About Us

Our Purpose

The purpose of The Heritage Seekers Society shall be to collect and preserve information pertaining to historical events of the Palmyra and Marion County area and to assume responsibility for proper recognition, acquisition, and preservation of historical landmarks, items, documents, and information about Marion County and its people.

Our Mission

Our Mission for the Heritage Seekers is to collect and protect, preserve and teach the history of Palmyra, Missouri, and its surrounding area.

Our Goals

To help protect important local historical buildings and landmarks.
To protect and maintain the Gardner House Museum and the Old Marion County Jail Museum.
To collect materials that demonstrate or illustrate the history of the Palmyra and Marion County area and make them available for display and/or research.
To provide programs and/or tours for visitors, school groups, church and senior citizen groups, and any other groups interested in local history.

How We Came to Be

Gardner House in 1970

In 1969, as Palmyra celebrated its sesquicentennial (150 years), a group of concerned citizens decided to preserve the historic Gardner House, which was in danger of being demolished. They called themselves "People of Palmyra Interested in the Area's History," which was later changed to "Heritage Seekers."

The organization worked to get the Gardner House placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 4, 1971, and were then able to obtain grant money to purchase the building from the Palmyra Chamber of Commerce in 1972 for $3,000 and began renovations to the building and grounds.

Old Marion County Jail in 2002

In 2010, the Heritage Seekers merged with the Palmyra Civil War Reenactment Association, and in 2011, they merged with the Landmarks of Northeast Missouri group, which had been organized in 1993 to preserve and restore the Old Marion County Jail.

Since its inception, the Heritage Seekers have worked to preserve historical items, documents, and buildings of the Palmyra area, and they will continue to provide information to those interested in the rich history of the area.

Heritage Seekers Projects

Preserving and Maintaining

Gardner House Museum and Information Center

Preserving and Maintaining

Old Marion County Jail Museum

Moving and Preserving

Floral Hall

Located at Flower City Park

Preserving the

Big Spring

Log Cabin

Establishing the

Genealogy Resource Center

at the Old Jail

Heritage Seekers Events

Becky Taylor Day

Every year the 4th grade elementary classes take a field trip to the Big Spring Park. The Heritage Seekers present displays of how things may have looked back in the 1800's.

In case of inclement weather the Heritage Seekers take the activities to the classroom.

Potawatomi Trail of Death Commemoration

Every 5 years the Potawatomi Indians revisit their ancestors Trail of Death Trail. Their last visit was Sept 26, 2018.

They stop at the Big Spring to draw water from the spring to take to their homes and sprinkle it on the land to bless it.

They thank the creator for the water and the land with a prayer.

The Potawatomi will make their trek again in 2023.

They always leave a bit of an offering to the mother Earth. On this visit they left a peach.

The Heritage Seekers will meet the group at Hardees in 2023.

Markers Commemorating the 1838 Trail of Death

There are three markers commemorating the Trail of Death Trail in the Palmyra area. The following links give more information about this event:

Potawatomi Trail of Death Association website: http://www.potawatomi-tda.org/index.htm

Pleasant Spring Marker: http://www.potawatomi-tda.org/missouri/pspring.htm

Hardee's Restaurant Marker: http://www.potawatomi-tda.org/missouri/hardees.htm

West Quincy Marker: http://www.potawatomi-tda.org/missouri/wquincy.htm

Map and List of Markers: http://www.kansasheritage.org/PBP/people/trail_map.html

Pleasant Spring

On October 6, 2001 the Heritage Seekers placed a commemorative marker north of Palmyra where the Potawatomi camped on October 11, 1838.

Hardee's Restaurant

Spike and Stan Ehrhardt, owners of the Hardee's restaurant, erected the marker in 1995.

Pleasant Spring Marker

Hardee's Marker

West Quincy

As part of his Eagle Scout project, Chris Pieper, along with members of Boy Scout Troop 161, erected the West Quincy marker in 2003.

https://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/new-markers-dedicated-along-potawatomi-trail-of-death/article_ce798c5a-4da9-5f5a-9eaa-519acfe79273.html