![man painting outside of the amana arts guild](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/8BA2E94C-1DD8-B71B-0BD1AFAF2D982077.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Once a church, the Amana Arts Guild preserves traditional art forms from the Iowa Colonies and passes techniques onto future generations
![exterior of the amana furniture shop](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/2D5DF51B-1DD8-B71B-0BF36497BE3E3570.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The Amana Furniture Shop occupies the former Calico Mill, which produced printed cloth for the national market
![neon sign for the colony inn, which once operated in the amana hotel](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/FD0E9991-1DD8-B71B-0BD225E85B97D5CC.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The Amana Hotel was built in 1860 to accommodate visitors. It continues to accommodate visitors, but now as a restaurant
![exterior of the amana society bakery](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/2AEC5D4E-1DD8-B71B-0B6D5C6256F03271.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Bakeries provided bread and other baked goods to the villages in Amana. Learn about the Amana Society Bakery and its role in the village
![looms within the mill](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/2D9F2080-1DD8-B71B-0BE0F04C2EFF1F14.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Construction of the Woolen Mill began in 1859 and it is still operating today. Their goods were known nationally
![exterior of the baeckerei](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/F60DCB11-1DD8-B71B-0B0DCE1F77185DF8.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The Backerei was one of South Amana's bakeries. It was converted into a bed and breakfast, which has since closed
![blacksmith working with a horse](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/5E0071F6-1DD8-B71B-0B8C309C5496B60D.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Blacksmith shops were integral in these rural villages. Learn more about the role the blacksmith played in the community
![interior of the homestead church](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/315F03EA-1DD8-B71B-0B4F7D682E9B0101.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The Homestead Church was built in 1865 by the Community of True Inspiration. It is now a museum operated by the Amana Heritage Museum
![kitchen ladies preparing food](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/2C732436-1DD8-B71B-0B2420430A189DF9.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The Ruedy Kitchen House, next to the coopershop, was one of 50 kitchens that provided meals during the communal era of the Colonies
![exterior of the die heimat country inn](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/5D70EFEF-1DD8-B71B-0B27B9DBC51E48B1.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Die Heimat Country Inn occupies the only existing building in Homestead that was constructed prior to the town's purchase by Inspirationists
![woodshed garden](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/F8027534-1DD8-B71B-0B1CAC2810368236.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The drying house was integral to preserving fruits and vegetables grown in nearby gardens
![man taking bread out of the oven](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/3914B880-1DD8-B71B-0B48C98F3C984211.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Bakeries provided bread and other baked goods to communal kitchens using traditionally German recipes. Learn about Hanh's in Amana
![cemetery in the amana colonies](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/26861C8C-1DD8-B71B-0B5096B7629984C8.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Cemeteries are organized in such a way that denotes equality among members. Learn more by reading about the cemetery in High Amana
![pigs outside of a barn](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/2595B52A-1DD8-B71B-0B3426675FB8A78A.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Each village in the Colonies contained a farm complex. Learn about the farm complex in High Amana
![exterior of the high amana store after snow](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/38D04A5B-1DD8-B71B-0B0340484DDA0997.png)
General stores provided necessities to the people in the Amana Colonies. Learn about one of these stores in High Amana
![homestead dwelling after snowfall](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/5DE27C56-1DD8-B71B-0B0D93ACD144F8F8.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
These are the most common building type found in the Amana Colonies. Several original dwellings made mostly of brick remain today
![tower of the smokehouse](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/5D9A068E-1DD8-B71B-0B08988B6899A3B9.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The Meat Shop and Smokehouse prepared meat for several kitchens in Homestead. Learn more about its role in the community
![blooming lilies in lily lake](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/2C5EF767-1DD8-B71B-0BA11621EE0FA833.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Lily Lake was formed when the Mill Race flooded a low area. It went on to play several important roles in the Colonies
![exterior of the Lower South Hotel](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/2B461119-1DD8-B71B-0B88BD006EC55F1A.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The Lower South Hotel accommodated tourists flocking to the Amana Colonies. Learn about it here
![mill race running past a brick building](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/2ED0B088-1DD8-B71B-0B1FC58D96DBBDC7.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The Mill Race is a constructed, seven-mile-long canal. It originally provided power to the mills
![exterior of the museum of amana history](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/2DFE8C16-1DD8-B71B-0B82A1E7277126BF.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The Museum occupies a former kitchen house, school, and woodshed. It traces the history and development of the Colonies
![exterior of the Ox Yoke Inn](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/FD6950AF-1DD8-B71B-0BF6DA73B7D8FE6B.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The Ox Yoke Inn occupies a former kitchen house, and currently operates as a restaurant
![men and horses lined up outside the powder house](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/2F7B5A0D-1DD8-B71B-0BE16FDA44911A1C.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The Powder House was part of a pharmacy complex that produced powder additives for livestock
![interior of the machine shop](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/FEF4E952-1DD8-B71B-0B761D85DFDB6D23.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Metal work was important to repair components of the mills and farm equipment. Learn about the shop in Amana
![children standing in a schulwald](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/2A9CD29B-1DD8-B71B-0B9400BA6F97C6C7.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Schulwalds are groves of trees planted by residents of Amana. Learn about their roles in the Colonies
![kinderschule exterior](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/2B0B725A-1DD8-B71B-0BC80179AE53B89B.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Schools in the Amana colonies provided for children from two to 14. In addition to general education, children would learn trades
![high amana barns](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/28A9785A-1DD8-B71B-0BFBAF46AD4814AD.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Taglöhners were hired to work in the Amana villages. While they lived alongside community members, they didn't officially join the Church
![henry moore's miniature barns](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/2B90DE76-1DD8-B71B-0B7237B1E0776851.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
The Barn Museum houses the largest collection of miniatures, made by Henry Moore. Learn about it here
![pigs outside a barn in west amana](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/92A67470-1DD8-B71B-0B2ABC5D57CB8437.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
Farms complexes and barns played an important role in the Colonies. Learn more about the role the barns played in West Amana
![exterior of the west amana general store](/common/uploads/grid_builder/travelamanacolonies/crop16_9/291DB4DC-1DD8-B71B-0BBCD44F5EA227EF.jpg?width=640&quality=90&mode=crop)
General stores provided goods for residents of the Amana villages. Learn about the general store in West Amana
Last updated: January 4, 2018