EveryMuseum.com - Behalt / The Amish Mennonite Heritage Center

See also: http://pages.sssnet.com/behalt

See why our people live the way they do! Half-hour interpretive tour of stunning 265' mural-in-the-round depicting Amish/Mennonite history, plus video presentation, area's best selection of Amish/Mennonite books, art gallery, unique gift shop.

"Behalt" ... meaning "to keep or remember", is a 10' x 265' cyclorama illustrating the heritage of the Amish and Mennonite people from the Anabaptist beginning in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1525 to the present day.

The story begins with the resurrected Jesus and follows the development of the early Christian church, the acceptance of the Christian church by the Roman Empire under Constantine, and the early development of the Roman Catholic Church.

Following the depiction of the first documented adult baptisms in modern times, which occurred in Zurich in 1525 among these believers, the cyclorama continues to follow the spread of the Anabaptist movement throughout the world.

Heavily persecuted by the state churches (both Protestant and Catholic), these Christians were forced to migrate across Europe into Russia and across the Atlantic Ocean to North America.

Unique and educational, this exciting and beautifully artistic exhibit will leave you with a deep understanding of these peaceful people.

We welcome and encourage school and church groups to use "Behalt" as a source of education and inspiration.

We welcome you to the largest Amish settlement in the world. The beautiful scenery, combined with old-fashioned hospitality, will provide an unforgettable experience that will keep you coming back for years.