Menno-Hof — Attraction in Middlebury

The Menno-Hof Cultural Experience is a very good MULTIMEDIA experience about the whole Anabaptist (Mennonite, Amish) history, which deserves the time to understand and appreciate. We thought it would take a quick hour or less, but we gave in and indulged ourselves, taking at least two hours, and I could have taken more time. Guests are guided along to different rooms and settings at first, then other rooms are self-guided at one's own pace. Our friendly tour guide was well-informed, and although a bit difficult to understand at times (rushed, gentle-voiced), the overall information of the Experience was well-presented and clear. From the historical to the present day, from torture and martyrdom to a place of peace, many aspects are presented of their daily lives, the spirit of helping within the community and globally, the current differences and the many agreement points of these believer groups. We feel very enriched for having taken the time for...

I have been to Shipshewana a couple times and I had grown curious about this museum but had not had opportunity to visit it. I'm so glad that we made the time.

This is a museum dedicated to the experience of the Anabaptists who had to flee persecution in Europe and travel to the United States, Canada, and elsewhere in the world so that they could safely practice what I believe is true religion: reading and following what the Bible says, practicing peace in the world, allowing adults to be baptized based on their conscience rather than baptizing infants who can't choose. The Mennonites and the Amish are Anabaptists along with the third group that is quite small, live in community, and only have about 45,000 adherents.

The museum is divided up into individual rooms where you can learn different parts of the story and the people I met at the museum where warm and welcoming. We truly...

Very interesting museum. (The introduction film specifically states that it's not a museum, but that's what it is.) The docents were very nice. The first half of the experience reminded me of late 90s Epcot Center nation pavilions on a smaller scale. The second half had a worksheet.

I think what I most valued about my visit was my deeper understanding of how the Mennonite community views itself and what it values. I also learned some new things.

Even though museums are artificial constructs by their very nature, I believe I got a more "authentic" experience at the Menno-Hof than I did in the rest of Shipshewana. The town was crowded, thoroughly commercialized, and touristy. The museum and its grounds were quiet and peaceful. Ironically, I feel that the site was more in keeping with the religious views the host community espouses that the...