Menno-Hof Mennonite-Amish Visitor Center - Shipshewana, Indiana - Tour with Information Center and Bookshop

Menno-Hof, a non-profit information center, educates visitors in the Anabaptist faith and life of the Amish and Mennonite peoples. Located across from the largest outdoor flea market in the Midwest, in the north-central rural town of Shipshewana, Indiana, it is home to the world's largest Anabaptist population. The center presents visitors with the history of the Anabaptist movement from its Zurich, Switzerland courtyard beginning in 1525; to persecution in dungeons by Catholic and Protestant authorities; to the 17th century streets of Holland; and lastly to their final journey to freedom in America, where they were the first church to call for separation of church and state in over 1,000 years. The original information center, a barn constructed in 1986 by the hands of volunteers, was replaced in 1998 by a new facility.

Called "one of the seven hidden treasures of Indiana'' by the Indiana Division of Tourism, Menno-Hof consists of 24 different venues of six programmed areas that present Amish and Mennonite history and lifestyles through multi-media presentations. Exhibits include: a European courtyard, a dungeon with torture instruments, a 17th -century ship, a print shop, a simulated tornado and an authentic meeting house. There is also a display area featuring hands-on exhibits. Additionally, the center houses a bookshop focused on selling books relevant to Amish and Mennonite culture and beliefs, as well as gifts crafted in third world countries whose artisans receive fair wages.

The center is handicapped accessible, offering large restrooms and a large lobby. Menno-Hof is open year-round. In January and February, hours of operation are Wednesday through Friday, 12pm until 4pm; Saturday, 10am until 5pm; and they are closed Sunday through Tuesday and New Years Day. In March, the center is open Tuesday through Friday, 12pm until 4pm; and Saturday from 10 am until 5pm, staying closed on Sunday and Monday. In April and May, and from September through December, Menno-Hof is open Monday through Saturday, 10am until 5pm and is closed on Sunday, and for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. In the summer months, June, July and August, the center is open from 10am until 5pm on Monday; and from 10am until 7pm Tuesday through Saturday; they are closed on Sunday. However, they do open at other off-hour times for groups of 25 or more. To have the best experience possible, it is recommended that groups have at least 1-1/2 hours to spend touring.

The Menno-Hof Amish-Mennonite Visitor Center encourages schools to visit, whether they are studying Indiana history or beginning research at the graduate level. Cross-disciplinarily, students studying history, sociology, religion or culture might find a visit useful in their educational process. A fourth grade teacher described the center as well organized and the people as friendly. A college student at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary said that she "was so engrossed in the presentation that it was difficult to leave.''