Here we go again! First stop, Amana, Iowa. We packed up Mona and left home at 8:05. We were ready to go...or so we thought.
We got all the way into Iowa and stopped to stretch, pee and have a snack. All of a sudden Al looked at me and said, "I forgot the camper keys." I said, "No you didn't." Oh, yes, he did. But luckily his organized wife had an extra set of all keys in the truck. Jessica didn't have to go on a road trip to Iowa! LOL
We got to Amana Villages RV Park Resort and were lead to a wonderful, spacious site! We are so lucky! Then we opened Mona and discovered that I need to review the prep steps and my list again too! Mona looked like she'd been driven though an earthquake! I forgot to close some cabinets and drawers and many items flew out of the cabinets and emptied all over the floor. In the den, I forgot to put up the cargo net to hold everything on the bunk. That's where we store lots of stuff like Marley's bed, blankets, holiday decorations, etc. In the bedroom, I forgot to Velcro latch the cabinet doors and the drawers flew out of the cabinet and dumped everything on the floor and they were full. It took us a couple of hours to get everything set up and the mess cleaned up and put away. Luckily, nothing broke and nothing spilled!
Lesson Learned: ALWAYS double check the list!!! No matter if you think you know it all...you don't. Check again!
5.21.26 A bit of a slow start today. We went wandering to see what we could find and oh, boy did we find some interesting stuff!
We stopped at the visitor center first where we were given the lowdown on places to stop. The visitor center is located in an old barn & corn crib. We left the truck here and walked....and walked...
There were May Poles everywhere!
"Amana Colonies has been designated a Registered National
Historic Landmark under the provisions of the Historic Sites Act of August 21,
1935. This site possesses exceptional value in commemorating or illustrating
the history of the United States. ~U.S. Department of the Interior, National
Park Service, 1965"
Heritage Designs Quilting & Needlework was established
in 1976 and is housed inside an old granary barn built in 1895 with 14 foot
ceilings. The big wheel in the ceiling at Heritage Designs Quilting &
Needlework in Amana, Iowa, is an original iron pulley and rope system. During
the building's days as a communal granary, these large pulley wheels were used
to hoist heavy bags and grain up to the upper levels of the barn. Today, the
historic wheel, pulleys, and wooden grain chutes remain suspended from the
black walnut ceiling beams as architectural accents, surrounded by the shop's
fabric bolts and sample quilts.
The Amana Heritage Museum is located in the original village schoolhouse and includes the doctors residents with a washhouse and wood shed. It also includes the first ever microwave oven!!! There is a $10 entry fee.
We stopped at the Chocolate Haus were we had samples of handmade caramels that were so buttery!!! We watched as they were making chocolate dipped cookies for a wedding...and we bought a small piece of fudge to share.
Moving on... we walked further up the street and realized that the whole town is a history lesson!
We walked to the Amana General Store. This was a HUGE multi-level old building. It housed not only the General Store, but the Amana Coffee & Tea Company and the International Christmas Market.
The International Christmas Market
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Al found a little Marley ornament.
A traditional German felt hat is most commonly called a
Tyrolean hat (or Tirolerhut). Depending on the specific region, they are also referred
to as Bavarian hats or Alpine hats. These hats have a few distinct features.
Typically they are made from 100% boiled wool or felt. The mid-height crown has
a brim that usually curves downward at the front. They are accented with a
twisted cord, hat pins, or a tuft of feathers at the side (known as a
Gamsbart). They are famously worn alongside traditional German clothing like
Lederhosen and Dirndls.
We forgot to take pictures in the coffee and tea market but they had free samples and we enjoyed them!
We kept walking...
On the way back to the truck we stopped at the Amana Bakery & Coffee Cafe. We had iced coffee and shared a pastry. The upstairs had exposed beams and stained glass windows.
We got back to the truck and decided to pick up Marley and to to a town about 12 miles away called Marengo. There is NO grocery store in Amana! We asked where they go grocery shopping and were told they drive to Marengo. Anyway, we needed gallons of water because we didn't set up the Berkey water filter yet.
AUDIO DRIVING TOUR
There was an audio tour we listened to along the way that told short bits of information about things in the area. You can call 319-213-9003 and listen if interested. There are 40 stops on this driving tour and we only saw a few but listen to a few more. There are short 1-2 minutes long. See below for the list of tiny histories.
***History and explanation of the Amana Colonies and their way of life if you're interested. Scroll by this section if not! But keep going! There is more after this!
The Beginning
In 1714 a group of men began meeting for small group prayer
and Bible study in Germany and became known as the Community of True
Inspiration. They were persecuted for their beliefs and eventually sought
religious freedom in America in 1843-44. Community members pooled their money
and purchased 5,000 acres near Buffalo New York. The Community had 12,000
members and called their community the Ebenezer Society. They adopted a
constitution for their communal way of life. The city of Buffalo grew around
them so they couldn’t expand and they moved to Iowa in 1855 where land, fertile
soil, stone, wood and water were plentiful.
They called their community Amana from the Song of Solomon
4:8 which means “remain true.” Six villages were established a mile or two
apart that included about 26,000 acres. Amana, East Amana, West Amana, South
Amana, High Amana, and Middle Amana. The village of Homestead was added in 1861
which gave the Colonies access to the railroad.
Communal Life
In the seven villages, residents received housing, medical
care, meals, all household necessities, and schooling for their children.
Property and resources were shared. Men and women were assigned jobs by their
village council. No One received a wage. No one need one.
Each village had its own meat shop, bakery, and apiary while
large gardens provided for all villages.
Residents were called to work before dawn by the gentle
tolling of the bell in the village tower. Farming and the production of wool
and calico supported the community. Village enterprises from clock making to
brewing were also important. Amana churches located in the center of each
village were built of brick or stone, contained no stained-glass windows, no
steeple or spire, and reflect simplicity and humility. Members attended worship
services 11 times a week.
Over 50 communal kitchens provided 3 daily meals plus two
snacks for over 1600 colonists. Kitchens were operated by the women of the
Colony. They were well supplied by the village smokehouse, bakery, ice house
and dairy, by huge gardens, orchards and vineyards, all maintained by the
villagers.
They are NOT Amish
The seven villages of the Amana Colonies in eastern Iowa are
not Amish. While both groups have German roots and originated to escape
religious persecution, they have completely different lifestyles and histories.
The key differences between the Amana Colonies and
the Amish include:
Technology & Progress: The Amish
reject modern technology and transportation. The Amana colonists embrace modern
technology, drive cars, use smartphones, and run advanced manufacturing
businesses.
Lifestyle & Dress: Amish people
live a private, secluded lifestyle and dress in traditional, plain clothing.
Residents of the Amana Colonies wear modern clothing and blend right in with
the general public.
Origins: The Amish are
Anabaptists. The Amana people were German Pietists who believed in "True
Inspiration" (God speaking through living prophets).
Core Beliefs of the Amish are:
Believer’s Baptism: The defining hallmark of
the movement. Baptism is viewed as an outward sign of a conscious, personal
commitment to follow Jesus, rendering infant baptism invalid.
Pacifism & Nonviolence: Anabaptists
strictly follow the teachings of Jesus to turn the other cheek. They
historically refuse to participate in military service, carry weapons, or swear
oaths.
Separation of Church and State: They believe
the church should operate as a voluntary community of believers, entirely
separate from government control or interference.
Community & Simplicity: A strong emphasis
on mutual aid, sharing possessions, and living a humble life free from worldly
conformity.
Modern Amish Descendants Today: the Anabaptist tradition is
global but best represented by several historic and modern denominations,
including:
The Amish: Known for maintaining a traditional
lifestyle, simple dress, and separation from modern technology.
The Mennonites: The largest Anabaptist group,
recognized worldwide for their focus on peace, justice, and mission work.
The Hutterites: Known for living in communal
agricultural colonies (bruderhofs).
The Brethren: Groups like the Church of the Brethren,
which combine Anabaptist beliefs with pietistic influences.
Communal Living: The Amanas
historically lived in a strict communal society where the community owned all
property. This system ended in 1932 when they transitioned to a profit-sharing
corporation (the Amana Society) and encouraged private enterprise. They drink
alcohol, own wineries and breweries. Today, the Amana Colonies function as a
popular National Historic Landmark featuring local wineries, restaurants, craft
shops, and museums. Amish own their own home and businesses.
Amana Church Practices
People from all six Amana villages come to service in one
church. The church is very simple. There are no stained-glass windows,
religious statues, a cross, or paintings on the wall. They believe that people
should not be distracted in the church. The benches are made of pine and very
hard to sit on for long periods of time. (We can attest to this! We sat on
these benches to watch the movie. VERY uncomfortable!!!) People kneel on the
floor at the appropriate times. (There are NO kneelers or pads) Heads of women
are covered before entering. This tradition could soon come to an end because
many young girls don’t want to wear a head covering. I remember being in the
fourth grade and refusing to wear a chapel veil on my head to enter the
Catholic Church.
Families did not sit together and still don’t. Men and boys
sit on one side of the church and women and girls sit on the other side of the
church. Services take place twice a day. Most people only attend on Sundays
now. The service can last up to two hours. There is no official baptism for
members.
Marriage and dating
Men were not allowed to marry until twenty-five years of
age. A man expresses his desire to date a young girl. The parents of both the
young man and women meet. The young man is banished to a nearby village and
only meets his girlfriend three times for one year. They are able to
participate in group dances chaperoned by their parents throughout the year. If
everything works out, they get married. The records show that 50% of the
couples change their minds.
Weddings
Amana Weddings are not anything special. They always take
place at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. An elder presides over the ceremony. Only the
families attend and the couple does not receive any gifts. They don’t exchange
rings. The reception after the marriage includes wine, beer, sandwiches and
special cakes. Not a wedding cake. They return to their parents’ home after the
wedding until the community finds a room for them. They have no choice in their
living space.
In the time of communal living, couples were encouraged to
have no more than two children. When a child was born the couple received a
“sitting room” in the house. The garden and the cleaning were done by the
people living in the house. If a couple wanted to buy something such as
furniture or clothing, they had to give a reason for the purchase. The person
who was in charge of their living conditions would decide if it was a good
reason or not. Money was not exchanged between the people. Everyone had the same
amount of credit.
Children attended school six days a week, year-round until
the age of 14. Boys were assigned jobs on the farm or in the craft shops, while
girls were assigned to communal kitchen or garden. A few boys were sent to
college for training as teachers, doctors, and dentists.
The Great Change ended 89 years of communal tradition
but opened doors for residents. In 1932, during the Great Depression, Amana
residents set aside the communal way of life in order to safe their community
and to allow members to achieve individual goals. They established the Amana
Society, Inc., a profit-sharing corporation, to manage the farmland, the mills,
and the larger enterprises. Private enterprise was encouraged. The Amana Church
was maintained through it all. Now residents worked for wages, owned homes and
businesses, and Amana Appliances was established (now owned by Whirlpool).
5.22.2026 Happy Heavenly Birthday Danny!
Travel Day! We followed all the check lists this time. We moved to Altoona, Iowa. All is well. We will sit tight for the holiday weekend. We went to a hardware store and were able to have a couple of the forgotten extra keys made but not the door keys. We use a keyless code pad on the door but...if the battery goes dead we would have a problem. We are considering ordering one far enough ahead and having it delivered to a campground we will be visiting. Tomorrow we will do laundry and get ready for the move into Nebraska on Monday.
Al installed a flag pole on Mona's hitch so we can proudly fly the old Red, White and Blue!!!
***Some extra research and resources if you still want to know more! I can write a quiz for you if you like!
Videos
Amana Colonies by RV America Y'All
Web Sites
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