Amana Society Bakery

Exterior of the Amana Society Bakery in South Amana, Iowa

Photo by Ref54 (Flickr)

Quick Facts

Location:

23 220th Trail, Upper South Amana IA

Significance:

Provided baked goods to South Amana

Designation:

National Historic Landmark

OPEN TO PUBLIC:

No

The Amana Society Bakery is a typical brick bakery that once served the village of South Amana. Each village in the Colonies had bakeries to supply bread to each kitchen in the village. Horse drawn wagons would deliver the baked goods, and as the driver approached a kitchen he would ring a bell. A woman from the kitchen would come out and tell him how many loaves the kitchen needed - usually about a dozen. On Saturdays he would bring coffee cakes to serve on Sunday morning. Many Amana recipes are based on traditions originating in Germany.

 

People outside the Colonies expressed interest in the traditional German recipes, and the bakeries began producing goods for sale. Although now closed, the Amana Society Bakery sold to stores throughout major Iowa metropolitan centers.