New Madrid, Missouri, takes pride in its history and heritage and the New Madrid Historical Museum shows it! Open daily and located in a former saloon at the foot of Main Street, the NMHM reflects the history of this river town from the Mississippian period up through the early 20th Century. There are a variety of displays to enjoy and, with so many, one trip will have you planning your next visit before you even leave!

As well as housing a large collection of handmade quilts, the New Madrid Historical Museum has Native American artifacts and displays that bring to life the pre-Columbian culture of the area. Civil War enthusiasts will be particularly interested in the letters, clothing, equipment and weaponry of the period that are in the Civil War Room, much of it donated by local residents with family connections to the pieces. The Battle of Island No. 10, also known as the Siege, is interestingly presented from the viewpoint of a local historian while the late 19th and early 20th century way of life is depicted in the museum’s exhibits using displays of furniture, clothing, tools and utensils. The Gift Shop carries an excellent selection of books on the period along with jewelry, souvenirs and other gift items.

And, of course, the great earthquakes of 1811-1812 are well documented in the NMHM collections and a seismograph on the premises gives evidence of continuing activity along the New Madrid Fault. After all, “It’s Our Fault!”