Planning an LDS Church History Trip to Nauvoo
Things to See and Do in Historic Nauvoo, Illinois
Visiting historic Nauvoo is a great way to learn more about LDS heritage and daily life for the Mormon pioneers of the 1840s. This Nauvoo planning guide gives vacationers tips for seeing the best historic sites in Nauvoo.
LDS Nauvoo Visitor's Center
Starting off at the Nauvoo Visitor's Center is the best way to visit historic Nauvoo. Guided tours of the center provide visitors with a historic framework for all that they are going to see and learn about Nauvoo.
Two films are available for viewing in the visitor's center:
- Remembering Nauvoo, a 20-minute video that is available upon request detailing Nauvoo's history as recorded in the settler's journals; and
- Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration, a 68-minute movie describing Joseph Smith's life and his role in church history.
All events in historic Nauvoo are free, but some require a ticket which can be picked up at the LDS visitor's center front desk.
Wagon Ride Tour through Historic Nauvoo
After getting an idea of what Nauvoo was all about in the visitor's center, vacationers can take a wagon tour of historic Nauvoo. The area is too large for most people to travel on foot, so getting a broad picture of Nauvoo from the wagon usually helps visitors to decide what they'd like to see first in Nauvoo.
The one-hour horse-drawn wagon tours start from just northeast of the visitor's center parking lot, and are guided by senior missionaries who point out and explain historic sites, including various shops and buildings in Nauvoo, Joseph Smith's home, and the Trail of Hope by which the Saints left Nauvoo.
Sites and Attractions in Historic Nauvoo
Most visitors to historic Nauvoo are surprised at its size. It's best to identify key historic sites of interest on a Nauvoo map and plan out where to park the car nearby at each stop. Here is a sample itinerary for seeing historic Nauvoo:
- Nauvoo Brickyard – Located at Kimball and Hyde Street, the brickyard is a replica of one of Nauvoo's 12 brickyards in the 1840s. Senior missionaries demonstrate how bricks were made, and each visitor receives a free souvenir decorative brick (see picture below.)
- Webb Brothers' Blacksmith Shop – Located at Parley and Granger Street, visitors to the blacksmith shop learn all about how wagon wheels were made, see a live demonstration of a horseshoe being made, and receive an iron "Prairie Diamond" ring to take home. Just down the road is a short oxen ride for interested individuals.
- Scovil Bakery – Located near White and Main Street, the bakery gives a guided tour and a free gingerbread cookie. Just down the road is the family living center, which houses stations with demonstrations on how to bake bread, weave, tie rags, spin yarn, make rope, and make candles.
- Pioneer Pastimes – Located near Munson and Main Street, this is a great place to relax, have lunch, and let kids of all ages run off some energy and learn to play games the pioneers played. Lots of attractions are within easy walking distance, including guided tours of the printing press, the post office, the Stoddard tin shop, and the Browning home and gunsmith shop.
Joseph Smith Historic Sites in Nauvoo, IL
All of the Joseph Smith sites are located at the southernmost end of historic Nauvoo and are owned by the Community of Christ. Visitors can take a guided tour that includes:
- Short film about Joseph Smith
- Nauvoo House hotel
- Joseph Smith homestead
- Mansion House
- Smith Family Cemetery
- Red Brick Store
There is a $2 per person preservation fee for a guided tour of the Joseph Smith sites. The tour is not run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Nauvoo Temple and Visitor's Center
The current Nauvoo temple was built in 2002, a replica of the original temple which was completed in 1846, set on fire by arsonists in 1848, and destroyed by a tornado in 1850. The Temple Visitor's Center across the street shows two short videos on the restoration and the history of the Nauvoo temple.
The LDS Nauvoo temple is still in operation and visitors with temple recommends should attend a session if possible. Beautiful murals adorn the walls of the ordinance rooms, and the temple houses some of the clothing 1840s saints actually wore to attend the temple.
Carthage Jail and Visitors Center
Any church history trip to historic Nauvoo should include a stop at Carthage Jail, about 25 miles southeast. Free guided LDS tours start in the visitors center with a short film about the restoration and a look around the rooms of Carthage Jail. The grounds include statues and gardens.
There is so much to see and do in historic Nauvoo. Visitors can learn about pioneer's lives, sacrifices and trials, and faith in the prophet. When planned properly, visitors and their families can have a great time in Nauvoo. Nauvoo, IL is also known for its yearly Nauvoo Pageant.
Readers might also be interested in Planning a Church History Trip to Kirtland, OH.
LDS Temple in Nauvoo, IL
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Wagon Ride Tour through Historic Nauvoo
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Historic Nauvoo Post Office
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