Arts and Culture

Tom Milligan has been a working theatrical professional for the past 45+ years, working as an actor, director, scene designer, producer, and writer. Originally from Des Moines, companies credited to his resume include Charlie’s Showplace Dinner Theatre, The Drake Opera, The Drama Workshop, The Old Creamery Theatre Company, The Iowa Theatre Artists Company, as well as many other arts groups around the state.   Deb Kennedy has been working professionally for the past 25 years, working throughout the Midwest onstage, offstage, touring, and occasionally onscreen. Deb & Tom’s career paths crossed in 2005, where they quickly realized they were a Read more...

Visit our rustic gallery of chainsaw art, located in an historic Amana barn, and take home a treasure that makes you smile. From whimsical to realistic, each carving is unique and handmade onsite from recycled logs. Enjoy the current inventory of bears, eagles, critters, signs, and more. Chainsaw artist Bobby Ward is usually available to discuss the carvings that speak especially to you. Custom orders are also possible. Live creations add fun to your shopping experience.   Find us on Saturday from 9am-5pm. By appointment during the week. Read more...

Owner Chris Davies and her staff invite you to experience Heritage Designs, a destination for quilters, stitchers and those who love the needle arts. Heritage Designs Quilting & Needlework was established in 1976 and is located in a renovated old granary built in 1895 in the heart of historic Amana. With 14 foot ceilings, the space is perfect for showcasing the shop’s HUNDREDS OF SAMPLE PIECES that are sure to inspire your creativity. In addition to being a full service quilt shop with nearly 4000 fabrics, you can find a full line of supplies for counted cross-stitch, punchneedle, embroidery and Read more...

The Amana Heritage Society maintains a group of arts-and-culture museums that display and interpret artifacts and photos of the history of the Amana Colonies. The Amana Heritage Museum is comprised of three 19th Century buildings, set in spacious grounds. The Noé House, built in 1864, was originally a communal kitchen and later a doctor’s residence. Recently updated exhibits in the Noé House trace the history and development of Amana, include stories about Amana residents, and display the varied crafts and industries of the Inspirationists. Temporary exhibits and special programs focus on particular aspects of Amana’s culture. The Schoolhouse was built Read more...

Something for everyone! Creative Colony has whatever style you’re looking for, country to Americana, primitive to contemporary. You’ll be amazed at the diversity of our handcrafted products. We carry items for your home; furniture, framed art work, flower arrangements, quilts, baskets, pottery, kitchen wares, hand-woven rugs, and soy candles. We have unique gift ideas; soaps and lotions, fused glass and stained glass, whimsical signs, garden art and pet accessories. For the personal touch; we have jewelry, hand-woven scarves, stylish purses, appliqued t-shirts and sweatshirts.  Our children’s room offers doll clothes, wooden toys, bibs, blankets and small treasures. No matter what your Read more...

Amana furniture, designed and hand-built in the Colonies since the 1850’s, has an enduring reputation for high quality and timelessness. The Amana difference is a focus on craftsmanship, using century-old building methods that have been passed down for generations. Today, these standards are still applied to our exceptional heirloom-quality furniture, clocks, and home décor. Meticulous care is taken in matching wood grains, testing durability, and expert finishing to enhance the wood’s natural beauty.  Many locally made gifts also available. Our craftsmen are both designers and builders, and turn their experience, passion, and know-how into pieces that expertly blend heritage craftsmanship with modern Read more...

The Gallery On Main is an artist collective featuring the work of over 30 spectacular local artists. We offer a fusion of fine art and traditional Amana folk art. Our products include fine woodworking, quilts, original paintings and sketches, art prints, crochet toys and hats, handmade jewelry, baskets, brooms, and many more high-quality, handmade items. The Gallery On Main is run and operated by the Amana Arts Guild, an arts organization that offers classes, events, and other avenues for cultural enrichment in the Amana area. We welcome visitors to our gallery to view and shop our wide selection. We also Read more...

Visitors to Amana often arrive with a preconceived notion of Iowa as a flat expanse adorned solely by endless cornfields. Yet, upon arrival, they are greeted by rolling hills adorned with lush textures that have inspired vibrant landscapes and portraits by renowned artists like Grant Wood. Amana’s community is dedicated to preserving its rich artistic heritage. The Amana Arts Guild actively recruits and supports blacksmiths, coppersmiths, broom makers, and tinsmiths, breathing new life into the traditional trades of the region. At this pivotal moment in its history, Amana faces the challenge of balancing innovation with tradition to uphold the expertise Read more...

Established back in communal days in 1857, the store’s exterior and interior have remained virtually unchanged all these years. The original tin ceiling, wooden floor, and glass-topped display cases still remain. Throughout the store are charming reminders of the good old days, of a simpler time, of the past preserved. They just don’t make stores like this anymore, and there sure aren’t many of them left in existence! The store is truly a “museum” and an authentic general store in one. We have stocked the shelves with an interesting variety of hard-to-find trinkets and unique treasures from days gone by. Read more...