Museum celebrates 175 years of Lutheran history

East Perry County is without question one of the most beautiful areas in Southeast Missouri.

The land features rolling pasture and crop land, old farms and quaint small towns rich in history.

The area is proud of its German and Lutheran heritage. The Lutheran Heritage Center & Museum is observing the 175th anniversary of the immigration of 700 Lutherans from Saxony, Germany.

An exhibit is on display at the museum through March. A quilt exhibit will be on display in April, and the Lutheran immigration exhibit will return in May.

A handful of churches were founded in East Perry County in the mid-1800s. It was not an easy history; many women and children died as they ventured south from St. Louis.

The heritage center, itself the original church, features a genealogical research library, and the museum shows the manifests of the ships that sailed from Germany.

The museum is an interesting place with much history. Consider visiting the museum in Altenburg, Mo., not just for the beauty of the landscape but to take in the stories that helped shape the culture in this part of the state. You may call the center and museum at 573-824-6070.