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Trip to the Amana Colonies
Welcome to my virtual trip through the Amana Colonies
The Colonies were originally the home of the Pietist sect
Community of True Inspiration
This
group forms now what is known as the Amana Church Society. They still
hold religious services in the meetinghouse in Amana, Middle Amana and
Homestead. There are services in German and English, with some being
open to the public.
What we know as the Amana Colonies today consist
of seven villages about a mile or two apart from each other in Iowa
County, Iowa. These are Amana (known as Main Amana), Middle Amana,
High Amana, West Amana, South Amana, Homestead and East Amana. All of
these except East Amana, are home to commercial shops, bakeries,
wineries, woolen and furniture mills, a meatshop and smokehouse as well
as museums and artist's studios. The Amana restaurants are world
famous for their family style German meals. The old woolen mill in
Middle Amana was converted into what became the Amana Refrigeration
Company. After buyouts by Maytag Corporation, Maytag's business
problems and current ownership by Whirlpool Corporation, the old Amana
factory is still in business, but not necessarily a source of pride for
those still in the community.
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