In Nauvoo, history can be explored in places with very different purposes: as a religious center, in workshops, and along a historic migration route. In the early 1840s, Nauvoo was the headquarters of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visitors can stroll among about 40 historic buildings and other attractions, or take a carriage ride.

Crafts and Building History in Nauvoo

Along Main Street, restored homes and workshops offer examples of some of the crafts that were part of Nauvoo’s former economy. The Family Living Center showcases eight different arts and crafts from the city’s early days. Missionaries give demonstrations there; some stations include activities visitors can take part in. Program details may change. At the Browning Gun Shop, missionaries demonstrate gunsmithing.

Historic Nauvoo’s Temple City is a group of buildings and landscapes that provides an overview of the design and construction of the original Nauvoo Temple, as well as the religious practices associated with it. At the Temple Stones Pavilion, displays and tools illustrate how stone for the temple was quarried, shaped, and set in place. Together, these sites show different aspects: the work with the material here, the building’s history there, and its religious use.

Traces of Migration and Pioneer History

The Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail begins in Nauvoo and ends in Salt Lake City, Utah. The official trail is about 1,400 miles long. It is neither clearly marked nor a continuous hiking trail—so its historical significance should not be confused with that of a continuous, marked hiking route.

Nauvoo Landing is at the foot of Parley Street on the riverbank. In February 1846, it was one of the eastern departure points where emigrants assembled their wagons to cross the Mississippi River. The site connects a specific chapter of migration history with the journey across the river.

More Historical Insights

Carthage Jail is where a mob killed Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum in 1844. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can take a free guided tour of the rooms and grounds.

The Kibbe Hancock Heritage Museum displays artifacts from the American Civil War and artifacts from Indigenous peoples. Geological items on display include fossils, rocks, and geodes. The collection thus extends beyond Nauvoo’s history to encompass a range of subjects.

Lake, Trail, and Seasonal Events

Nauvoo State Park covers 148 acres and lies along the southern edge of Nauvoo on Illinois Route 96. It includes a 13-acre lake with a one-mile shoreline. The 1.5-mile Lake Trail circles the lake and passes through wooded areas. The figures clearly distinguish the trail’s length from the lake’s size: the trail is longer than the shoreline. Lake Horton is stocked with largemouth bass, channel catfish, and sunfish for anglers. The park is also associated with an annual grape festival; if you want to plan your visit around it, check the event dates.

The performance program is also seasonal. Historic Nauvoo offers live music and theater performances throughout the summer; schedules may change. The Nauvoo Pageant is a live outdoor theater production about early converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States and England. If you want to make a performance the centerpiece of your trip, check the dates in advance.

There is no public transportation within the historic site of Historic Nauvoo.

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Discover more destinations: Nauvoo, Sangamon County, Clinton County, White County, Grundy County, Lawrence, Warren County, Douglas County

For the main travel overview: Illinois.