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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Restaurants
9 within 3 miles
Attractions
17 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Anna HChicago, Illinois1,220 contributionsReligious 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 2023Written June 28, 2023
- DisneybusPittsgrove, New Jersey859 contributionsSehr gut - Worth the trip if you've got time to exploreMy 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 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten September 16, 2023
- Mary LDakota, Illinois57 contributionsWorth a visitI 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 2023Traveled with friendsWritten September 20, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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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
341 reviews
Excellent
162
Very good
106
Average
50
Poor
16
Terrible
7
eiu80
Sibley, IL37 contributions
Mar 2022
Beautiful, clean site with lots of unique shopping opportunities. However, the website is horrible as information is incorrect for most businesses. We were there on a Sunday so wanted to check to be sure the stores we wanted to visit were open. When we got there we discovered some closed earlier than was posted on their site and one wasn't even in business anymore. The restaurant we wanted to go for breakfast the next day wasn't open despite their breakfast menu being posted on the website and the menu being available to view at the visitors center. The only place for breakfast was a Caseys outside of Amana. If you go, plan on being flexible and don't expect stores to be open the hours that are posted online. Go with no expectations and you'll be fine.
Written March 24, 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.
Questovia
Wells, ME1,171 contributions
Sep 2021
I spend two very enjoyable days visiting here and wish I had been able to stay a few more days. The Colonies are so relaxing and quiet, yet there are occasions when they have special events when it can get quite lively. Highly recommend for a step back in time and a wealth of historical facts.
Written October 3, 2021
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
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.
Mary L
Dakota, IL57 contributions
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.
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.
MstqMI
Manistique1,327 contributions
Aug 2021
We've went by the Amana Colonies for several years going to Colorado to visit our son. We finally stopped. It was interesting and enjoyed the history of communal living. I thought the museum was the best. Restaurants and stores open late and close early.
Written August 18, 2021
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
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.
Anna H
Chicago, IL1,220 contributions
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.
DillonM1905
Laramie, WY443 contributions
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.
CobbCoGA
Marietta, GA813 contributions
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.
Lisa D
95 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
Our second visit to dine and shop was relaxing. Our first visit was during Christmastime. The customer service is excellent and friendly. The craftsmanship and selection are excellent for furniture, home decor, chocolates and so much more
Written March 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.
SeeingLittleByLittle
Illinois17 contributions
Will this be open for the holiday on Monday? Is this open on Sundays? This site has no, but the main website has it is open daily.
T D
Trenton, MO69 contributions
call the visitor's center
Gary J
Sioux Falls, SD40 contributions
Is the Historic Landmark a seperate building or site or the title for all the properties that make up the colonies? if it is distinct in what it has to offer where is it located?
jaz79h
Evanston, IL638 contributions
It's the seven Colonies, not a specific site or building. Each has its own distinct nature. Some are within a mile of the others, some are several miles away.
raynewman
Roy, WA
Hi, raynewman. What would you like to know about this attraction?
What is wheelchair accessibility like?
I am a bilateral above knee amputee and thinking of attending the May 2017 Hand Works woodworking program.
Thanks. Cheers and all the best, Ray Newman
83154
784 contributions
I use a wheeled walker, and although there were several places I did not go into (due to time limitations), I had no problem getting around.
B W
Chicago, IL238 contributions
I know everyone is different but just on average ... Is this destination like an afternoon, 3 days, etc? Just to get a nice taste of the place. Thank you
Denise D
Gettysburg, PA248 contributions
I've been there a few times in different seasons and as a walker who enjoys a leisurely experience, I would recommend that you plan on spending the better part of a day.
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Claim your listingAmana Colonies National Historic Landmark - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark
- Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark is open:
- Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Hotels near Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark:
- (3.01 mi) Guest House Motel
- (5.67 mi) Die Heimat Country Inn
- (5.60 mi) Zuber's Homestead Hotel
- (3.24 mi) Hotel Millwright
- (1.92 mi) Amana RV Park & Event Center
- Restaurants near Amana Colonies National Historic Landmark:
- (2.88 mi) The Ronneburg Restaurant
- (2.90 mi) Ox Yoke Inn
- (2.93 mi) Chocolate Haus
- (3.16 mi) Millstream Brewing Company
- (3.16 mi) Millstream Brau Haus