long.
Amana’s architectural style is a unique blend of American Colonial influences and traditional German building methods, adapted to suit the practical needs of communal life. The visual appearance of Amana structures demonstrates clear inspiration from the Greek Revival and Federal architectural trends that were prevalent in mid-19th-century New York, which coincides with the arrival of the Inspirationists in the United States. Distinctive elements like steeply pitched roofs, windows with nine panes over six, and the notable return gables, locally known as “Sparrow Boxes,” are hallmarks of these styles.
Although American architecture shaped much of the outward design, the actual building techniques employed in Amana followed practices standard in Germany during that era. For instance, the prevalent post-and-beam framework featured main support timbers measuring 10 by 10 or 12 by 12 inches. These beams were joined using mortise and tenon connections, secured with wooden pegs. Carpenters would create square mortises in the beams by boring multiple holes with a mortising machine and then chiseling out a rectangular slot. At the same time, a corresponding tenon was shaped to fit snugly into the opening before being pegged in place. Wooden pegs were fashioned by driving blocks of hardwood, such as oak or walnut, through a circular mold to ensure strength and longevity. Additionally, the use of mud and straw or soft brick nogging as insulation within wooden walls further highlights the German roots of Amana construction. 
This classic clapboard house from the Amana Colonies was initially constructed in 1862 as a communal residence. Reflecting typical Amana architecture, it did not feature a door facing the street when first built; such entrances were installed only in later years. For an extended period, this residence served as the home of the Farm Manager.
Rather than painting their classic clapboard houses, the Amana community let the wood naturally weather over time. Because painting was expensive and offered little benefit in terms of durability, frequent repainting was avoided. Consequently, the clapboard homes in the Amanas developed a modest, understated appearance. This practice continues today for all structures that aren’t constructed from brick, sandstone, or finished with siding. To preserve both the historic charm and soundness of these buildings, any damaged clapboard is replaced as needed. The long, grid-like framework seen on many Amana buildings is a trellis. In historic Amana, these structures were used to hold up grapevines grown for making wine and preserves. Positioned just above the first-floor windows, the trellises were crafted from wood; some were left to age naturally, but others were painted white. This straightforward latticework was attached directly to the houses, shielding the stone and mortar walls from the climbing plants while also adding both insulation and visual interest. The concept for these trellises originated with the artist Wilhelm Heinrich Prestele, who lived in the Amana Colonies. He devised them as supports for his extensive gardens. His botanical plantings not only benefited from the trellises but also became subjects for his renowned nature lithographs. Barns
Among a cluster of historic barns, the Middle Amana Water Tower rises.
The barns found throughout the Amana Colonies are notable for blending architectural influences from both Germany and America. Constructed from local timber and sandstone, most barns were left unpainted and slowly weathered to a silvery gray. A common feature is their placement against sloping terrain, with a ground-level stone foundation supporting the main floor above. These barns frequently include an overhanging section, known as an overshoot or forebay, that extends the roofline to shelter one side of the building. As farms grew, larger barns often gained additional lean-tos and small annexes, creating a varied and irregular silhouette across the landscape. While these buildings were primarily functional, touches such as scalloped trim beneath porches, rooftop weather vanes, or wooden ventilators occasionally provided decorative relief from their otherwise simple forms.
Historically, each Amana village maintained its own set of barns, essential for housing livestock, storing harvested crops, and safeguarding equipment. Specific structures served distinct purposes: oxen resided in the Ochsentall, horses in the Gaustall, colts in the Füllerstall, cows in the Kuhstall, and hogs in the Saustall. These animal barns were complemented by an array of outbuildings, including machine sheds, corn cribs, buggy houses, and granaries, which together formed complete farmsteads. The grouping of these utilitarian buildings became a defining element of the Amana villages’ rural scenery since the Inspirationists were farming approximately 25,000 acres of Iowa land. Usually positioned along the fringes of each settlement, many of these historic barns have not survived to the present day. 
A road passes between a grouping of historic barns at the edge of West Amana.
The Mill Area
Facing north along 48th Avenue in Amana, Iowa, you can see the Blumen Haus florist and the Amana Furniture Shop on the curve. This section of the Amana Colonies used to be a bustling industrial hub, home to the train depot and several mills. Today, only the Amana Woolen Mill and the Amana Furniture Shop, which occupies part of the old Amana Calico Mill, stand as reminders of that era.
Weaving textiles was an important tradition among the Inspirationists. When the Society members relocated to Amana from Ebenezer in 1855, they brought all of their original looms and weaving tools, many of which had been imported from Germany, with them.
The Amana Woolen Mill, established in 1857, quickly became one of Iowa’s largest and earliest mills. The mills in Amana and Middle Amana provided substantial employment for the Amana Society, earning them respect throughout the business sector. Although never patented, the workers developed numerous innovative devices that are still used internationally today. After 1869, the mill’s machines and looms were powered by turbines driven by water channeled through the millrace. This source still generates some electricity today. During the communal era, they filled government contracts for army blankets, keeping the workforce especially busy. 
The Amana Woolen Mill Complex includes the Hotel Millwright, Indigo Room & Electric Thread.
To supply their production, the Society not only raised approximately 3,000 sheep locally, but they also sourced top-quality wool from regions such as Australia, Texas, and Colorado. Annually, the mill processed approximately 500,000 pounds of wool, which included washing, dyeing, and kiln drying.
On August 11, 1923, a devastating fire destroyed the Amana mill, but thanks to swift assistance from the community, much was salvaged, and operations eventually combined with those at the Middle mill. Despite losing its roof to straight-line winds in 1998, the business rebounded and continues to thrive. Between 2018 and 2020, the historic Woolen Mill complex was transformed into Hotel Millwright, a 65-room hotel and convention center featuring a salesroom and a functioning modern mill. The redesign honors the legacy of past millwrights, the skilled workers who assembled, dismantled, and moved equipment throughout the mill’s 160-year history. 
The Warped and Woven Mercantile part of the Amana Woolen Mill Complex.
The Amana Furniture Shop was once the site of the historic Calico Mill. Many of the Inspirationists who settled in Amana brought extensive knowledge of textile production from Germany, particularly in the manufacture of calico fabrics. While “calico” originally described an Indian cotton cloth, in America, the word came to mean various durable, printed cotton textiles.
The Amana Calico Mill began operations in 1861 and, by the 1890s, had expanded from a single building to eight, becoming a leading producer of textiles. The mill processed premium white cotton sourced from the southern and eastern coasts through several steps: washing, drying, dyeing, printing, trimming, inspection, packing, and shipping. White muslin was treated for acid resistance and dyed in enormous vats before being starched and pressed using rollers powered by water from the Millrace. At peak production, the mill could produce up to 4,500 yards of fabric daily. Finished goods were shipped nationwide via railways running through Homestead and Amana, providing significant income for the area. Calico manufacturing flourished at this facility for almost sixty years. However, during World War I, a British blockade prevented access to German dyes, which were essential for producing high-quality fabrics, forcing the mill to halt operations. Today, only two original Calico Mill buildings still stand: the firehouse and the printing house. These structures have been incorporated into the Amana Furniture Shop, which has expanded east and north to include workshops and showrooms. The spirit of skilled craftsmanship endures in Amana, where artisans continue to handcraft popular furniture pieces, including tables, chests, beds, chairs, and clocks, for their customers. 
The Amana Furniture Shop.
The Millrace
The Millrace runs next to the Hotel Millwright, the 65-room hotel, restaurant, and convention center and is part of the Historic Amana Woolen Mill complex.
In 1865, workers from the seven Amana Villages began digging a millrace to power the mills in both Middle Amana and Amana. Constructed using only manual labor, ox-drawn scrapers, and wagons, the millrace, fed by the Iowa River, is six-and-a-half-miles-long and took four years to complete.
In Amana, this water flow turned turbines that operated equipment for the woolen and calico mills, the flour mill, and the sawmill. They also introduced steam engines to help supplement the available waterpower. During the 1920s, portions of the original line shaft system were replaced with electric generators and motors. A new hydroelectric plant was constructed in 1954, producing approximately 150 kilowatts, sufficient to supply electricity for around 25 households. Maintaining the millrace proved challenging since silt would collect in the channel, requiring frequent removal. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, a team of four men lived aboard a dredging boat, constantly clearing out sediment throughout the year. These men received their meals from the nearest village kitchen to where they were working. According to local lore, the canal is the deepest in Middle Amana since the workers lingered there to enjoy the village’s food. Every time dredging occurred, bridges across the canal had to be disassembled and then reconstructed to allow the dredge to pass through. By the 1920s, gasoline-powered draglines operating along the embankments had taken over from the older steam-powered dredges. The Railroad Depot
The Amana Depot.
Built by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad, the Amana Depot stands out as one of the rare structures within the Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark District that lacks the signature Amana architectural style.
Before 1883, residents had to haul their woolen and calico goods to Homestead to ship them by train. The establishment of the Amana Depot transformed this process, serving as a crucial hub for shipping products from the community’s mills, including the woolen mill, flour mill, and calico print works. Later, tourists began arriving by train as well. The depot is located one block south of the Hotel Millwright and Millstream Brewery on the opposite side of the Millrace. Although it’s somewhat off the beaten path now, today it serves as the trailhead for the Kolonieweg Trail, meaning “Colony Way”, which links Amana with Middle Amana. This scenic, level trail stretches for 3.1 miles running beside the Millrace and includes a loop around Lily Lake. From July through August, Lily Lake bursts into color with blooming yellow lotus lilies. The trail offers an excellent chance to observe a diverse array of birds and other wildlife. Eagles and pelicans are frequently seen during the spring months, while Canadian geese and trumpeter swans can be found throughout the entire year. If you are in the mood for some hiking or biking, the Kolonieweg Trail is just one of the many trails through the Amanas. Visiting the Amana Colonies
Amana Visitor Center - 622 46th Avenue, Amana
Beside the Amana Colonies Visitor Center in the middle of Peace Park, you’ll find a statue of the renowned American Gothic couple. This artwork is part of the Iowa “Overalls All Over” campaign.
Recognized as one of the most iconic pairs in 20th-century American art, this version was painted by local High Amana artists Gordon and DeAnna Kellenberger. The sculpture is called “Remain True,” which reflects the meaning of the name Amana. Next to the figures, a post bears the German inscription “Moge Friede Auf Erden Sein,” meaning “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” Grant Wood, an Iowa native, often visited the Amana Colonies.
Your first stop should be the Visitors Center, they can provide you with a map, guides and information on current events. You can also download the Amana's online guide for a little preplanning.
It you don't wish to do a self-guided tour of the museums, ask at the Visitors Center help desk about the Village Van Tour. Tour season runs May though October and the van departs from the Amana Colonies Visitors Center on Monday through Saturday at 11 and 2. Reservations are recommended, so call ahead if possible. Amana Colonies also has a very nice mobile app that includes both a walking and a driving tour as well as additional information about the shops and attractions. Search for "Amana Colonies" in the Google Play or Apple App Store to download. Each year, the Amana Colonies host five main festivals: Maifest, Wurst Festival, Oktoberfest, Tannenbaum Forest, and Winterfest. In addition to these signature celebrations, various smaller events take place throughout the year. Be sure to consult their Calendar of Events before planning your visit. Dining
The Ox Yoke Inn German Restaurant.
Housed in what was once a communal kitchen built in 1856, the Ox Yoke Inn now stands as a piece of Amana history. This building, once the Hertel Küche (kitchen), served as a community kitchen from its construction until 1932, the pivotal year known as the “Great Change,” when communal living ended in the Colonies. During this transition, many residents purchased their homes, and Theodore Hertel acquired this particular structure from the Amana Society. In 1940, the Leichsenring family opened the Ox Yoke Inn just west of its current site. Not long after, they relocated to the historic Hertel Küche and have expanded the restaurant over time. With strong ties to the historic building, William Leichsenring, one of the founders, was born in what is now called the Amana Dining Room in 1908. While his co-founder, Lina Leichsenring, spent her youth working in a communal kitchen. Today, the Ox Yoke Inn remains under family ownership. Although meals no longer cost just 65 cents as they did at the beginning, they are still prepared using cherished German and American recipes handed down through generations. All ingredients continue to be sourced locally from within the Amana Colonies.
I've eaten at three of the restaurants and they have all been excellent! If you have the time, be sure to try them all.
Both the Ox Yolk Inn and Ronneburg Restaurant offer German family-style meals that I consider a must try if you have never experienced one before. The Millstream Brau Haus is a German-style Bierhalle & Restaurant serving German-style pub food. Amana Heritage Society Museums
Be sure not to miss the Amana Heritage Museums...
Amana Heritage Museum - 4310 220th Trail, Amana
The Amana Heritage Museum also known as the Noe House.
Housed in three historic buildings from the 1800s, the Amana Heritage Museum chronicles the journey of the Amana Colonies, tracing their roots from an 18th-century German religious movement to their present-day community. Spread across expansive grounds, the 1864 Noe House and the 1870 Schoolhouse showcase a range of exhibits and host special events that explore the Inspirationists’ history, traditional crafts, and industries. An award-winning documentary about the Amana Colonies’ history is shown daily in the schoolhouse. Meanwhile, an original wash house and wood shed, key elements of communal Amana life, feature displays on wine-making and gardening.
The Noé House
Constructed from locally made brick in 1864, the Noé House first served as a communal kitchen before becoming a doctor’s home. Today, its interior features exhibit that chronicle Amana’s history and evolution, along with displays showcasing the diverse crafts and industries of the Inspirationist community, including toys, dolls, and artifacts from the communal Amana schools.
Schoolhouse
The historic Schoolhouse is now the entrance to the Amana Heritage Museum and Bookstore.
Constructed in 1870, the building served as a Schoolhouse until 1954. It then became the Amana Post Office and later hosted Sunday School. In 1976, it was transformed into the Amana Heritage Museum. Today, the schoolhouse is the entrance to the Amana Heritage Museum and Bookstore, where visitors can enjoy a 20-minute, award-winning audiovisual presentation delving into the rich history of Amana.
The schoolhouse initially educated children between the ages of five and fourteen. School was held year-round, with classes running from 8:00 am until noon. The afternoons were dedicated to hands-on instruction in various manual skills. Both the boys and girls studied academic subjects alongside lessons in knitting, art, and practical trades. Amana schools were almost always situated close to orchards, which the children maintained as part of their daily routine. They also assisted with the gardening. Students were taught both German and English for an hour each day; however, German was the language of daily conversation among students and teachers. At age fourteen, girls would be assigned to work in kitchens, while the boys took on roles in farming, workshops, or mills. Students chosen to pursue high school traveled to neighboring towns until Amana High School opened in the 1930s. A select few men were sent to college for medical training with the expectation that they would return to serve the community as physicians without pay. Like other country doctors of their era, Amana’s physicians provided a wide range of services, including everything from delivering babies to performing minor surgeries like tonsil removal and even fitting eyeglasses. High Amana General Store - 1308 G Street, High Amana High Amana General Store.
Founded during the communal period of 1857, this store has retained much of its original character. The tin ceiling, wooden floorboards, and vintage glass display cases are all still present, offering visitors a genuine glimpse into days gone by. With nostalgic touches throughout, the store serves as both a living museum and a functioning general store.
Historically, the General Store was more than just a place to shop — it was a vibrant social hub for locals and non-Society residents from neighboring communities alike. Its shelves were lined with a wide variety of goods: groceries, dry goods, work clothes, kitchenware, fresh produce, eggs, cigars, footwear for all, and animal feed. Because members of the Amana Society were discouraged from purchasing items outside their community, money seldom changed hands within the villages. In each Amana village, the General Store operated as the commercial heart. Society members received an annual credit, typically between $25 and $100 — which they could use for personal purchases such as candy, fabric, shoes, or tobacco. 
Inside the High Amana General Store.
High Amana Cemetery
If you continue on G Street after visiting the High Amana General Store, the road will curve to the left and you will find the High Amana Cemetery on the right.
In my opinion, the High Amana Cemetery stands out not only as the most beautiful location but also the easiest to access among all the Amana cemeteries I visited. That's why I've included it as a stop with the Heritage Museums. I find their unique burial traditions as intriguing as the lives they lived. While in High Amana, pause here for a moment to pay your respects. 
High Amana Cemetery
Every one of the seven Amana villages has its own cemetery located at the edge of town. Following the Inspirationist's belief that Christ will return from the east, all headstones are set to face that direction. In keeping with their values of equality and simplicity, members of the Society are laid to rest in the sequence of their deaths, not grouped in family plots. The rows were first identified with wooden markers, but over time, those markers were replaced with identical, plain concrete headstones. However, a handful of marble stones stand out, most notably those honoring young men who died in military service.
The boundaries of these cemeteries are lined with Austrian Pines, some of which began as saplings brought by the original Amana settlers and planted to create a sense of privacy and protection for mourners. 
Headstones in the High Amana Cemetery.
Communal Kitchen, Ruedy House & Cooper's Shop - 1003 26th Avenue, Middle Amana
The Ruedy Communal Kitchen entrance.
Erected in 1863, this building has been carefully preserved ever since it ceased serving meals to the community in 1932.
Known as the Ruedy Küche, this kitchen house was constructed to accommodate as many as 40 people per meal and was one of roughly nine similar facilities in Middle Amana alone. In the communal society of the Amana Colonies, no private home had a kitchen. Instead, every resident and worker took their meals at one of more than fifty communal kitchens scattered throughout the villages. 
The Ruedy kitchen communal dining area.
Each family was assigned a kitchen, which was the only one they were permitted to use. Dining customs mandated that men and women eat apart, and conversations during meals were kept to a minimum.
Kitchen houses shared architectural similarities with other communal dwellings, though each featured a side wing dedicated to the kitchen itself. The living quarters for the kitchen boss were situated in the main section of the house. Meals were distributed from each kitchen to several neighboring homes assigned to it, as private cooking was not practiced during the communal era. However, toward the end of communal living, families increasingly began taking their food home to eat.
The Cooper Shop.
Across the street from the Communal Kitchen Museum is a former Cooper Shop. This modest, weathered clapboard structure reflects the traditional Amana architectural style and includes the trellis framework seen on most Amana buildings.
The village cooper crafted barrels in various shapes and sizes, which were essential for the wineries and communal kitchens. Smaller barrels and casks served to preserve food and fruit juices, while wooden half-tubs were used for washing vegetables and clothes, or sometimes filled with sand to store root crops. The cooper also produced churns, tubs, and buckets designed to hold beer, wine, cider, oil, grease, and brine. As you explore the Amana villages, you may notice some of these half-tubs, which have been repurposed as flower planters. Amana Community Church - 4210 V Street Homestead
The Amana Community Church in Homestead.
Built in 1865, the Amana Society's Church of True Inspirationist was known for its simplicity and deep faith, which has persisted since its founding by German settlers in 1714. The churches are modest, with no tall steeples or spires, and you’ll find no stained glass or overt religious symbols marking the buildings. Yet, each village does have its own church: a long, rectangular structure built from plain sandstone.
Each building is entered through two doors: one designated for men, the other for women. The churches feature classic white-framed windows, nine panes above six, with unadorned white curtains and a signature shade of Colony blue paint. The congregation sits on original bleached pine benches brought from Germany, holding Bibles in either German or English, since both languages are used in worship. The floors are also bleached pine, adorned with handwoven Amana carpets along the main walkways. Singing is led by a designated foresinger and performed in a cappella in a steady monotone. Women traditionally dressed in black lace caplets, triangular shawls, and aprons over their dresses, while men wore simple black suits. Inside, men and women still sit separately to discourage any flirtatious exchanges, as was initially intended. Elders preside over the service from the front; although this role was once exclusively male, women may now serve as elders as well. Children attend Sunday school until they are old enough to join the main congregation. According to local tales, there was a bit of rivalry, with each village hoping to construct a church larger than its neighbor’s. In earlier times, services were held as often as eleven times per week, with even more gatherings during Holy Week. Today, the Middle Amana and Amana churches continue to be used for regular services, as well as weddings, funerals, and communal meals. 
Inside the Amana Community Church.
Iowa Valley Scenic Byway
While the Amana Colonies at the eastern end of the 77-mile Iowa Valley Scenic Byway are the true gem of this drive. History buffs will find much to be captivated by on this journey. The Amana Visitor Center will have the Byway information and 40 Stop Audio Tour brochure available.
The Iowa River Corridor stands out as a hub for conservation efforts. Enjoy outdoor pursuits like fishing, kayaking, birding, or hiking along its scenic stretches. Don’t miss the eagle-shaped observation deck northwest of Chelsea, or the spectacular bloom of American lotuses at Amana’s Lily Lake each July and August. Historically, Belle Plaine was a key crossroads for travelers; you’re likely to hear a train or two pass through. Explore its distinctive shops, the interactive sound park, and the Belle Plaine History Museum. It’s here that the Iowa Valley Byway intersects with the historic Lincoln Highway National Scenic Byway, and you can visit notable sites like the Preston Gas Station and Sankot Garage. Continue your exploration with a trip to Victor’s Belgian Rolle Bolle Court and mural, and Ladora, where you’ll find the former home of Mildred Wirt Benson, the original author behind the Nancy Drew Mysteries books. Marengo is another must-see with its Carnegie Library, the historic Iowa County Courthouse, and the Pioneer Heritage Museum & Resource Library, complete with an original railroad depot. Venture a little further afield for some quirky attractions: Gladbrook’s Matchstick Marvels Museum, Traer’s Salt and Pepper Shaker Gallery, and Otter Creek Nature Center’s Riparian Diorama are sure to delight even seasoned explorers. The Czech Trail towns of Clutier, Vining, Elberon, and Chelsea are tucked into rolling hills known locally as the “Bohemian Alps.” Make sure to snap a photo at Clutier’s Historic Town Jail at the end of Main Street. On the western edge of the byway lies Iowa’s only permanent Native American community: the Meskwaki Settlement. While much of the area is private, visitors can delve into Meskwaki history at the Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel’s exhibit space or at the Meskwaki Cultural Center & Museum. Interactive displays feature original documents, treaties, and correspondence, along with stories about the eight Meskwaki Code Talkers from WWII. Rare tribal artifacts and traditional clothing are also on view. Check out my other Iowa posts...
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30x20 Amana Barns Framed Art Print shown with Frame: BWM2 with 3" Top Mat: Indigo and .25" Bottom Mat: Pearl.
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