The Amish community and lifestyle is a fascinating dynamic for many U.S. citizens and tourists from abroad alike. They live in such stark contrast to the comparatively lavish lifestyle of most Americans, which can be jarring for many. In the end, though, they’re people just like everyone else. They just happen to do things a little (or maybe a lot) differently.
As time has gone on, naturally the Amish have been affected and influenced by those around them. One of those factors is tourism, which can lead to a balancing act between tradition and improving their lives and those around them. This sentiment was captured in a recent piece from the international news source ChannelNewsAsia.com on an Amish community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Home to one of the largest Amish communities in the world, they consistently met with tourists looking for things like quality Amish gazebos, wooden sheds, garages, and bowback chairs, but also curious about their way of life.
According to the article, the Lancaster area alone welcomed approximately 8.2 million tourists last year, many of whom are Asian.
“They benefit from the tourist business, [and] a lot of them have gift shops and give buggy rides,” said Chris Lubkemann, a local wood carver. “So they actually benefit tremendously from the tourists, and they are one of the reasons that so many tourists come to Lancaster County.”
It’s been estimated that the Amish create about $1.5 billion in economic impact, much of which comes from their sales of wooden sheds and furniture. The main reason these products are so popular is because they are 100% handmade, usually from oak, cherry, hickory, walnut, or maple wood. Amish furniture first started becoming popular in the 1920s and is still highly sought after today.
It’s estimated that two-thirds of all visitors to the area are there to see the Amish and their wooden sheds. On the one hand it’s great for business. On the other, it can start to have some unwanted psychological effects on those who create these goods.
“People come in here and want to take my picture all the time, and sometimes it makes me feel like a circus freak or a zoo animal,” said Rosie, a former schoolteacher. “We’re not different. We’re people like everybody else, but it’s because we look different and do different things, like drive a horse and buggy and have different ways of life.”
While many Amish folk are known for their traditions of farming, craftsmanship, and construction, businesses are popular as well. It remains to be seen how long the historic communities will be able to hold onto their traditions in an ever-evolving world, but at least for now you can still be one of the millions to check out how they live firsthand. Just remember when you’re there, they may live differently, but they’re still human just the same.