Welcome to Altenburg!

The Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum complex was constructed in 2005 in Altenburg, Missouri.  The Museum interprets the 1838-39 Lutheran immigration from Germany to America and the history of the seven original colonies that were established. It also follows the origins of the Lutheran Church in East Perry County and the regional German-American culture. A state-of-the-art exhibit hall, reception area, and gift shop was integrated into the original 1845 church building, commonly known as the "Big School", which also served as the original museum.  The Museum offers guided and self-guided tours of the main gallery and original church.  Tours of the 1839 Log Cabin - Concordia Seminary birthplace, the Christiane Loeber Cabin and the 1867 Trinity Church are also available.

The Perry County Lutheran Historical Society serves as the administrative body of the Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum.

Mission Statement
Through its mission, the Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum is committed to:
Promoting the local, regional, national, and international origins of the Lutheran immigration heritage in southeast Missouri;
Preserving the museum collections and other related sites through the standard museum practices of conservation, documentation, cataloging, publication, and storage;
Interpreting the history of the original Lutheran colonies in Perry County, the rich history of the first Evangelical Lutheran seminary west of the Mississippi River, and the rich German-American cultural heritage that has been a significant part of the region since 1839;
Educating the public through permanent and rotating exhibits, presentations, cultural festivals, educational classes, seminars, and archival research.