News & Events
Horizons 2024
Broaden Your Horizons with Arts, Humanities and Tourism Program JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Cultural events across Missouri are taking center stage as part of the 2024 Horizons initiative created by Missouri Humanities, Missouri Arts Council and Missouri Division of Tourism....
Bethel Colony Spring Market
Join us in Historic Downtown Bethel in 2024 for the Bethel Colony Spring Market, April 20-21 Admission $2 Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 10am-3pm . Come and support the craftsmen, artists, and small business owners at the Bethel Spring Market April 20th-21st! Here are some...
Annual Meeting
The Historic Bethel German Colony annual meeting will be held on Sunday, March 3, 2024, 4:00pm at the Fest Hall Restaurant in Bethel. The agenda is shown below. . Your RSVP will help us plan for food -- please phone the Fest Hall at 660-284-6493. We welcome current...
Our History
Membership was about 650 in 1855 when Keil, fearing Bethel too subject to outside influence, led a group west and established Aurora Colony in Oregon. Their expedition over the Oregon Trail is unique for it was conducted as a funeral cortege. Keil’s son, Willie, died before he realized his father’s promise to lead the group and was carried instead in the head wagon in a metal box, alcohol-filled. After six months and over 2000 miles, he was buried at Willapa, Washington.
Keil never returned to Bethel, directing affairs there by letter. When the colonies disbanded, 1879-1881, they held property in common valued at $109,806. Bethel supplied $64,328 of this and owned 4267 acres.
