The Marion Heritage Center is brought to you, and run by, the Marion Historical Society. The building was originally a church building used by the Methodists from the 1850s until 1875. Today, it serves as a community center for educational programs, historical displays, art exhibits, and cultural events for audiences of all ages. The exhibits display the history of Marion and its citizens, while lectures and workshops provide insights into the town's past. Gift items and space for small groups to meet are also available.
Art by Your Friends and Neighbors is an annual event that takes place at the Marion Heritage Center. It's an exhibit of a wide variety of artwork created by artists from Marion and the surrounding communities of drawings, photography, sculptures, paintings, and oil and pastel renderings. Visitors are able to vote for their favorite artwork and the three most popular artists receive a cash prize at the end of the show. The Heritage Center is the permanent home of the "Communication by Mail" created by Dan Rhodes in 1939 and is one of only three true fresco murals in Iowa. When it was moved to the Marion Heritage Center in 2008 for restoration and preservation, it never left.
The other house cared for by the MHS is the Granger House Museum located at 970 10th Street in Marion.