Hancock County: Nauvoo, History and Nature

The different themes give you specific ideas for what you might want to include in your stay.

Historic Sites and Trails

Nauvoo was the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 1840s. Visitors can stroll among around 40 historic buildings and other attractions in Nauvoo or take a carriage ride. The Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail begins in Nauvoo, Illinois, and ends in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its official length is about 1,400 miles. One distinction is important when planning a walk: the trail is neither clearly marked nor a continuous hiking path.

Carthage Jail is where a mob murdered Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum in 1844; the historic site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can take a free tour of the rooms and grounds. Check the latest visitor information about tours before your visit. Another historic site is Nauvoo Landing on the riverbank at the foot of Parley Street. In February 1846, it was one of the eastern departure points where emigrants assembled their wagons to cross the Mississippi River.

Crafts, Architectural History and Performances

The restored homes and workshops along Main Street in Nauvoo exemplify some of the crafts that were part of Nauvoo’s economy. The Family Living Center showcases eight different arts and crafts from Nauvoo’s early days. Missionaries give demonstrations at the stations; some activities involve visitor participation. At the Browning Gun Shop, missionaries demonstrate gunsmithing.

Historic Nauvoo’s Temple City is a group of buildings and landscapes that offers an overview of the design and construction of the original Nauvoo Temple, as well as the religious practices associated with it. Through texts and tools, the Temple Stones Pavilion illustrates the quarrying, shaping and setting of stone for the Nauvoo Temple. These themes offer different perspectives: one station focuses on everyday crafts, while the other explores the temple’s construction and religious significance.

Historic Nauvoo offers a variety of live music and theater performances throughout the summer. The Nauvoo Pageant is an outdoor theatrical production about early converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United States and England. Because performance schedules are seasonal and may change, check the dates before planning your trip.

Nature and Activities at Nauvoo State Park

Nauvoo State Park covers 148 acres and lies on the southern edge of Nauvoo along Illinois Route 96. Its landscape includes a 13-acre lake and a one-mile shoreline. The 1.5-mile Lake Trail loops around the lake and passes through wooded areas. Park conditions may change; check current trail conditions before your visit.

Lake Horton is stocked with largemouth bass, channel catfish and sunfish for anglers. Nauvoo State Park is also associated with an annual grape festival. Check event dates before your trip if you plan to attend the festival.

More Things to See and Do

The Kibbe Hancock Heritage Museum displays artifacts from the American Civil War and from Indigenous communities, as well as fossils, rocks and geodes. Its collections range from historical objects to geological exhibits.

There is no public transportation within the historic site of Historic Nauvoo. Keep this visitor information in mind when planning your routes, and check for current updates before your visit.

Explore more destinations: Nauvoo, Woodford County, Champaign, Iroquois County, Randolph, Stephenson, Vermilion, Livingston County.

For the broader travel overview: Illinois.