The Baeckerei was built in 1860 and served as the communal bakery for South Amana for many years. Each village in the Colonies had bakeries to supply bread every day to each kitchen in the village. Horse drawn wagons would deliver the baked goods. As the driver approached he would ring a bell and one of the women would go out to tell him how many loaves the kitchen needed, usually about a dozen. On Saturdays a special treat arrived with the baker. He brought coffeecakes with delicious fruit fillings in the middle to grace the tables on Sunday morning. Many Amana Colony recipes are based on passed down traditions originating in Germany: German Black Bread Homemade Style, Round White Bread, and other breads and pastries continue to be prepared in the Amana Colonies. At the Baeckerei, the bake oven is still intact, but has not been used for many decades.

In 1989, the Baeckerei was renovated as a Bed and Breakfast. Antique furniture and old photographs enhance the interior of the Baeckerei. The Baeckerei offers the unique lodging opportunity of staying in one of South Amana's former communal bakeries.

The Baeckerei Bed and Breakfast is located at 507 Q St., in South Amana. For further information call 319-622-3597 or 1-800-391-8650.

Credits and Sources:

National Park Service. "Amana Colonies." http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/amana/sitelist.htm.

Photograph by Shannon Bell