History
Palmerston Park was first opened in 1919, when Queen of the South were formed, although football had been played on the site since the 1870s. The site of the ground was formerly a farm called Palmers Toun. This is on the Maxwelltown side of the River Nith in Dumfries. Jimmy McKinnell, Tom Wylie and Willie McCall were all sold to Blackburn Rovers around the same time by Queen of the South. This combined with the sale of Ian Dickson to Aston Villa helped to fund the purchase of Palmerston Park in 1921 for £1,500.
The Portland Drive Terrace was covered in the late 1950s. Soon afterwards, floodlights were installed and these were first used in a match against Preston North End in October 1958. These are the tallest free standing floodlights in Scottish football, standing at 85 feet. The current main stand was constructed in 1965, soon after the original had burned down.
The "coo shed" on the east side of the ground was replaced by an all seater stand in 1995. A challenge game was held in April 1995 to commemorate the opening of the new stand and Queens' 75th anniversary, against Rangers. Guest players for Queens in the 2–2 draw included Davie Irons, future managers Rowan Alexander and Ian McCall, Ted McMinn, Andy Thomson. Scenes from the film A Shot at Glory, starring Robert Duvall, were shot at Palmerston Park during 1999.
The club was relegated to the Scottish Second Division in 2012, but carried out some remedial work to the stadium, including new water systems and ticket offices. A redevelopment of the 1960s main stand is planned. During March 2013, Queen of the South were given approval to install a new 3G artificial pitch at Palmerston Park for the start of the 2013-14 season. After the club's final home game of the 2012–13 season, the club will sell the turf for £10 per square yard as well as auctioning seven special lots. These will be the four corner plots, the two penalty spots and Ryan McCann's 84 yard spot.
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