Amana Colonies, Amana, Iowa

The Amana Colonies are off of Highway 80 in eastern Iowa. Per their web page, there are six villages that were started in 1865 and another one added in 1861. In the seven villages, residents received a home, medical care, meals, all household necessities, and schooling for their children. Property and resources were shared. Men and women were assigned jobs by their village council of brethren. No one received a wage. By 1932, the communal way of life was seen as a barrier to achieving individual goals, so rather than leave or watch their children leave, they changed. They established the Amana Society, Inc. a profit-sharing corporation to manage the farmland, the mills and the larger enterprises. Private enterprise was encouraged. The Amana Church was maintained. For more history, click here, History of Amana.

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There are restaurants, breweries, wineries, stores, museums, galleries, and a theater. There are walking and biking trails and a golf course. For lodging, there are bed and breakfasts, motels and campgrounds.