Place

Amana Society Bakery

car parked in front of the 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.

Last updated: December 18, 2017