Iowa's Largest Rocking Chair

The largest known collection of miniature models made by a single person in the world is displayed in a horse barn from Amana's communal era. The miniatures are built on a 1:12 scale and show scenes from the area's past.

For reasons of efficiency, meals in the communal days of the Amana Colonies were prepared in kitchen buildings and served to groups of about 40 people at a time. Several times a month during the tourist season, the Amana Heritage Society offers a large meal in the only intact communal kitchen. The menu follows some of the original recipes used at that particular kitchen, as prepared by the Amana Meat Shop. The menu is set in advance, and typically includes meat, potatoes, pickled and fresh vegetables, plus cake for dessert. The meals are served family-style – a tradition carried on by some of the restaurants in town. Diners sit together on benches at long trestle tables, which makes this a unique opportunity to talk to some of the town's older residents. If you have a group of 15 to 20 people, contact the society about scheduling a private event. During the rest of the month, the kitchen and the cooper's shop is open a few days each week for tours.