Travel the Amana Colonies

The National Park Service invites you to explore stories, places, and the people of the Amana Colonies - an American Utopia. First founded in Germany in 1714, the Community of True Inspiration made east-central Iowa their home in 1855. The Inspirationists founded seven villages near the Iowa River and practiced a fully communal lifestyle until 1932. Today, visitors to the villages can see the area’s unique architecture and learn about the ways of life of the still-active communities.


Explore more Discover our Shared Heritage Travel Itineraries and learn about our diverse heritage by visiting Telling All Americans' Stories.

men standing on top of hay stacks behind horses and a tractor
Communal Amana

The Amana Colonies were established as religious villages in rural Iowa. Learn about how Amana developed over the communal period

man checking a loom in the woolen mill
Amana Colonies Today

1932 marked the end of the communal period. Learn about what brought about "the Great Change" and how the Colonies adapted

exterior of the high amana store after snow
High Amana Store

General stores provided necessities to the people in the Amana Colonies. Learn about one of these stores in High Amana

man taking bread out of the oven
Hahn's Hearth Oven Bakery

Bakeries provided bread and other baked goods to communal kitchens using traditionally German recipes. Learn about Hanh's in Amana

tower of the smokehouse
Homestead Meat Shop and Smokehouse

The Meat Shop and Smokehouse prepared meat for several kitchens in Homestead. Learn more about its role in the community

Last updated: January 4, 2018

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