History in Buildings and Craftsmanship
The Amana Colonies were founded by German immigrants in 1855. At the Amana Heritage Museum, you can trace later history through buildings and the uses they were put to. The museum comprises three 19th-century buildings. The Noé House was built in 1864 as a communal kitchen and later used as a doctor's residence. The Schoolhouse dates from 1870; its auditorium regularly hosts an audiovisual presentation about Amana's history. The buildings offer different perspectives: one tells the story of how its function changed, while the other presents local history through a presentation. So, in addition to dates, you'll encounter the uses associated with these places.
The Amana Community Church brings together architectural history and lived religion. Its building was constructed from locally made bricks in 1865. During tours, guides accompany visitors through the church and explain its religious background, history, and architecture, as well as the beliefs and practices of the Amana Church Society. Craftsmanship is showcased in a different way: the Amana Arts Guild supports traditions of blacksmithing, copper work, broom making, and pewter casting. The Homestead Folk Art Museum displays traditional crafts, textiles, woodwork, and paintings by Amana Colonies artists from the communal era and the present day. The RĂĽdy KĂĽche has been preserved as it looked in 1932 and displays its original cooking equipment.
Guided and Self-Guided Exploration
If you would like to experience the history at several sites, the Village Voyage offers a guided van tour of four historic sites in the Amana Colonies. It lasts two and a half hours. The Amana Colonies App's self-guided historical tours are organized differently: you can take them by car or on foot. This gives you a choice between one fully guided tour and two self-directed formats.
Woods, River Views, and Birdwatching
The Amana Nature Trail winds through the Amana woods to a hilltop overlooking the Iowa River. Three Indigenous burial mounds, about 1,000 years old, lie right beside the trail. Landscape and archaeology meet along the same route here. In the Amana Colonies, Lily Lake and the Amana Nature Trail are listed as public areas for birdwatching. This means both the lake and the trail have a place in nature exploration.
Routes of Different Lengths
The Kolonieweg Trail is 3.1 miles long and connects Amana with Middle Amana. Views of Lily Lake, the Millrace, pastures, farmland, and the surrounding landscape define the route. The Amana Depot serves as the trailhead, with parking and seasonal restrooms available there. The 21-mile Amana Trail connects Amana, Middle Amana, South Amana, and Homestead. The distance and the places it connects offer a concrete point of comparison when choosing between the two routes. Another cycling route, the Amana Gravel Bike Route, follows side roads between Middle Amana, High Amana, and West Amana.
Camping and Nature in Iowa County
Lake Iowa Park is the largest recreational area in Iowa County. Its public campground offers electric campsites as well as areas for tents without electric hookups. The park also has an 18-hole disc golf course and nature programs throughout the year. If you plan to camp there, check the current park information before making plans. The Gunderson Wildlife Area offers another option for primitive camping. The county therefore offers a range of outdoor experiences: a public campground with designated types of campsites, an 18-hole disc golf course, and the option of primitive camping.
Explore more destinations: Amana, Scott, Black Hawk, Lucas County, Hardin County, Polk, Wapello, Linn
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