Amana Colonies Visitors Center
4.6(3.2K)google
3.0(3)yelp
Historic TownFolk CultureImmigrant CultureVisitor CenterRestrooms AvailableEducationalIndoorLocal LifeSenior-Friendly
Overview
The Amana Colonies are seven villages on 26,000 acres (110 km2) located in Iowa County in east-central Iowa, United States: Amana (or Main Amana, German: Haupt-Amana), East Amana, High Amana, Middle Amana, South Amana, West Amana, and Homestead. The villages were built and settled by German Radical Pietists, who were persecuted in their homeland by the German state government and the Lutheran Church. Calling themselves the True Inspiration Congregations (German: Wahre Inspirations-Gemeinden), they first settled in New York near Buffalo in what is now the town of West Seneca.
Practical Info
Mon9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Tue9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Wed9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Thu9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fri9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sun10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-5 hours
Best TimeAutumn from September to October is the most picturesque season to visit, capped by the famous Amana Oktoberfest in early October. For standard touring, arriving between 9:30 AM and 12:00 PM is highly recommended; the morning sun brilliantly illuminates the historic brick mill building, and the low tourist volume allows for an unhurried, educational briefing from local docents.
Getting ThereSituated in the Main Amana village of the Amana Colonies. By car, take I-80 to Exit 225, head north on IA-151 N for roughly 15 km, then make a right onto US-6 N/IA-220 W into the village. The visitor center features a large, fully complimentary gravel parking lot that serves as an excellent pedestrian starting point for the historic district.
Travel Tips
- Located at 622 46th Avenue, this center is the premier launchpad to obtain free, detailed hardcopy village maps; arrive prior to 9:00 AM to secure prime complimentary public parking spots directly out front.
- From May through October, exclusive guided heritage tours depart precisely at 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM; seating for these historic communal sites is strictly limited, requiring advance reservation via 319-622-7622.
- Major seasonal festivals like September's Apfel Day trigger absolute street closures; incoming drivers must follow detour signage to designated grass overflow lots, as parking on un-marked historic curbs prompts immediate towing.
Reviews
Positive
- Perfect starting point to learn the history of the Amana Colonies; the exhibits and free video are brief but highly educational.
- The staff here are incredibly welcoming, providing detailed maps and great recommendations for historical sites and dining.
- It offers plenty of free parking, clean restrooms, and helpful informational brochures in multiple languages.
- The setting is peaceful and quaint without feeling overly commercialized, preserving a genuine historical atmosphere.
Heads up
- The interactive displays inside are somewhat dated, and the space is quite small, taking only about 15 minutes to see.
- Handcrafted items in the gift shop are pricey, and most shopping actually requires moving out to the actual villages.
- If tour buses arrive simultaneously, the small center gets extremely crowded and noisy, lacking enough seating.
- It closes relatively early in the afternoon; arriving late means missing out on physical guides, and public transit is lacking.