Amana Colonies

One of America's most successful utopias, which is now a popular tourist attraction

1714 - 1932

Modern picture of the Amana Colonies, who have preserved their historical heritage into the present day.

In 1714 a movement of "Inspirationalists" was started in Germany by Christians who believed that God still spoke to certain people as he did to the Old Testament prophets. They fled to America in 1846 to avoid religious persecution, settling in Iowa in 1855, where they set up a handful of villages where all members lived communally in nearly self-sufficient villages. These colonies serve as an example of successful utopias and produced Amana Refrigeration, one of the most famous appliance companies in the United States. Although the community disbanded in 1932, these villages still exist and have preserved the history of the community, making it a popular tourist attraction.

Religion: Christianity

Denomination: Pietism

Founder: Eberhard L. Gruber

Founded: 1714 in Germany; Moved to Iowa in 1855

Ended: Ended the communal lifestyle 1932, but members still practice the faith today

Size: Seven villages, each with 40-100 houses; 1,800 members by 1908

Location: Amana, Iowa, United States

Also called: New Community; Community of True Inspiration; Inspirationists; True Inspiration Congregations

Anti-Marriage

Marriage was considered to be a sign of spiritual failure, and weddings were not joyous affairs (source p. 133)
Some members believed that all marriage should be forbidden (source p. 132)

Arranged Marriages

Marriage was initially only permitted "with the consent of God" through the community prophets (source p. 133)
Marriages were later allowed if they were approved by the Board of Trustees, after which they would have to wait a hear and receive the blessing of an elder (source p. 133, 135)

Communal

Maintained an almost entirely self-sufficient, local economy (source p. 60)
All members who left the community were given back all the money they invested into the common fund, plus interest (source p. 118)
Anyone in need that passed through the community was taken care of, including giving them a job with a good salary, three meals a day, and a place to live (source)

Leader-Prophet

Believed that God spoke to certain community members and leaders as he spoke to the prophets (source p. 22)

Persecuted

They were "fined, pilloried, flogged, imprisoned, legislated against, and stripped of their possessions" by the German state governments for their religious beliefs (source p. 30)

Unique Sexual Practices

Since marriage was a sign of spiritual failure, and single life was more praiseworthy, they presumably would have been supporters of a celibate lifestyle (source p. 133)

Other Info:

Created the successful Amana Refrigeration Inc, which produced the first commercial upright freezer and practical microwave oven (source)
Conversations were discouraged during meals (source)
Held religious services eleven times a week, which did not include instruments or singing (source)

An episode of a travel show about the Amana Colonies

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