Amana in Iowa County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Water Power for Amana's Mills

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, June 14, 2011

1. Water Power for Amana's Mills Marker

Inscription. Six and one-half miles in length, the Amana Millrace was built in 1865 - 1869 to provide waterpower for the community's mills in Middle Amana and Amana. Here at Amana the millrace powered the woolen mill, calico factory, flour mill and sawmill.Water-powered turbines drove a system of gears and line shafts to transfer power to the factory machinery. Steam engines were used to supplement the water power.

In the 1920s some of the line shaft system was replaced with electric generators and motors. The present hydroelectric plant was constructed in 1954 and has a capacity of approximately 150 kilowatts - enough electricity to power about 25 homes.

In 1993 Iowa River flooding severely damaged the millrace levees so that electricity generation was impossible. However, through a continuing effort to preserve and maintain the Millrace led by the Amana Colonies Historical Sites Foundation and assisted by grants from the Save America's Treasurers program and State Historical Society of Iowa, the levees have been repaired and "the Hydro" is once again producing clean, renewable power. This green energy is sold to the local electric company.

Photo
A view of the Amana mills and tailrace ca. 1915. A disastrous fire in 1923 destroyed the flour mill (left) and part of the woolen mill. Photo courtesy of the Amana Heritage Society.

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This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1865.

Location. 41° 47.782′ N, 91° 51.907′ W. Marker is in Amana, Iowa, in Iowa County. It is on 48th Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Amana IA 52203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dredging Amana's Millrace (a few steps from this marker); Amana Woolen Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Amana History (approx. 0.3 miles away); Wohn Haus (approx. 0.3 miles away); Schwalbe Kitchen (approx. 0.3 miles away); Farm Manager's Office (approx. 0.3 miles away); Ackermann Residence (approx. 0.4 miles away); Christian Metz House (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map

Amana's Millrace image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Beverly Pfingsten, June 14, 2011

2. Amana's Millrace

of all markers in Amana.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 10, 2015

3. Water Power for Amana's Mills Marker

View showing marker's location next to the bridge

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 762 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 14, 2011, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3. submitted on November 2, 2015, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.