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...
2020 Village Voyage Update
This year, we are unable to offer our Village Voyage Tour in our 14 passenger van. We hope to be back on the road for you in 2021, but until then we are happy to have our Amana Colonies App to offer! You can find our app by scanning the QR code available here at this link, or by searching “Amana Colonies” in the app store on your smartphone. On the Amana Colonies App, you’ll find both an historic driving tour and an historic walking tour. You’ll also be able to see driving maps, site information, and contact information for the Amana Colonies Visitors Center. If you don’t have a smartphone or would like any help, we are available at the Visitors Center from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm every day to get you more information and be sure you see everything that the Amana Colonies has to offer.
The Amana Colonies Visitors Center is located at 622, 46th Ave. in Amana, sharing a parking lot with Price Creek Event Center, Heritage Designs Quilting & Needlework, and the Festhalle Barn. We can be reached at 319-622-7622.
2021 Tour Information
Large Group of 15+
If you are traveling in a large group or by motor coach you’ll definitely want to arrange for a step on guide. We have several companies that will arrange this for your group and contacting our Visitor Center at 319-622-7622 you will be able to obtain more information.
Individual or Group of 14 or less
If you are traveling on your own or have 14 or fewer in your group your best choice is to join us for a Village Voyage. This two-hour tour, in a climate controlled 14 passenger van, takes you to all of the major historic sites and while you’re traveling from site to site your local tour guide will explain some of the unique aspects of life in the Amana Colonies both during the communal era and today. Here is what you’ll see:
- The first stop is at the main campus of the Amana Heritage Society. An award-winning video that helps explain our history and the communal era (1842-193) will set the tone for your tour. You will have some questions about life during this time or how things have changed or not change and your guide will gladly explain.
- The second stop is in Middle Amana at the only surviving intact communal kitchen. Here you’ll learn about shop street and then enter the kitchen and discover how 40 people were fed 5 times a day, what the meals were like, and how nothing was wasted. It is a fascinating look at something we all take for granted, dinner time.
- Our third stop is to the High Amana General Store. This is a trip down memory lane. The store seems frozen in time, tin ceilings, old display cases, in fact, it’s like walking back in time 100 years. Everything is original except the products that are sold and the clerk.
- The final stop is at the old Homestead Church. Each village had its own church but today the Homestead Church is no longer used for services and has been given to the Amana Heritage Society. You’ll be able to enter the church and learn about the Amana Church Society religion. Sit on the plain pine benches that are still used today and learn about the beliefs of the church members and how it is different or similar to your religion.
The Village Voyage tours are available Monday-Saturday at 11 am and 2 pm. Tours run from May-October. The cost is $20/person and reservations are recommended since seating is limited. Call 319-622-7622 to reserve your seat.
