Palmyra, MO

Town in Marion County, MO

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Sponsors of Palmyra, MO


Since the founding of our communities, organizations, businesses and citizens have stepped forward to build and serve their community. Click on any of the logos below to learn about those who made this website possible! If you would like to learn about becoming a sponsor CLICK HERE!

About Palmyra, MO


Palmyra is located 12 mi. northwest of Mark Twain’s Hometown, Hannibal, MO. Palmyra, seven miles west of the Mississippi River, sits on a natural rock foundation where early settlers found an endless water supply from a clear, sweet spring.

In 1818, Benjamin Vanlandingham and his family arrived from Kentucky and built a log cabin, a replica of which can be seen today, near the Big Spring. After statehood was granted, Palmyra became the seat of newly formed Marion County. Moses and David Bates donated 50 acres, including the Big Spring and the block where the Court House stands.

The first land office in northeast Missouri was established here as the frontier pushed westward. With the help of the city and Marion County, local organizations maintain the Gardner House, a former stop on the St. Louis-St. Paul stagecoach route, and the Marion County Jail, built in 1858. Gardner House, with its beautiful colonial garden, is now a museum and visitors; center. A taped narrative for a walking tour of the business and historic district is available upon request at Gardner House.

The jail, used as a federal prison during the Civil War, held ten prisoners who became victims of a notorious reprisal, the “Palmyra Massacre” of 1862. The jail is currently being restored as a museum. Many local houses and buildings, including those described here, are on the National Register of Historic Places.

The homes of William Russell, co-founder of the Pony Express, Broadway actress Rose Inghram and film actress Jane Darwell, academy award winner for The Grapes of Wrath are private residences today, as is St. Paul’s College, one of several local colleges in the 1800’s.

Just off Main Street is the building that served as the headquarters for the provost marshal during the Civil War. At the turn of the century, the Hanley Opera House hosted “entertainments,” as well as politicians and orators, including William Jennings Bryan.

The old city jail, the “Calaboose,” today houses a restaurant. The Palmyra Spectator, started in 1839, is the oldest continuously operating weekly newspaper in Missouri.

Businesses of Palmyra, MO


The businesses of our towns are truly the lifeblood of each community, click on any businesses below to learn about them, to learn how to add your business to your town and county page CLICK HERE!

Marion County, MO


Visit our county page and you will find information about our town and county's points of interest, festivals/events and faith community. You also will learn about the community organizations that have built and continue to build strong communities (chambers, community groups, and departments, etc) and much more when you visit the Marion County, MO page.