Have you ever heard of the home electronics brand Amana? Its roots have very humble beginnings with a community established around utopian ideals in seven Iowa villages. A visit will take you to old-world traditions and one of America’s longest-lived communal societies. The seven villages, a National Historic Landmark are set a few miles apart between corn fields, campgrounds, lakes, parks, and a huge seemingly out of place modern appliance factory.
The original settlers of the Amana Colonies followed communalism, a social arrangement where buildings, land, livestock and tools were community property. Farming and the crafting of wool and calico financed the community and connected the Amanas to the outside world. The towns are laid out like 19th century German villages with a main street and small shops. Farm building were built around the perimeter of town. The town’s historic brick, stone and clapboard buildings are built in the folk Amana Style, a quality reflective of communal architecture. Details disclose specific sequences for bonding bricks and patterns of framing windows. Structures appear as though they are added on and stuck together.
The residences housed several families and family groups enjoyed meals together in kitchen houses. The food was supplied by the village gardens, orchards, vineyards, bakeries, icehouses smokehouses and dairies maintained by the villagers. The current Amana Meat Shop & Smokehouse and Bakery began when the seven villages were active and are still enjoyed today. At the restaurants you will find American and German food served “Family Style” offering the sense of communal dining. Many of the menu items are inspired by communal era recipes that are native to this region.
During the communal times most, art was discouraged because it was considered frivolous however crafting practical goods in the form of needlework and woodworking were encouraged to reflect faith and the community spirit. Well-crafted products such as clocks, food, furniture became the pride of the Amanas, and the traditions live on today where you can find highly crafted products, food, candy and local broom makers and basket weavers. Sewing lives on at featured Heritage Designs known throughout the Midwest for an extensive collection of fabrics and as a Top 10 Quilt Shop in North America.
The General Store established in 1857, during the communal days is a time travel experience. Entering is like stepping back in time where antiques are sold alongside contemporary crafts and regionally brewed root beer.
In 1932, during the Great Depression the Amanas created The Great Change where they set aside the communal way of life. It was seen by the young as a barrier to achieving individual goals. Rather than leave or watch their children leave, the community changed. People began assimilating into the American way of life with their own private households and enterprises. George C. Foerstner began an electronics company which became Amana Refrigeration and he later sold it to the Amana Society who produced the first commercial upright freezer. Over time it moved into an advanced production community and today produces Amana, JennAir, KitchenAid, Maytag and Whirlpool refrigerators. Hence, the huge factory!
Today the Amana Colonies quaintness attract hundreds of thousands of visitors annually with many art and cultural festivals throughout the year. Some are traditional German festivals including Oktoberfest and Christmas with classic German treats. Others are more modern such as Pride Week, sports related or showcase hand-crafted wine and beer. Outdoors enthusiasts enjoy kayaking and the bike route between the towns. It is a great little get away with a unique Midwestern history and culture with authentic well-crafted food the comforts of modern travel.
