The Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area is one of 49 federally designated heritage areas, and is an Affiliated Area of the National Park Service. The mission of the area is to preserve and tell the story of American agriculture and its global significance. It is located in eastern Iowa, and has many different sites of interest. I chose to stop at the Amana Colonies.

I remember when I was younger, and my sister was going to school in Omaha. I remember my mom wanting to stop at the Amana Colonies. I wasn't with her, but for some reason, it stuck with me, and I wanted to see it too. The Amana Colonies now is a very quaint area, with shops and restaurants. There is also a museum, which tells the story of the Amana Colonies, and gives some history of the area.

The Amana Colonies were founded by a German religious group in the 1850s. There were seven villages in all, and they lived in a communal fashion. It looked like it was a very simple, and well thought out way of life that was beneficial to most that lived there.

For more information on the Silos and Smokestacks National Heritage Area, visit the site at: http://www.silosandsmokestacks.org/

For more information on the Amana Colonies, go to: http://www.silosandsmokestacks.org/attraction/amana-heritage/

#Iowa