Best Amish History Museums

The Amish are often admired for their simplicity, faith, and separation from modern life—but behind these qualities lies a complex and compelling history. To truly understand this unique community, there’s no better place to start than with a visit to one of the best Amish history museums. These institutions do more than display artifacts—they bring to life the deep religious convictions, migrations, and cultural traditions that have shaped the Amish way for over 300 years.

Whether you’re planning a trip or diving into Amish history for the first time, these museums offer meaningful and educational experiences for all ages.

Amish and Mennonite Heritage Center – Berlin, Ohio

Located in the heart of Holmes County, home to one of the largest Amish populations in the world, this center offers one of the most comprehensive overviews of Amish and Anabaptist history.

Highlights:

• Behalt Mural: A 10-foot by 265-foot circular mural that visually tells 500 years of Anabaptist history, from its European roots to modern Amish life.
• Interpretive Tours: Guides explain Amish and Mennonite beliefs, culture, and differences in an informative and respectful way.
• Replica Schoolhouse and Barn: Explore how Amish children learn and how farming remains central to their lifestyle.

Why it’s one of the best: The center combines visual storytelling, historical depth, and personal insight in a way that makes Amish history engaging and understandable.

Mennonite Heritage Center – Harleysville, Pennsylvania

Though it emphasizes Mennonite history, this museum offers essential context for understanding Amish traditions, since both groups share Anabaptist roots.

Key Features:

• Permanent exhibits on immigration, persecution, and early religious practices.
• A library and archive filled with historical documents and photographs.
• Displays of fraktur art, quilts, and other traditional crafts that reflect both Amish and Mennonite culture.

Why visit: It provides a broad foundation for anyone curious about the origin and evolution of Anabaptist communities, including the Amish.

Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society – Lancaster, Pennsylvania

In the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, this museum preserves the cultural heritage of Amish and Mennonite groups through extensive archives and exhibits.

What to See:

• Historic documents, including letters, church records, and diaries from early Amish settlers.
• Interactive exhibits on the migration from Europe and the challenges of early American life.
• A bookstore and research library offering rare publications on Amish theology and culture.

Menno-Hof Amish & Mennonite Information Center – Shipshewana, Indiana

Situated in the heart of Indiana’s largest Amish community, Menno-Hof is an interpretive center designed to answer common questions and explain the beliefs of Amish and Mennonite people.

Exhibits Include:

• A mock-up of a dungeon where early Anabaptists were imprisoned in Europe.
• A recreated ship hold, showing what the journey to North America was like for Amish immigrants.
• Displays on modern-day life, showing how traditions have been preserved or adapted over time.

What makes it great: It’s especially engaging for families and groups, with interactive exhibits that bring history to life.

Hans Herr House & Museum – Willow Street, Pennsylvania

Built in 1719, this is the oldest surviving Mennonite meetinghouse and residence in the United States. Though technically a Mennonite site, it offers an immersive look into early Anabaptist life that closely parallels Amish experiences.

Visitor Experience:

• Guided tours of the restored house and outbuildings.
• A blacksmith shop, colonial garden, and farm buildings, demonstrating 18th-century rural life.
• Exhibits on the migration patterns and beliefs of early Anabaptists.

Heritage Historical Library – Aylmer, Ontario, Canada

For those exploring Amish history beyond the U.S., this Canadian research center offers a wealth of information on Amish and other Plain groups in Canada.

What’s Offered:

• Archives of settlement records, photos, and oral histories.
• Collections on Old Order Amish communities in Ontario.
• Educational events and lectures on Anabaptist history.

Yoder Heritage Museum – Yoder, Kansas

While smaller in size, this museum located in a town named after a prominent Amish surname showcases the legacy of Amish settlement in the Midwest.

Museum Features:

• Artifacts from Amish settlers who came to Kansas in the late 1800s.
• Displays on farming tools, domestic life, and early religious practices.
• Community-hosted events and historical reenactments.

Final Thoughts

Each of these best Amish history museums offers a different angle on the Amish journey—from persecution and migration to settlement and modern-day life. They serve as educational bridges, helping visitors understand the faith, sacrifice, and values that continue to guide Amish communities today.