History of Our Society​

Nestled along the west edge of the scenic Kettle Moraine Forest in southeastern Wisconsin, Palmyra is a charming community of 1,700 people that is steeped in history and tradition. From its early days, Palmyra would make a mark on Wisconsin history, as when the first Wisconsin railroad was laid through the village in 1852, a posh resort hotel and healing spa was built in 1874, and one of the state’s first Old Settlers’ Day celebrations was established in 1885.

Many prominent businesses would spring up in Palmyra over the years, starting with a sawmill built in 1847, water bottling companies in the late 1800s, and a prosperous and highly awarded automobile sales business in the early 1900s.

Amid a flourish of development activity in the mid-to-late 1800s, Palmyra gained notoriety for having one of the “great wonders of the world,” which drew nation-wide attention from journalists and celebrity figures alike. The wonder still exists, and we’d love to tell you more about it and all the other special things about Palmyra and the surrounding area.

And so we invite you to view more of our website and then stop in and visit us at the Carlin House and Turner Museum, located at 112 N. Third St., Palmyra, Wisconsin (about 50 miles southeast of Madison and 45 miles southwest of Milwaukee), Saturdays from 10 am to 2 pm (first weekend in May thru the first weekend of December).
With so much to boast about, it’s easy to see why Palmyra is called the “Heartbeat of the Kettle Moraine.”