WE SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE SHEEP FOR COUNTING…
The 8-acre woolen mill complex that sits alongside the Mill Race canal was once the industrial center of the village of Amana. Textiles were essential to Amana’s beginnings. In addition to producing goods for the community’s use, the Mill helped support the colonists’ communal living by selling textiles across the country, gaining a national reputation for superior woolens. Rich traditions of enduring quality, uncompromising craftsmanship, community living, and genuine hospitality have continued within its walls since 1855.
As Iowa’s only remaining textile mill, we believe in the importance of preserving the talent and ideas of American manufacturing. Production keeps our community strong. To this day, our makers continue to produce woven goods with the same set of standards in the original century and a half old building where it all began.
Over time, changes in the textile industry and downsizing left many of the buildings empty or under-utilized. Steps needed to be taken to preserve the physical structures and rich history of the mill complex. Without a plan to rejuvenate the site, a critical part of the Amana story and an Iowa treasure may be lost.