Major Historical Sites along the Mormon Trail

• Nauvoo, IL
  Nauvoo, Illinois, is a town which was founded by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 1839 after they fled from persecution in Missouri. Joseph Smith, the first prophet and president of the Church, purchased the a swampy tract of land called Commerce. They drained it, and began immediately to build a city. Within seven years it had become one of the largest cities in Illinois. Intolerance and persecution of the Saints continued until Church leaders decided to leave the city. The first wagon, driven by Charles Shumway, left Nauvoo from the landing on Parley Street, on February 4, 1846, beginning the migration of the Saints across the plains to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake.
• Nauvoo, a brief haven of peace
• Saints leave beloved Nauvoo - LDS Church News
• Mormon Exodus - Lauguna Life
• Tour of Nauvoo, Il


NAUVOO FACTS
• Land for the city was purchased in 1839 by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from speculators Isaac Galland, Horace Hotchkiss, Hugh and William White. The first official plat of the city included 671 acres. Over time, additional land was purchased on the bluff and adjacent prairie. Membership of the Church in 1839 was 16,500.
• The area, then called "Commerce", was unsettled, with only two stone, three frame, three log, and two block houses.
• Joseph Smith named the city "Nauvoo," a word of Hebrew origin signifying "a beautiful situation," carrying with it also the idea of rest.
• Water from springs and streams on the bluff flowing down on the flat area, caused the flat to be swampy. To correct this, a drainage ditch was dug along the base of the bluff to divert the water. The ditch is still visible and continues to function to drain the area.
• The city plat provided for blocks of four acres each, divided into four one-acre lots. Lots were sold by the Church for prices varying from $200 to $800. As the city grew, many acre lots were further subdivided.
• By late 1845 there were approximately 4,000 buildings in the city. Of these buildings 1,500 were log homes and shops, 650 were frame, and 350 were brick. In addition, there were close to 2,500 buildings on surrounding farms.
• On December 16, 1840, Nauvoo was granted a city charter by the Illinois State Legislature, which became effective February 1, 1841.
• The Charter gave the city broad self-governing powers which made the city a "virtual city state". The Nauvoo City Charter granted the city power to create their own unit of the Illinois State Militia. The City Council passed a bill organizing the Nauvoo Legion on February 3, 1841.
• Construction on the Nauvoo Temple began in April 1841, and continued until it was dedicated April 30, 1846. It was built of white limestone cut from a quarry in Nauvoo. Upon completion, it was the largest building in the Mississippi Valley north of St. Louis and west of Chicago, measuring 128 feet long, 88 feet wide and standing 165 feet tall. It was abandoned when the Saints went west. Fire gutted the structure in 1848, and a tornado demolished the hollow shell in 1850.
• Under the direction of Brigham Young, the Saints left Nauvoo in 1846. Membership of the Church in 1846 was 34,000.
  Source: Encyclopedia of Mormonism, ed. Daniel H. Ludlow, Volume 3, MacMillan Publishing Co., New York, 1992.

• Garden Grove, IA
• Mormon Trail Schools of Garden Grove Mormon Trails Home Page
  
  
  
• Mt. Pisgah, IA
  
  
  
• Historical sites in the Omaha, NE and Council Bluffs, IA Area
• Tour of Historical Sites in the Omaha, NE and Council Bluffs, IA Area
• Winter Quarters (Currently Florence area of Omaha)
• The Mormon Trail Visitors Center
• Winters Quarter's Cemetary
  The Center and Cemetary are at 3215 State Street, phone 453-9372.
• Kanesville Tabernacle
  The Kanesville Tabernacle is the site where Birgham Young was sustaned in December of 1847 as the second President of the Momon Chuch. A reconstucted Kanesville Tabernacle was dedicated in July, 1996 and is open to visitors free of charge from 9 am to 7 pm daily. It is located at 222 East Braodway in Council Bluffs, IA.
• Grand Encampment
• Mormon Bridge




• Wyoming
• Sun Ranch near Martin's Cove and Devil's Gate
  This is near the site of the Martin Handcart Company rescue site site. Handcarts are available for rent.
  Contact Elder Russell Johnson at 307/328-2953.
• Rock Creek
  This is near the Willey Handcart Company rescue site.
  Contact Elder Decker at 307/856-0196




• Salt Lake City
• Pioneer Trail State Park