In 1838, approximately 700 German-Lutherans left their homes, farms, businesses and all they knew behind to embark on the dangerous sea voyage to America. Finding new homes in St. Louis and then Perry County, Missouri, they rebuilt their lives and formed communities which endure to this day. Discover their hardships, tragedies and triumphs and explore the families, churches, farms and businesses they established which make East Perry County a unique and truly authentic destination.
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Current South Gallery Exhibits
Portraits from the Past
One portion of the exhibit grew out of a single drawer in our photograph cabinet labeled simply: “Wedding.” Inside were dozens of images—many of them with couples already identified. Those wedding photographs will form one section of the display, allowing us to put names to faces and moments to milestones.
Other cases in the exhibit showcase individuals rather than couples, expanding the focus beyond weddings. Together, these sections help paint a fuller picture of the families and individuals who helped shape our shared history.
Because so many of the people in these photographs have been identified, this exhibit also gives us a wonderful opportunity to highlight the genealogy resources available here. Each photograph includes a caption with names and the page number where those individuals appear in Lynn’s award-winning German Family Tree (GFT). We’ve printed the corresponding pages and placed them in a binder near the exhibit for easy reference.
Visitors who wish to explore further can consult the full version of German Family Tree in our library to learn more about ancestors, descendants, and family connections. Copies of blog posts that highlight many of the individuals pictured—stories that add depth and context to the faces on display–are also available to read.
Cavities & Cures: The Equipment of Doc Lottes and Dr. Fischer
Long-term Exhibits
Explore our exhibit galleries to discover the people and places of East Perry County and where they came from in current day Germany. Encounter the Saxon German Immigrants who arrived here in 1839 and the churches, farms and businesses they struggled to establish. Learn how their experiences and hard work provided the foundation and set the example for our communities today.
Research Library
The Starzinger Family Research Library is the home of the Zion Roots Research Project. It is an outstanding collection of resources which assist in researching your family history if it has any connection to Perry County, Missouri. The library is open during our business hours, from 10 am – 4 pm daily. The library can be used free of charge, but donations are certainly welcome.
Guided Tours
For the complete museum experience, consider a guided tour of the museum complex. This includes the exhibit galleries plus a tour of the Log Cabin College, Loeber Cabin and Trinity Lutheran Church. For more information, see the Plan a Visit page. Admission is free to the exhibits and to take the tour.
For a great overview of this immigration story visit, http://hpmoon.wixsite.com/saxon
To download or order H. Paul Moon’s award winning documentary, The Saxon New World. A brief but brilliant telling of this early German-American story.