Christian Metz was a religious leader and founder of what is now known as the Amana Society in Amana, Iowa. He was born in 1794 in Neuwied, Rheinland, Germany to a family who belonged to a pietist sect called the "Community of True Inspiration". The Inspirationists believed that God communicated directly to inspired individuals called "Werkzeuges". Metz delivered his first inspired testimony in 1819.
Metz together with Michael Kraussert and Barbara Heinemann revived this religious group by traveling throughout Switzerland and Germany reconnecting scattered members. In an escape from growing religious persecution, they leased several estates in Hesse, Germany, where they lived for a time until conditions again became intolerable. Through his "inspirations" Metz directed the group to relocate to the United States and in 1842 they bought 5,000 acres of land near Buffalo, New York which they named Ebenezer. Here they established a communal way of life that would continue for 89 years.
In 1854 more farmland was needed for the community and Metz again directed the group to move further west. They came to Iowa where they purchased 25,000 acres along the Iowa River. Eventually seven villages were built. The community was re-named "Amana" which means to "remain true". The Amana Society existed for over seventy years as the most successful and longest-lived communal society in the United States. Chritian Metz remained the spiritual leader of Amana until his death in 1867.
By 1932 economic stresses from the Great Depression as well as a catastrophic fire of the woolen and flour mill, convinced the society to reorganize as a joint-stock company while still preserving the church. Today the Amana Society farms the land, maintains the largest private forest reserve in the state and operates a variety of businesses including the Amana Woolen Mill.
Amana has been listed as a National Historical Site since 1965.
"Behold the Work of the Old..
Let your Heritage not be lost,
But bequeath it as a Memory,
Treasure and Blessing…
Gather the lost and the hidden
And preserve it for thy Children."
Christian Metz, 1846
Metz together with Michael Kraussert and Barbara Heinemann revived this religious group by traveling throughout Switzerland and Germany reconnecting scattered members. In an escape from growing religious persecution, they leased several estates in Hesse, Germany, where they lived for a time until conditions again became intolerable. Through his "inspirations" Metz directed the group to relocate to the United States and in 1842 they bought 5,000 acres of land near Buffalo, New York which they named Ebenezer. Here they established a communal way of life that would continue for 89 years.
In 1854 more farmland was needed for the community and Metz again directed the group to move further west. They came to Iowa where they purchased 25,000 acres along the Iowa River. Eventually seven villages were built. The community was re-named "Amana" which means to "remain true". The Amana Society existed for over seventy years as the most successful and longest-lived communal society in the United States. Chritian Metz remained the spiritual leader of Amana until his death in 1867.
By 1932 economic stresses from the Great Depression as well as a catastrophic fire of the woolen and flour mill, convinced the society to reorganize as a joint-stock company while still preserving the church. Today the Amana Society farms the land, maintains the largest private forest reserve in the state and operates a variety of businesses including the Amana Woolen Mill.
Amana has been listed as a National Historical Site since 1965.
"Behold the Work of the Old..
Let your Heritage not be lost,
But bequeath it as a Memory,
Treasure and Blessing…
Gather the lost and the hidden
And preserve it for thy Children."
Christian Metz, 1846
Christian Metz was a religious leader and founder of what is now known as the Amana Society in Amana, Iowa. He was born in 1794 in Neuwied, Rheinland, Germany to a family who belonged to a pietist sect called the "Community of True Inspiration". The Inspirationists believed that God communicated directly to inspired individuals called "Werkzeuges". Metz delivered his first inspired testimony in 1819.
Metz together with Michael Kraussert and Barbara Heinemann revived this religious group by traveling throughout Switzerland and Germany reconnecting scattered members. In an escape from growing religious persecution, they leased several estates in Hesse, Germany, where they lived for a time until conditions again became intolerable. Through his "inspirations" Metz directed the group to relocate to the United States and in 1842 they bought 5,000 acres of land near Buffalo, New York which they named Ebenezer. Here they established a communal way of life that would continue for 89 years.
In 1854 more farmland was needed for the community and Metz again directed the group to move further west. They came to Iowa where they purchased 25,000 acres along the Iowa River. Eventually seven villages were built. The community was re-named "Amana" which means to "remain true". The Amana Society existed for over seventy years as the most successful and longest-lived communal society in the United States. Chritian Metz remained the spiritual leader of Amana until his death in 1867.
By 1932 economic stresses from the Great Depression as well as a catastrophic fire of the woolen and flour mill, convinced the society to reorganize as a joint-stock company while still preserving the church. Today the Amana Society farms the land, maintains the largest private forest reserve in the state and operates a variety of businesses including the Amana Woolen Mill.
Amana has been listed as a National Historical Site since 1965.
"Behold the Work of the Old..
Let your Heritage not be lost,
But bequeath it as a Memory,
Treasure and Blessing…
Gather the lost and the hidden
And preserve it for thy Children."
Christian Metz, 1846
Metz together with Michael Kraussert and Barbara Heinemann revived this religious group by traveling throughout Switzerland and Germany reconnecting scattered members. In an escape from growing religious persecution, they leased several estates in Hesse, Germany, where they lived for a time until conditions again became intolerable. Through his "inspirations" Metz directed the group to relocate to the United States and in 1842 they bought 5,000 acres of land near Buffalo, New York which they named Ebenezer. Here they established a communal way of life that would continue for 89 years.
In 1854 more farmland was needed for the community and Metz again directed the group to move further west. They came to Iowa where they purchased 25,000 acres along the Iowa River. Eventually seven villages were built. The community was re-named "Amana" which means to "remain true". The Amana Society existed for over seventy years as the most successful and longest-lived communal society in the United States. Chritian Metz remained the spiritual leader of Amana until his death in 1867.
By 1932 economic stresses from the Great Depression as well as a catastrophic fire of the woolen and flour mill, convinced the society to reorganize as a joint-stock company while still preserving the church. Today the Amana Society farms the land, maintains the largest private forest reserve in the state and operates a variety of businesses including the Amana Woolen Mill.
Amana has been listed as a National Historical Site since 1965.
"Behold the Work of the Old..
Let your Heritage not be lost,
But bequeath it as a Memory,
Treasure and Blessing…
Gather the lost and the hidden
And preserve it for thy Children."
Christian Metz, 1846
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