Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark

Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark

Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark
4
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
About
The history of Amana Colonies, a National Historic Landmark and one of America’s longest-lived communal societies, begins in 1714 in the villages of Germany and continues today on the Iowa prairie. Amana Colonies Today Today the seven villages of the Amana Colonies represent an American dream come true; a thriving community founded by religious faith and community spirit. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965, the Amana Colonies attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually all of whom come to see and enjoy a place where the past is cherished and where hospitality is a way of life. Evocative of another age, the streets of the Amana Colonies with their historic brick, stone and clapboard homes, their flower and vegetable gardens, their lanterns and walkways recall Amana yesterday. But a vibrant community, celebrating both its past and its future, is here today for you to experience.
Duration: More than 3 hours
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  • Anna H
    Chicago, Illinois1,220 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Religious cooperative towns.
    Series of towns with shops, galleries, restaurants and tasting rooms. Very comfortable distance from larger towns in eastern Iowa. There is some later evening entertainiment, but the hotels, motels and Bed/breakfasts are all geared toward a restful getaway.
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 28, 2023
  • Disneybus
    Pittsgrove, New Jersey859 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sehr gut - Worth the trip if you've got time to explore
    My wife and I, traveling from New Jersey, included a visit to the colonies in our itinerary; we found the shops to resemble the Amish villages in Eastern Pennsylvania. We started at the Amana Heritage museum (and gift shop) where a video helped explain the history and communal era. The museum includes all types of artifacts and documents that relate to Amana. I was interested learning that the Elders disapproved of baseball, and it wasn't until 1927 that the ban was lifted. A stroll through the museum provided the background to wander the town. The Amana colonies consist of seven villages, but most of the shops are located near the museum in Amana. Before touring, we enjoyed lunch at the Ronneburg restaurant which included some of our favorite German dishes. My wife scored some items for the grandchildren in a clothing shop. We finished up driving a few miles to the High Amana General Store - well worth the short drive. The store has remained virtually unchanged all these years and is a museum and an authentic general store in one.
    Visited August 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 16, 2023
  • Mary L
    Dakota, Illinois57 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a visit
    I visited the Amana Colonies with three friends, one who uses a walker. Sadly a number of the places we wanted to visit were not handicap accessible so keep that in mind. I have visited the Colonies twice before for some things were the same other things had changed. The mill was not working at this time. The people were all very nice and helpful and easy to talk with. All were willing to make suggestions and share the history of the Colonies and the place they worked.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written September 20, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles341 reviews
Excellent
162
Very good
106
Average
50
Poor
16
Terrible
7

Voyage56088521197
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Friends
These stores are so charming- great place to find unique gifts and delicious chocolates and non sticky caramels, best food for sure! The Tenenbaum Forest was magnificent !
Written December 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MM
3 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
There was a fed ex/ups truck unloading nearly 50 giant boxes. It was a massive disappointment from the colony we thought we were visiting. Only thing that saved it was the beef jerky.
Written November 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Terry
Morton, IL56 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Couples
It really did not look or feel like an Amish community. Hardly anything was Amish made. Save your money and time, go to a actual Amish community.
Written October 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mary L
Dakota, IL57 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Friends
I visited the Amana Colonies with three friends, one who uses a walker. Sadly a number of the places we wanted to visit were not handicap accessible so keep that in mind.
I have visited the Colonies twice before for some things were the same other things had changed. The mill was not working at this time.
The people were all very nice and helpful and easy to talk with. All were willing to make suggestions and share the history of the Colonies and the place they worked.
Written September 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Disneybus
Pittsgrove, NJ859 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Couples
My wife and I, traveling from New Jersey, included a visit to the colonies in our itinerary; we found the shops to resemble the Amish villages in Eastern Pennsylvania. We started at the Amana Heritage museum (and gift shop) where a video helped explain the history and communal era. The museum includes all types of artifacts and documents that relate to Amana. I was interested learning that the Elders disapproved of baseball, and it wasn't until 1927 that the ban was lifted. A stroll through the museum provided the background to wander the town. The Amana colonies consist of seven villages, but most of the shops are located near the museum in Amana. Before touring, we enjoyed lunch at the Ronneburg restaurant which included some of our favorite German dishes. My wife scored some items for the grandchildren in a clothing shop. We finished up driving a few miles to the High Amana General Store - well worth the short drive. The store has remained virtually unchanged all these years and is a museum and an authentic general store in one.
Written September 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anna H
Chicago, IL1,220 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023
Series of towns with shops, galleries, restaurants and tasting rooms. Very comfortable distance from larger towns in eastern Iowa. There is some later evening entertainiment, but the hotels, motels and Bed/breakfasts are all geared toward a restful getaway.
Written June 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Traveler05577
Streamwood, IL22 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
The Amana Colonies are sort of a hidden gem of Iowa. Most people don't think of Iowa as having much to offer, but Amana Colonies is a place you must visit. We took a weekend get-a-way trip to the area, and had a great time. The small towns that make up the Amana Colonies give you the look and feel of small towns from back in the day. It takes at least one day to see everything, with various shops, restaurants and more to visit.
Written November 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rent-a-dad
Charleston, SC39 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
I'm not interested in homemade soaps or fudge, I just like history. The museum was pretty interesting and explained this fascinating experiment in a type of communal living that lasted much longer than you might have otherwise thought. They preserved enough to make it worth the stop. I spent about 3 hours there without doing any shopping.
Written August 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CobbCoGA
Marietta, GA813 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
Was it worth seeing? Yes, just once... because it's there. Are you like a tourist fly in a Venus Flytrap that is the antithesis of what the colony founders stood? Absolutely. It's a tourist trap to the nth degree. The Visitor's center was lovely and the person there was helpful and informative. The rest of it could be any kitschy, quaint town with older buildings. I wouldn't plan a vacation there, but it's fine for the day if you don't go too far out of your way. From a road-trip perspective, it's clean and there are nice bathrooms available.
Written July 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

DillonM1905
Laramie, WY443 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
Step back in time and get a taste of German-American culture. Loads of shops and restaurants, very walkable, and plenty of good food and drinks to sample. Great stop in a state that is often a bore to drive through.
Written July 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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AMANA COLONIES NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark

Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark is open:
  • Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM