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More than 30 of the original Bethel German Colony structures are still standing. Guided tours can be arranged year-round by appointment. Refer below to the walking tour map to locate any of the following structures.
Colony Office1 an original colony building.
Latimer Haus2 -- an original Colony residence.
David Bower Haus3, circa 1846 -- owner of Bethel’s
general store.
Miller Haus4 -- last house built by the Colony; where
Colony teachers resided.
Colony School5 – original Bethel Colony schoolhouse.
Reuben Bair Haus6, circa 1845 -- home
of the Colony wheelwright; this site also displays a brick bread making
oven in the yard.
Vandiver Haus7, circa 1842 – the foundation of this
house is said to have been laid by the North Star and the only house in
Bethel which is “straight with the world”; used as a winter quarters for
approximately 100 of the first colonists who arrived in the fall of 1844.
Tailor Shop8 -- clothing was made here for the men
and boys of the Colony.
Das Grosse Haus9, circa 1846 -- in Colony days, the
downstairs was a famous restaurant and the upstairs was a dormitory for
unmarried men.
Bandstand Park10 -- this original Victorian bandstand was restored in 1985.
Fest Hall Restaurant11 -- open seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., the Fest Hall Restaurant serves some of the best home style food in northern Missouri. Simple, good quality fare, generous portions and reasonable family prices make it a meal worth the trip to Bethel.
Bethel Colony Bed & Breakfast12 -- includes a plain, simple room (some with original Colony furniture), plus a full country breakfast highlighted by home baked bread and Bethel’s famous apple butter.
Ziegler Haus13 -- site of the Bethel blacksmith shop; owned by H. Zeigler, operator of the Bethel Roller Mill.
Elim14, circa 1848 -- the landmark home built one mile east of Bethel by the Bethel Colonists for Dr. Wilhelm Keil, their founder, and his family. Originally a two and one-half story house; the main floor was used as the family's residence; the second floor was used for a ballroom where the Colonists gathered to celebrate holidays; and the third floor housed Dr. Keil's herbs which he purportedly grew for medicinal purposes.
