About Us

Mission: To help our neighbors save and interpret the past.

Motto: Securing our place in history.

The Palmyra Historical Society is an all-volunteer (501C-3) non-profit organization that helps our neighbors save and interpret the past. We began in 1976 when Fisk Carlin gave his historic house to the newly-formed organization. The Carlin House, built in 1844, is one of Palmyra’s oldest structures, and has served as the centerpiece of our society since its donation. You can tour this historic gem on your own or we can provide a guided tour, available on Saturdays from 10 am and 2 pm (during open season) or by appointment.

In 1998, following a generous gift from Paul Turner and his sister Harriet, the society built a connected structure as a museum to showcase other aspects of Palmyra’s rich history. The Turner Museum has a meeting room, exhibit preparation room, a gift shop, and an exhibition hall. There are always several exhibits on display in the main hall, including a permanent “Palmyra, Then and Now” exhibit and several revolving exhibits. Old exhibits are kept on hand for research purposes and possible display in the future. The Turner Museum is also open on Saturdays from 10 to 2 (during open season) and by appointment.

In addition to the fine museum items and exhibits on display, we have more than 30 years of newsletters archived under our Publications tab that are free access.

We also have for sale at the gift shop many histories and memoirs written by local residents and other publications and gift items.

And we maintain files on many local families as well.