German Immigrants Built These 7 Villages in Iowa That Preserve Their 1850s Heritage

Amana Colonies, Iowa

Iowa hides a pocket of German culture in the Amana Colonies. These seven villages still practice crafts their founders brought from Germany in 1855, from weaving to wine making.

Here’s are some of the best things to do in one of the most unique towns in Iowa.

Walk Through Three Historic Buildings at the Heritage Museum

You’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time when you visit the Amana Heritage Museum with its three old buildings from the 1800s.

The main Noé House was once a busy kitchen back in 1864. Start with the 20-minute video that sets the scene before you wander the grounds.

With 12,000 items and 10,000 records dating back to the 1700s, you won’t run out of things to see.

Make sure to check out the ‘Amana Meteorite of 1875’ display that has a real piece of the rock that lit up skies all the way to Chicago.

Don’t skip the old woodshed with its wine-making tools or the schoolhouse that taught kids until 1954.

The museum is open daily from April to October, and it’ll only cost you $8 to get in.

Touch Blankets Made on Looms from 1859 at the Woolen Mill

Iowa’s only running woolen mill has been making cozy things since 1859 and hasn’t stopped since.

Drop by Monday through Friday to see the old looms in action. Back in 1890, they made 3,000 yards of wool goods every day using more than half a million pounds of wool each year.

The mill has lived through floods, high winds, fires, and all the ups and downs of making cloth in America for over 160 years.

You can shop at the Warped & Woven Mill store at 794 48th Avenue from 9am-4pm Monday-Saturday and 11am-4pm Sunday.

Look for wool and cotton blankets from king to throw size, plus clothes, gifts, and don’t miss the sale section for great deals.

Feast on German Dishes Served by Five Family Gens at Ox Yoke Inn

Five gens of the Leichsenring family have kept the old German and American dishes coming to the table.

Try their famous smoked pork chops, tangy beef sauerbraten, kasseler rippchen, or one of their many schnitzels.

The Ronneburg Restaurant, another great spot, has been open since 1950 in what used to be a shared kitchen.

Both places let you eat ‘family style’ with big bowls of sides for sharing, just like they did in the colony days.

At the Ronneburg, you can sit in the full bar area and try local Millstream brews and Ackerman fruit wines on tap.

Sip From 20 Taps at Iowa’s First Craft Brewery After Ban-Time

Millstream Brewing Co. was the first craft beer maker in Iowa after ban-time ended. They got their start in 1985 with a small batch of German Pilsner.

Now they make almost 8,000 barrels of beer and soda each year – that adds up to 2.5 million pints.

Their tap room has 20 beers that change often, with new ones each week.

Grab a seat by the mill stream with the sun on your face and a cold beer in hand. They often have live music too, so you can make a whole day of it.

Find a Bit of All Things Amana at the General Store Since 1858

The Amana General Store has been the go-to spot since 1858 when it sold things the shared living group didn’t make on their own.

If you don’t have much time, this is your best bet since they have a sample of all things Amana in one place.

You’ll see Iowa-made food, crafts, coffee, home goods, and gifts from around the world.

Take home some tea, hand-sewn dish towels, candy, meats, cheeses, or save space in your bag for a Christmas item or two.

Before you leave, stop by the Brau Haus Kaffee Co. on the lower level for some tasty coffee and tea blends that make great gifts.

Watch Craftsmen Make Real Wood Pieces at the Furniture Shop

You can see real skill at work at the Amana Furniture Shop where each worker makes a whole piece by hand from start to end – they don’t use a line like big firms do.

Take your time and look at their lovely cherry armoires, walnut end tables, oak bed frames, and tall grandfather clocks.

Taste Free Samples of Dense German Sausage at the Meat Shop

Get a taste of real German meat know-how at the Amana Meat Shop & Smokehouse, a must-see that ships goods to all fifty states.

When the seven towns were a shared living place, each had its own meat shop where ham, bacon, and sausage were made the old-world way.

Ask to try Landjaeger – a dense German sausage – often given out as free samples by the staff.

While you’re there, look for German treats like cookies, candies, and honey on the shelves.

Before you go, pick up some juicy steaks, chops, and bratwurst from their fresh meat case to cook at home.

Spot 1,000-Year-Old Burial Mounds on the Nature Trail

The Amana Nature Trail starts just outside Homestead village where highways 6 and 151 meet, and you’ll find a small wooden picnic shed at the start.

Your walk begins in a wooded field, then crosses into grown-up woods where trees have been cut by the Amana group for more than 100 years.

Keep your eyes open for wild turkey, deer, and many birds as you walk the fully shaded path.

You’ll also see big ice-age rocks along the trail that were brought here half a million years ago.

Don’t miss the three Native American burial mounds that are about 1,000 years old and a V-shaped fish trap in the river – it’s the only one of its kind in all of Iowa.

Buy Goods With Coupons Like the Old Days at High Amana Store

The High Amana General Store looks just as it did back in 1900 and is run now by the Amana Past Group.

You can browse items made by local hands, wooden things by area wood workers, books by local writers, old-time candy, and toys like they had in the past.

They also have German Christmas items and odd ‘dry goods’ like they sold long ago.

Drink Fruit Wines at Iowa’s Oldest Winery Since 1956

You’ll want to taste wines at Ackerman Winery, Iowa’s oldest working winery that’s been around since 1956 and run by the Wyant family since 2015.

Their sweet wines are what most guests love best.

Other places like Village Winery and White Cross Cellars offer wine tasting too if you want to try more.

Many of the wines use fruits like rhubarb in the German way, keeping with the roots of the area. It’s a fun way to spend an hour or two as you learn about wine making in Amana.

Find True Antiques at Fair Prices in Grapevine and A.J.’s

Grapevine Antiques is one of the biggest old item shops in Amana, with tons of true antiques at fair prices.

Next, visit A.J.’s Copper Garden where they make many copper yard art pieces each year that you won’t see any place else.

The Amana Artists Guild is worth a stop too for local art, and don’t miss shops with hand-woven baskets and quilts that keep old skills alive.

Catiri’s Art Oasis has hand-blown glass, paintings, pots, and gems from Iowa and states close by.