Illinois Amish Interpretive Center at Rockome Gardens Illinois Amish Interpretive Center 125 N. CR 425 E. Arcola, IL 61910 Web site: www.amishcenter.com E-mail: amishcenter@consolidated.net
The Illinois Amish Interpretive Center is comprised of a traditional museum environment. The employees of the IAIC have extensive knowledge of the Amish community that surrounds them, and they are happy to answer any questions you have about the Amish and the area. The Center houses an 18-minute introductory video about the Amish, in addition to many permanent exhibits. These exhibits include Anabaptist history, Amish history, buggies, quilting, barns, homes, and technology. The Center also has a changing exhibit area.
In addition, the Illinois Amish Interpretive Center/Amish Country Tours can schedule tours of Amish homes, farms and businesses. Meal hostesses are members of the Old Order Amish Church and their cooking is absolutely the best made-from-scratch food you can find. Guides all have first-hand experience with the Amish, some having been raised Amish and others having immediate family who are Amish. Amish Country Tours strives to provide up-to-date, accurate information to visitors for an educational and entertaining visit that will enjoyed and remembered.
Arcola, like so many Midwestern towns, embraced the creative developments of American house architecture, taking many of their cues from catalogues and magazines as well as from contractors and lumber corporations. Arcola started as a township in 1859. This pristine showcase of small-town America still retains many examples of more than a century of architectural changes in the American home. Take in wonderful, real life examples of American architecture in the past 100 years. Two tours daily available April through October.
While reservations can be made anytime, one-day notice is appreciated.