Perry County Military History Museum opened on Veteran’s Day in 2012. The museum’s mission is to honor and recognize Perry County Veterans. The museum has been described as a “hidden gem in Southeast Missouri.”
It is located on the second floor of the Perryville Higher Education Center (handicapped accessible). There are exhibits of memorabilia, uniforms, photos, and documents from all of the conflicts our veterans have served.
Exhibits include a Madison Peace Dollar from the American Indian Wars, and a restored Civil War roster of Perry County veterans. There are WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam Displays. The WWI Exhibit has a M1917 Enfield Riffle and in the WWII Exhibit is an original Nazi Flag hung in the German headquarters. The Vietnam Exhibit includes an original Viet Cong uniform and a POW bracelet of John McCain.
The current Middle East Wars have many items of interest such as a captured Iraqi journal in Arabic.
A kiosk has more than 1,600 photos of local veterans. We invite veterans to submit their photo, if not on the kiosk. In addition, there are memorials to our deceased veterans.
The museum has an additional room next to the museum called the “Aviation Wing” honoring Perry County Aviators. Model WWII planes hang from the ceiling and local aviators, such as Captain Curt Vogel, Flight Engineer, Ed Young, Captain Ray Littge, and Flight Medic, Pat Naeger are honored.
Volunteers staff our museum. Museum hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 PM to 3 PM, and Wednesday evenings from 6 PM to 8 PM. In addition, tours are available by appointment.