Editing Perry County, Missouri (section)

==Tourism & attractions==
Perry County offers a number of historic, architectural and scenic attractions.

Visitors can explore the grounds of the [[St. Mary's of the Barrens Catholic Church (Perryville, Missouri)|St. Mary's of the Barrens]] [[Seminary]], the first college founded west of the [[Mississippi River]] dating back to 1827. Other features include the National Shrine of our Lady of the [[Miraculous Medal]], the Rosati Log Cabin, the Countess Estelle Doheny Museum with its priceless [[Gospel of John|Gospel of St. John]] from the [[Gutenberg Bible]] and the Bishop Edward Sheehan Memorial Museum and Rare Book Room. Guided tours of the museums are available by request.

In [[Perryville, Missouri|Perryville]], the county seat, visitors can stroll the beautiful square surrounding the [[Perry County Courthouse (Perryville, Missouri)|Perry County Courthouse]] built in 1904 with its chiming clock tower. The Square is considered a show place of the city with newly completed streets, decorative sidewalks, "Washington" style light fixtures and decorative tree plantings. Newly brick-paved plaza, landscaped seating areas, park benches, a sundial, a drinking fountain, a directional marker and a gazebo have been added to the courthouse lawn.

On the northeastern corner of the square sits the Levi Block building constructed around 1829, which is thought to be the oldest remaining commercial building in Perryville. It now houses Hilderbrand Jewelers.

The Faherty House, located at 11 S. Spring Street, was originally constructed by Henry Burns in 1825 as a two-room stone house with a basement. It is thought to be the oldest remaining residence in the city. A brick, two-room addition to the house was built in the 1850s. The house also stands on one of the original town lots of Perryville. The restored house features a circa 1830-1890 exterior and interior and is owned and maintained by the Perry County Historical Society.

The Perry County Museum is located at the entrance of the Perryville City Park in the Doerr House, (Wednesday and weekends, May–October).

In southeastern Perry County near the [[Mississippi River]] are the early German villages of [[Frohna, Missouri|Frohna]], [[Altenburg, Missouri|Altenburg]], and [[Wittenberg, Missouri|Wittenberg]].

The [[Saxon Lutheran Memorial (Frohna, Missouri)|Saxon Lutheran Memorial]] in [[Frohna, Missouri|Frohna]] is dedicated to the preservation of the religious and cultural heritage of the [[Saxon Lutheran Immigration 1838-1839|1839 Saxon Immigration]] to Missouri (daily, year-round). The memorial boasts two original log houses, a large log barn, a collection of tools and antique farm machinery, a visitor's center, country store and gift shop.

In [[Altenburg, Missouri|Altenburg]], visit the [[Concordia Log Cabin College (Altenburg, Missouri)|Concordia Log Cabin College]] (1839), the Loeber Log Cabin (1839) and [[Trinity Lutheran Church (Altenburg, Missouri)|Trinity Lutheran Church]] (1867). The log cabin college was the first [[Lutheran]] Seminary west of the [[Mississippi River]]. Guided tours of historic [[Altenburg, Missouri|Altenburg]] are also available by appointment.

Traveling south, visit the [[Tower Rock|Tower Rock Natural Area]], a designated national landmark, which features a {{convert|10|mi|km|adj=on}} hiking trail. Tower Rock is a {{convert|60|ft|m|adj=on}} high rock, which stands majestically in the [[Mississippi River]]. The history of Tower Rock dates to 1698, when three missionaries established a landing atop the rocky island. Nearby, the early 19th century settlement of Apple Creek features the Lady of St. Joseph Shrine.

Perry County has approximately 650 known [[caves]]. It has more caves than any other county in Missouri, which is nicknamed "The Cave State."<ref name="Tidbits">{{cite news|title=Tidbits: Did You Know...|publisher=Publishing Group of America (americanprofiles.com)|page=13}}</ref>